G'day all,

Well, we're having a little problem with a speedo on a Cooper S....

Cable new and greased, when fitted to speedo and a drill at the bottom of the cable, the speedo is perfect - needle so smooth. Pity it doesn't move when the car does!

Renewed drive spindle, and refitted correctly. Tried to turn from the top of the speedo cable and it won't turn...cool.

Tried it by driving - nothing.....

So, finally got to the metal gear drive spindle from the oval plate (engine in car) and it is locked in perfectly when pushed in - can't turn it. When you put the plastic spindle in the top, it meshes perfectly, and seems perfect....

So, what the FH could be the problem?

Any theories or practical advice gladly received.

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Cooper S Mk2
Cooper S Mk1
ex Cooper S Mk2, various Morris 1100s, 1300s, 1500s, Leyland Sherpa!

take the cable off the speedo and push the inner cable down, put the car out of gear, jack up one wheel and turn it by hand, the cable should turn

I think I've heard that the inners are sometimes too short to engage at both ends

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Mmm,

The car is question is up on ramps with the engine jacked up to support it as the engine mount is off.

The metal spindle looks fine, but is it possible that the thread is slightly worn and not engaging properly? I noticed that the old plastic threaded spindle has the threads the OPPOSITE way to the new one (which is correct by the photos on the forum) The plastic had cuts into it where the steel thread has eaten into it, but with the new plastic threaded one, it should work perfectly.....

We don't want to put it back together till sure - if the spindle needs replacing, might be engine out job I reckon.......

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Cooper S Mk2
Cooper S Mk1
ex Cooper S Mk2, various Morris 1100s, 1300s, 1500s, Leyland Sherpa!

don't you wish you had small hands.....

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Yep,

or factory trained children!

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Cooper S Mk2
Cooper S Mk1
ex Cooper S Mk2, various Morris 1100s, 1300s, 1500s, Leyland Sherpa!

Its more than likely that the drive the cable slides into has rounded so the cable wont engage the speedo drive and therefore wont operate the speedo as it should, or it is also possible that the speedo drive shaft has stripped the centre teeth out of the nylon gear.....in any case you will need to remove the speedo drive from the gear box....there is only a 7/16 bolt holding the forked clap and housing to the gearbox.....anyways have fun and I hope this info is helpful to you.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

I had similar symptoms as you describe. I was unable to get the cable on the speedo and tried and swore and used mole grips to try and force it on . I thought it was the cable so tried my old one (still no go ). I then took the cable off the gearbox (1275 A+) and the plastic clip that was on there prevented the cable from correctly engaging the gear. P.O.S. plastic clip that must have cost all of 20c.

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1970 Mini Deluxe - 1275, Weber, Clive 346 cam, MS 4-pot slotted discs, Megajolt ignition Now with new improved Mambas... almost on the road
1966 Van with Traveller rear seat conversion
2008 Prado GXL
All in various states of repair...

OK.....

Another angle to kill the gremlin.....

Does the Cooper S have a "U clip" or "Spring U Plate" on the speedo drive hosing?

Or is it only the English cars? Can't find it listed on any supplier's catalogue here in Oz (although it may exist)

Point is, the car we're working on doesn't have one - the housing plate where the speedo cable screws onto just has the one bolt holding it on - no u shaped anything....

Thanks for your feedback on my original question.

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Cooper S Mk2
Cooper S Mk1
ex Cooper S Mk2, various Morris 1100s, 1300s, 1500s, Leyland Sherpa!

I'd call it a "spring U plate" - it goes under the bolt, and half way around the threaded part of the speedo drive boss

will see if I can get my arm under to take a photo!

edit: got one! took me 8 shots to get the right spot, then it ended up blurry - drew a line around it for you



however, I'd doubt if that is causing your problem, as it is only to stop the boss from flexing and presumably from breaking, I don't think having it missing would stop the speedo from working, you'd notice otherwise

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Thanks Simon,

Had someone mention to me that he had to loosen the bolt slightly (which held that plate) to get his speedo working...... I also didn't think it would make a difference, and only realized that he was talking about something which wasn't on the car with the problem.....

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Cooper S Mk2
Cooper S Mk1
ex Cooper S Mk2, various Morris 1100s, 1300s, 1500s, Leyland Sherpa!

see photo above... loosening the bolt to make it work doesn't make sense

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Thanks,

I agree, don't see how it would make it work by loosening, unless something wasn't right to start with....

Yep, can't see how not having one would affect the speedo..... just have to get the car rolling again and check it all out.......

hopefully will get it sorted......

PS thanks for the photo - I REALLY know how much wriggling and wrestling it takes, believe me!

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Cooper S Mk2
Cooper S Mk1
ex Cooper S Mk2, various Morris 1100s, 1300s, 1500s, Leyland Sherpa!

with the car on the ground, in the unsealed carpark

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Double thanks!

Very happy it wasn't raining!

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Cooper S Mk2
Cooper S Mk1
ex Cooper S Mk2, various Morris 1100s, 1300s, 1500s, Leyland Sherpa!