G'day

My speedo has been a minor annoyance since the conversion, basically it is useless, it reads in mph when it should be kph and the needle waves all over the place.
In consequence I use a GPS for the speed but would like an alternative.

What I am thinking is fitting something else, surely someone makes an electronic speedo that is accurate and easy to fit?

Any ideas?

Has anyone tried a Speedhut GPS speedo?

Cheers
Graham

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59 Morris Minor 2 Door with Mazda 1308 (13B)

The Smiths speedos, if they are in good condition are accurate and smooth.

A good instrument guy can service it. be sure the problem is not the drive or the cable. mine used to wobble with an incorrect clubman lenght cable. I got the correct one and suddenly no wobble. It's spot on accurate too. checked with gps, it's more accurate that our 2 modern cars.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

G'day

I am sure that the problem is in the way the speedo was conected after the transplant. The speedo is in miles but with a km converter stuck on it, now it sort of reads in miles but to the km scale.

Dose anyone know of anyone in Geelong who know what they are doing with speedo drives?
I have been to gauge works and got the impression they did not want to know, they suggested it would cost several hundred and take a couple of days to fix.

That is why I am thinking may be there is an alternative to the conventional speedo.

Cheers
Graham

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59 Morris Minor 2 Door with Mazda 1308 (13B)

The flickering all over the place is probably the cable.
Fit the correct length cable and make sure it has a smooth run to the speedo.
You can then calibrate the speedo.
Check how far it is out at say 80kph and record where the needle should be.
Pull the speedo apart, then lift the needle of and put it back on at the correct position.
Not sure it is the correct way to solve the problem, but it has worked for me.
(This was using a Moke speedo which is in KPH in a Mini with a 3.44 diff).
This assumes you want to stick with an original speedo, and not go with a different setup with modern technology.

There's a speedchecker on the princess Hwy just as your passing Lara to check your speed once you sort your cable out .

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Project Pickles is ALIVE!!!!! Click Here!
Success is so much sweeter after the struggle

Hunter2 fitted one and their matching tacho to his Buick V6 powered MGB.
PM him for more details.

They do look great, but Quality does not come cheap-
http://www.speedhut.com/gauges/GPS-Speedometers/1:3

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

That's for a pair of gauges mind you, elsewhere on the site the cost of an individual speedo alone is US$299, and you get to customise it up to any colour. However Speedo cal must be approaching that price, yeah?


Don't get me wrong, I prefer a stock speedo anyday!

If its not the cable, it can be the inner gubbins that make the needle swing. There's a very small gap between the needle magnet and the spinning aluminium cupped plat in the back. As the gear mech wears the cup gets closer and closer till it affects the needle directly. This begins at low speed only, but get worse as it ages more. This can be fixed with a little work as well.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

What I have found with some Smiths speedos is the spindle that the magnets mount on can seize up due to the 40 year old grease drying out. It needs to be totally free to get a smooth action.
So taking a speedo to an instrument repairer to get a clean and a service is always a good starting point.

Wot they all said

But, you can try backing off the grooved "nut" on the cable end a couple of threads (into the back of the speedo) to see if the wavering changes...some cables are too long and tightening them up (usually with vice grips ) can make them foul...

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"Show me the Mini!"

G'day

Merry Christmas

Thank you all for your comments they have been helpful.

My current thought is to get a Speedhut Gps unit, they make one that is 4", just a bit smaller than the standard smiths, is rated to 140kph, so covers all speed limits, has a fuel gauge, indicator lights, high beam and assorted other info ( 1/4 mile time, 0 to 100, trip etc).
They seem to be a quick and easy fix to the problem , not cheap but if it dose what is claimed then not expensive either.

Cheers
Graham

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59 Morris Minor 2 Door with Mazda 1308 (13B)

I'm seriously giving thought to going down the Speedhut route with my Morris 1100.

How much is an accurate speedo worth compared to the cost of a speeding ticket?

Speedhut do make a 4.5" speedo if you want something a little bigger than a 4" one.

Dont bother getting a new klm one in from the UK. They are crap. Two of the four we got in afew years ago developed problems. Both reading around 20 kph slow. GPS is now my speedo.

Speedos are superflous these days Mike (except for Tony Abbott!) the majority of peeps use a GPS which gives a fairly accurate reading on the flat....LEAVE the original SMITHS where it was designed to be!!!!!

Signed Mick (Instrument Maker..1965 - 1971)

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"Show me the Mini!"

I bought a KPH Chinese Smiths speedo from Minispares. Works perfectly for me.

Mine (200KMH) is fine too, reads correct according to the TomTom GPS, it's only done 15,000km though.
I've had it a while, not sure if it's Chinese, how would you tell...? No `made in PRC' stickers anywhere...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.