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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Speedo cable woe

Hi,

I have been skinning my knuckles attempting to get the speedo cable hooked up on my 1971 Sprite without success.

Story so far;
Noticed speedo had stopped registering so pulled it from the dash. Cable looked old, ran the car round the block and the inner isn’t turning, so ordered up new cable from MGOC

Pulled the tunnel carpet, pulled the inspection bung and unscrewed (with difficulty) the old cable from the drive. Put the cable on the bench, has snapped it’s inner. Pulled half out easily, first half was seized solid to the outer.
Attempted to put the new cable in via the inspection hole, middle seemed to engage OK so routed around engine bay through bung in bulkhead in to speedo – still not registering.

Figured that it must be the drive end not engaging properly so got the ramps out and refitted i, watched the inner and it’s not turning on drive. Checked out the new outer skin and the old one, same length.

Any ideas what I try next? I’m hoping the seized cable hasn’t knackered the drive inside the drivetrain too – is there anymore externally renewable parts there? How can I be sure I am engaging the cable fully? Is the trick to have it in gauge end first to pin the cable in?

Any help gratefully received!

Cheers,
JN
JS neal

Are you sure the inner cable has fully engaged with the gearbox drive? it can sometimes be a real faff getting the inner cable to go into the drive. I had to use some long nose pliers to push it in.
Bob Beaumont

Which end had seized?
Dave O'Neill 2

Gearbox end :-(
JS neal

I'm not sure it's engaging fully either - will try the snipe nosed!
JS neal

As has been said, pull the cable out and make sure it's in the drive gear in the transmission. Then screw the cable housing to the transmission and connect to the speedometer and keep your fingers crossed it isn't anything further.

Clare
C Ravenwood

Hi,

Another few hours of fun for me yesterday trying to get this working - no luck

I am going to buy some beefier snipe nosed pliers and give it another shove

I suspect its stripped the drive from the gearbox end. How easy is that to change? can I get at it in situ on ramps?

Cheers,
John
JS neal

The drive has a big hexagon and it's easy to unscrew from the gearbox. On my Frogeye the housing is plastic - same on later cars? The issue with the inner cable is that there has to be a reason why it broke. For me many years ago it was a seized speedo. I'd suggest firstly ensuring the drive is OK (these things are very durable), then fitting the new cable but not the speedo. While at it it's easy to check that the inner is properly engaged. With the gearbox end fitted and the outer screwed home (careful - very easy to cross thread) you could then twist the speedo end. If no resistance then the problem is at the gearbox end.

From underneath the car you should be able to inspect the condition of the square socket in the drive, before you embark on all this. In 40+ years I have never seen one worn out.
L B Rose

This thread was discussed between 05/10/2015 and 28/10/2015

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