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Triumph TR6 - Speedo Drive and Indicator Repeaters

Gents

I am still working slowly towards getting the TR6 ready for the Texas state inspection, and have a couple of issues.

Firstly, the speedo has never worked while I have had the car - I really should have fixed it before, but never prioritised it for some reason. When I got the car, the speedo cable was snapped close to the gearbox. I replaced the cable, but no joy. The next time I spoke to Dave at TRF, he suggested adding an angle drive, so I did, with no improvement. The other day I removed the speedo drive pinion to replace it and its bearing, but found that the originals were in good condition. I shoudl really have known this - when I had the gearbox out a couple of years ago, I turned the output flange by hand and checked that the speedo drive turned. Turning the cable with a drill results in movement at the speedo itself, so I figure that end is okay. This (to my simple mind) leaves the cable, which I have already replaced. I find that I have a spare in my parts pile, but it is from the same source (TRF) - is there any benefit to changing the cable out? It seems to me that the inner cable would only need to be 1/8 inch too short to stop it working - if that is the case is there anything I can do? Maybe an alternative supplier?

The second issue I have at present is that the side repeaters (on the front wing, behind the headlight) don't work. As far as I know, they worked at some point, though I can't say I remember seeing them flash. Now when I switch on my hazard lights, the four corners flash, but at a rapid rate, I presume due to the failed repeaters. I took the driver's side out yesterday, and found it was very rusty inside. A clean up with wire brush failed to get any more than an occasional flicker when connected directly to the battery. Needs to be replaced, I guess. The passenger side, though, has apparently not suffered rubber gasket failure - it looks brand new, but it doesn't work either. I ordered a pair of new lights but it strikes me that there might be something else wrong. The wiring connections join to the same connector blocks as the front signals, which do work, so it seems to me that the power is getting to the repeaters but there is something wrong with the lights themselves. It just feels wrong that both would have failed in different ways - any thoughts?

As always, thanks in advance for any thoughts and advice.
Alistair
A Hewitt

Alisair. Did the side markers ever flash? I thought they were single filament.
Haven't looked at mine in so long I forget.

About the speedo cable. Almost all newer cables are made incorrectly ,the inner cable is made wrong. One of those one size fits all type of deals. Well it don't fit the 6. Many people have trouble with it.
DON KELLY

Alistair

As Don suggests- for the cost of a cable maybe try a new one made for the 6. I didn't have any problem with the one I bought but I can't remember where I got it from. Probably VB or TRF bought back in 2003 or so. .

By the speedo not working do you mean the odometer is also not working? Do you get any movement in the speedo when driving at all?

I assume all your connections are tight so that the cable would engage with the angle drive and speedo. Try disconnecting the drive shaft (or raising the rear wheels) and engage the tranny with the cable disconnected at the speedo end. See if cable is turning and if not back track to where it isn't.

On my 69 the side lights only work when the headlights are on. They are not in the turn signal or hazard circuit.

I don't know if this changed in later years.
Michael Petryschuk

Most of the gauge repair facilities ask for the cable when you have them rebuild the speedo. They work the inner so it fits. Doesn't matter if it is made for the 6 ,they are all the same .1 size fits all.NOT!
DON KELLY

Alistair,
I read something awhile back about the length of the protruding core at the speedo end. (wow!) If it's too long, it can cause binding and break the cable. Might check how much ya got stickin' out there....
Rod
Rod Nichols

Alistair, when you tried spinning the cable with the drill, were you pushing it into the speedo just a little just in case it was short? Don't know if you can or not, but that might confirm a short cable.

Rob
rw loftus

Thanks for the fast replies, guys. Much appreciated, as always!

The more I think about the speedo the more I conclude that the cable is the problem - it needs a surprising amount of the inner cable protruding to catch on the drive at the gearbox, and I guess it is the same at the speedo end. I have a spare, so I will try that one, but if that fails also, is there any reason I can't cut 1/4 inch out of the outer section (close to the speedo end to avoid water and dirt getting in), then rejoin it with our old friend Duct Tape?

As for the repeaters, I guess I should have looked at the wiring schematic before I got into it - I never checked whether they work when the lights are on! I saw the rapid blinking with the hazards on and assumed it was due to the reduced load with two bulbs effectively not connected. Now I am wondering if the parking lights under the bumper (it's a '75) work. Assuming I am an idiot (which seems fair!), and the repeaters aren't part of the hazard light circuit, what would cause the rapid blinking?

Thanks again
Alistair
A Hewitt

Alistar- Check this out,re what I was talking about

http://www.74tr6.com/images/SpeedoCableLength.pdf
DON KELLY

This thread was discussed between 17/01/2011 and 18/01/2011

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