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MG MG Y Type - Speedo problem

And another,

I have only driven a very few miles as I have had a fuel feed problem which I have eventually traced to the fuel tank. Seems the pick up pipe must have a hole in it.....bugger!

Anyway in the few miles I have done I have managed to snap TWO speed cables!

What am I doing wrong?

Rob
Rob King

Which end of the speedometer cable is snapping? If the gearbox end snaps you have a speedometer head issue.

If the speedometer head end snaps you have a gearbox end issue.

See the thread in Hints and Tips on Broken Speedometer Cables, and also the Speedometer Problems one in the Technical section.

Also something else to consider is the cable needs to have gentle not any sharp curves and should be secured to the chassis frame to achieve the correct alignment and bows. I am assuming that you also are using the correct cable length. Speedograph Richfield in the Links page sell the correct one for Ys, Y/Ts and YBs whether Left Hand Drive or Right Hand Drive.
Paul Barrow

Hi Paul,

Thanks for you advice, I have read the sections to which you refer.

I have an excellent earth between the bellhousing and chassis.

The speedo cables are routed as they should be and are the correct length.

They both broke at the gearbox end just before the bend which takes the cable behind the pedal box so there are no acute angles.

So I guess from what I have read the fault is at the speedometer head.

Assuming that it is seized is there anything I can do to rectify it or is a professional rebuild required.

This would be a shame as I bought the speedo as a new old stock item. However I guess that it could have been left of the shelf all these years because it was buggered!

Rob
Rob King

Rob,

How far is the speedo cable entering the speedo it could be too long and jamming up when you tighten the knurled nut try shorting the length of the square on the cable.

If not I can recommend John, Give him a ring he is quite helpful and if you need him to have a look at the speedo he has been in the business for many many years.and is reasonably priced.

http://www.jdo1.com/

Cheers and merry christmas Chris Pick
C A Pick

Hi Guys,

Just as an update....

Took the speedo to a local refurb guy who told me that, as the gauge had never been used, the factory grease would have solidified......so he cleaned out the old grease and....problem solved.

Rob
Rob King

Not related to speedo cable problems - though I too have had problems, but around solid grease,

When I acquired my first Y in 1972 it had a full ticket. Though quite how I was left to wonder. A principal problem lay with the steering which was extremely stiff.

I found a local garage in Greenwich, close to where I was living, and the two guys said 'no problem'. I went back after work to see how things were going on and I was told it was sorted. The grease had solidified in the king pins and they just heated them up and the problem was sorted. The problem was solved!

A few months later I noted that they weren't in the pub, where they always resided. The landlord mentioned that they were in the nick, having been done for nicking a speedboat on the Thames! Interesting guys I wonder at times what happened to them!

Enjoy your Christmas - escape to the garage or better still take your Y out for a spin. Have fun!

Best wishes and a HC and NY

Jerry
J P BIRKBECK

This thread was discussed between 08/12/2014 and 23/12/2014

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