Paul H Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 Speedo in my Vitesse has stopped working . It has been wavering for some time though . I’ve loosened the speedo , removed the wires . I cant undo the speedo so assuming I need to remove the gearbox cover, undo the connector ( I have overdrive) to give enough slack to get access to the back of the speedo Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 Should undo from speedo but may need acrobatics in the footwell and some long nose pliers? Saying that theres a good chance the cable or angle drive have failed... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted April 1 Author Report Share Posted April 1 38 minutes ago, johny said: Should undo from speedo but may need acrobatics in the footwell and some long nose pliers? Saying that theres a good chance the cable or angle drive have failed... Thanks , long nose pliers worked and Speedo out . The inner cable is not chewed so guess the issue is at the gearbox end . How I love removing the gearbox cover ! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 So if you push the inner fully into the cable it engages at the gearbox end and then wont turn? You could do this and drive the car to see if the inner spins - if so could be a faulty speedo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 If the speedo needle was flickering for a while then stopped all together, it's quite likely the angle drive on the output from the overdrive has failed. You can test the cable and speedo head using an electric drill running anti clockwise. Disconnect the cable from the angle drive and attach the still chuck to the end of the inner cable. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 1 Report Share Posted April 1 if the problem is due to lack of engagement it is easy to with some grips turn the outer case , the spiral wound outer sheath will if you wind the outer up or down it will make the inner protrude more or unwind make it less its a common way to fix cables . pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted April 1 Author Report Share Posted April 1 2 hours ago, johny said: So if you push the inner fully into the cable it engages at the gearbox end and then wont turn? You could do this and drive the car to see if the inner spins - if so could be a faulty speedo... Checked the Speedo with a spare cable and drill and it’s ok Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted April 2 Author Report Share Posted April 2 Gearbox cover off and Speedo cable undone . It won’t twist at all so will remove and investigate . Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Foster Posted April 2 Report Share Posted April 2 Paul If you've already gone to the trouble of removing the tunnel, I would change the cable as a matter of course. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 3 Report Share Posted April 3 i have a jar of non transitional grease we had to have for tachograph cables (had to have a giant barrel of this to conform to the installation licence being the first and only factory to get approval) all ours were electronic of the day (i still wonder why i pinched a load ) but this grease will not work its way up to the speedo head , disadvantage is it stinks and once under you finger nails you have it for a month ....really awful stuff Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted April 6 Author Report Share Posted April 6 UPDATE Speedo cable out and it’s seized so replacing with GSD115 which is about 4cms longer so should be no issues with refit . Does the new cable need oiling ? I do have graphite powder The right angle drive . Can’t find this in the manual . Does this need any maintenance whilst I got access . What’s the small screw for please . Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted April 6 Report Share Posted April 6 1 hour ago, Paul H said: UPDATE Speedo cable out and it’s seized so replacing with GSD115 which is about 4cms longer so should be no issues with refit . Does the new cable need oiling ? I do have graphite powder The right angle drive . Can’t find this in the manual . Does this need any maintenance whilst I got access . What’s the small screw for please . Paul The small screw lets the internals fall out... so don't remove it! Here's a few original tips from Smiths: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted April 6 Report Share Posted April 6 1 hour ago, Colin Lindsay said: The small screw lets the internals fall out... so don't remove it! Didn't know that!. Removed it on a couple of occasions, as the forum years ago though it was "maybe", to use as an oiling point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 6 Report Share Posted April 6 Yes are you sure Colin? Heres a photo of an angle drive and it looks like both gears are installed from the back and then capped over. They were never intended to come apart... Then some similar Smiths units for motorcycles have grease nipples in the same place as the screw on ours so it seems logical that its for lubrication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 That took a bit of finding... almost two coffees! I found this post on a USA Triumph forum: "Well folks. After speaking to Peninsula Imports on this Moss angle drive, they dont know what the set screw is for. Then, consulting the tech support at Moss, they dont know either. They did advise not to put any lube (oil drop) into it. Simple snug up the set screw and install. The spindle and drive seemed to operate well once the set screw was snugged up." And this one-liner on a different forum: "The small screw is a grub screw that keeps the internals in place." That one is probably the one I remember from way back given that it also refers to 'internals'. I think it fits into a groove, so that once removed you can pull the workings out, which does require some force. I'm NOT going to dismantle mine to check, (have loads of components in bits from previous attempts to see how they work!) but the setscrew / groove assembly may allow a small degree of movement of the gears and thereby avoid wear or damage in use as the entire unit flexes on the mountings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 i have a stripped down unit and the screw just blanks the hole has nowt to do with locating anything to strip just ! remove the corked in welch plug and it all comes apart it would aid life if its lubricated , and must have the 7/16" washer fitted between angle drive and speedo pinion hsg. or you pre load it and failure is imminent Pete pinion 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 Yes I suppose grease would be best but difficult to get in there so got to be oil... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 And yet the advice is NOT to oil the cables, but use grease... anyway that's our homework for the next while, find out what the screw in the angledrive actually does. I've asked Speedograph of Richfield if they know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 Heres a Smiths item used on motorcycles and I suppose as its much more accessible it comes with a grease nipple👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 6 hours ago, Pete Lewis said: and must have the 7/16" washer fitted between angle drive and speedo pinion hsg. or you pre load it and failure is imminent Pete pinion Pls note PL's comment re washer very important, the advice tends to get overlooked! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now