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Triumph TR6 - Sppedo Problems

I was reading Ricks posting regarding his Odometer and I have a somewhat more complexing problem...

When I finished the restoration (using the original speedo gauge) I noticed that the speedo did not work at all..so I traced to a binding cable and corrected that. Now I have a speedo that spins up with speed but the needle continues to "jiggle" up/down by about 5 mph. Not only that, but the odometer doesn;t function at all (both trip and total) though it did briefly when i played around with the old cable.

Is the speedo purely mechanical in nature and if so, is this an indication of a bad gear in the speedo itself?

I have located a spare speedo but before replacing the old one I thought Id see what you folks think is the problem. If I do replace the speedo, how do I go about resetting the total mileage to either where I know this car to be at or 0 and count forward from the first day back on the road?

thanks as always

bob
Bob Craske

Bob,the operation is purely mechanical. Some time back I ran across a *.pdf file dealing with repair of the Smiths speedo/odo units. The file size is about 1.2Mb, ~25 pages, lots of pictures. I have never had to do this type of work on one of mine, so can't speak for all of the details, but it looks well thought out. If you (or any one else for that matter) are interested, post back here, it will head your way in an e-mail. I am somewhat hesitant to just send a large attached file these days without a pre-approving okely dokely from the intended recipient.
SteveP

Speedo cables are like a spring. They wind up and unwind. If the cable/interior casing is rough or the cable needs lubing that will happen. May decrease a bit as it warms up?

The speedo itself may be damaged but the cable is the first try. And most likely from your description.

Bill
Bill Brayford

I always thought the wobbling needle was a "feature" on our cars.
Tom

Bob
I had a speedo cable in a Jeep that had to much wobbly pop. Straightened the square "tip" that went into the spedo and the gauge sobered right up...not completely but one heck of a lot better. I suspect your cable has gone south. That binding you found is still there just not as bad but gives the jerky needle. Do you have OD? the right angle connection at the tranny needs lubrication.
Rick C

Rick Crawford

I'll try Rick's suggestion with the square end repair as mine does the speedo jump at under 10 mph also
Charlie
Charlie Ballard

All

Thanks for the feedback...

some more history..

I have replaced the entire speedo cable and ensured it has a straight run through to the speedo with no binding. The speedo does wind up with speed but fluctuates about +- 6-10 MPH at steady speeds. In addition, neither the main nor trip odometer are functioning. For the heck of it I found another speedo on e-bay for 10 bucks so bought it as a spare in case. When a cable attached to a drill is run, it operates smoothly and both mileage counters work. I will hook it up to the installed cable and retest without completing the old speedo removal in case the cable into the tranny is the issue after all.

How would I go about resetting the mileage counter to 0 and then count mileage on the car from re-birth forward. Is there a trick to getting to the odometer since it looks sealed?

also, Steve P. please send me that pdf file
(bob.craske@agfa.com)

thanks

bob
Bob Craske

Car dealers in the mechanical age used to burn up a lot of cheep drills resetting Ohdo.

Most went to X number and reset back to zero not sure what the # is for a Smiths. Maybe some one else knows?

Bill
Bill Brayford

Steve P.

Can you please put me on the CC list when you post the PDF on the speedo.
Take care you remove XMEOUT on my E-mail address.

Thanks in advance,
Erik
Erik Creyghton

The repair manual for Smith&Jaeger instruments is on the site: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rhodes.
Lots of other good articles too.
Berry Price
BTP Price

Thanks Berry

Thats absolutely perfect and Tony Rhodes was most helpful in a followup mail

I suggest everyone might want to tag this website for some interesting articles.
Bob Craske

Bob-You are welome. I have found that when the odometers quit working, but the speedo still functions, either a tooth has stripped from the plastic gears or the pawl that actually moves the odometer numbers has fallen out of place.
Berry
BTP Price

The Rhodes article is the one that I have saved as a *.pdf. Since the URL is posted above, I will operate on the assumption that there is no need to e-mail it to anyone at this point.
SteveP

Thanks Steve
Bob Craske

Thanks to Tony Rhodes article from Berry and some advice from the author himself, the speedo is reset and operating smoothly. I hope this is my last venture under the dash, Im like a bear, fattened up for the winter and now cant get under the dash as easily as this summer!


Thanks to all

bob
Bob Craske

This thread was discussed between 02/11/2004 and 17/12/2004

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