Hey guys.

This afternoon on my way home my speedo went all whacky on me. Jumping between 10 and 80 constantly. Finally it died completely.

My speedo has always reported the incorrect speed, but i never did anything about it because i could still tell what speed I was doing. However this is the first time it has gone this crazy on me.

So i got home, busted open the workshop manual to find out what I was looking for and then went searching. I unscrewed the cable from the speedo end and tried pulling on it a little to see if anything was broken down the chain, however nothing budged so i assumed it was fine. Whilst trying to screw the cable back on i couldn't get the inside cable all the way into the sheath properly, so i reached through the engine (using all 3 of my elbows) and felt around for the gearbox connection to see if aything was going on. I could feel that it wasn't screwed in securely, and so i screwed it in by hand as much as possible. This now allowed the cable to go fully into the sheath and so i screwed the speedo end back into place.

I took her for a test drive but the speedo seemed to be lifeless. Should my next step be to buy a new cable and see how it goes, or go back to the gearbox end of the cable and see if anything is going on there? I have some ramps that would allow me easier access.

As you can probably tell, i'm trying to learn how to be self sufficient when it comes to things like this so i don't have to take the car to a mechanic all the time. So i apologise for any stupidity on my part

Thanks.

Before you go out and buy a new speedo cable, you can check whether yours is fubar or not.

With the speedo end disconnected so you can see the inner cable, remove your spark plugs, engage 4th gear with the handbrake off and roll the car. If your cable is ok, you should see it turn in the sheath. Otherwise, go buy a new one

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Did it drop to 0km/h or stuck at a certain speed?
Mine died last week... but stuck on 50km/h

All the experts are saying:
If it dies and goes to 0kmm/h its usually the cable (or something in the spinning side of things)
If it gets stuck at a certain speed - its the speedo itself.

Hope that helps a little... maybe grab a speedo cable from someone else to try first... I dont know how $$ they are

Peter.

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Click here for the Turbo Conversion Thread!

The speedo dropped straight to zero after initially waving around for a couple of K's.

I'll give the 4th gear roll trick a go on the weekend. Until then i'll just guesstimate my speed with the tacho.

Thanks for the tips so far.

No need to guess, you can read your speed on the tacho with far more precision than those antique Smiths devices All you need to know is your diff ratio, and wheel/tyre size.

I've actually put an Excel spreadsheet together for exactly this purpose, I just need to know the gearbox and diff ratio's for various Mini models for it to be generally useful. If anyone else can help with those, of if you're interested in a copy of the spreadsheet, PM me.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Use a gps to get the speed - or -

A bike spedo. Mount it on the rear wheel rim, measure the od of the tyre - binge - good to .1 of a K up to 200 KPH - cost less than $25.

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It's not a mini, but still a bloody lot of fun! (and keeps me poor)

Speedo cables are about $20 bucks.
Find out if it is busted as suggested above. (or remove cable from back of speedo and hold it so you can look at at, drive you car slowly and you should see the cable spin. Be careful that the cable doesn't start to come out of the sheath though.).

Install new cable for 3 minutes work and $20.
No speeding tickets and your car has no more (than usual) broken parts

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Spritey!
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Lower your standards. Increase your success rate.

It can be done in 3 minutes, if you're exceptionally lucky and the bottom end of the cable isn't done up too tight, and you don't have any extra components in the way, and you have universal joints instead of wrists.

In all probability it won't be quite that easy.

Tim

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1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

Most people with Minis go for those antique Smiths Tachos as well

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"Show me the Mini!"

The bottom end of the cable was actually loose enough that i had to screw it back into place by hand. I did manage to reach through the engine bay and find the gearbox end (i have girly arms!), but when i install a new cable i'll definately opt for some ramps to gain access from underneath instead.

Most of the trouble was actually figuring out where i was going and what i was looking at. Once i worked that part out it seemed pretty straightforward.

Guess i'll give it a shot this weekend and see how it goes.

Geez, I just did mine, couldn't get anywhere near it from underneath (pot joints get in the way) tried from above, no go. Pulled the twins off the manifold and tried again, no go just kept getting stuck. Got my eldest (and smallest) son to have a go and he got there no worries. He does have girly arms though. And he doesnt read this either

Dicko

Girly arms or not...hope you thanked the young'un big time

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"Show me the Mini!"

Of course, and he got to drive his brother down to the central coast in the Mini. And as Sheldo failed his P's, he got to drive him again home too.

Dicko.