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MG MGA - Speedo Cable

Have any of you experienced a problem with the speedo cable breaking off at the transmission? I have had two twist off right at the point the cable leaves the transmission. The new cable is shorter than the one it is replacing and there is no slack whatsoever in getting it to connect to the speedo. In fact, I had to rout the cable carefully to get it to reach the speedo. Anyone have this experience?
David Holmes

My Speedo cable snapped a couple of weeks ago.
I purchased another one for my LHD MGA here in the UK part no. GSD114 from Moss UK for $6.94.

Is was from memory a tiny bit shorter, but was not tight. I've just done about 900Km over the weekend, over to Le Mans and back and it was steady as a rock at 90 MPH most of the way.

If the cable gets a kink in it, or if as you say it's too short and has to do a sharp turn when it comes out of the gearbox then it will break at that point.

Are you sure you don't have a RHD cable ?

Cheers <MARK>
Mark Hester

Also !!!

Moss list it a 66 inches long....

How long is yours to ask a personal question !!!
Mark Hester

Dave

Mine sheared on my 5-speed box inside the gearbox housing. I ended up having to remove the engine and gearbox to get the broken bit out!

Best of luck.

Steve
Steve Gyles

David,
You can check the speedometer to be sure it spins freely. I had a cable break because the main shaft in the speedometer was too hard to turn and the bushings needed a little lubrication. In Canada we have
Robertson screw sockets which are square. If you can get the Robertson screwdriver bits the #2 bit fits perfectly in the seedometer shaft where the cable fits.
You should be able to spin the bit and shaft easily with 2 fingers. If it is too stiff it can cause the cable to snap off.
Ralph
Ralph

This cable measures 63 inches. The one it replaced measures 66 inches. The speedo is free turning newly rebuilt from MO-Ma. I am meeting this afternoon with the vender. I was curious if any on this board is experiencing similar problems. The cable is breaking at the point where it leaves the drive on the tranny.
David Holmes

I have also just replaced my cable with one from Moss and found it was a little shoter. I had to route it down the other side of the starter to get it to fit. Unfortunatly it didn't solve my sticky speedo problem.
Kris
Kris Sorensen

The one I bought from Moss several years ago gave up after about 10,000 miles. I went to a local speedometer shop and they made a new one for me out of far superior materials. The speedometer works quite well now. I would suggest going to a local speedometer repair shop and have them make a new one for you.
Ed Bell

David

I second Ed's comment. Here in San Diego there is a shop called Foreign Speedo. You take your old cable in and they make you a new one to the same dimensions. A number of us have used it and are very happy with the results. Suggest you look around your area and see if there is a similar local capability.

FWIW

Larry
58A
Larry Hallanger

This thread was discussed between 22/06/2005 and 24/06/2005

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