Speedo Not Working

[knapmann]

My Speedo & Odometer suddenly stopped working.

I will have to pull the speedo to see if the cable is turning, easier said than done in a 69 of course. Im not sure if its more likely to be the cable or the speedo itself.

Has anyone had to change a cable on a car? Im not sure if the cables are different RHD/LHD and throughout the years etc.

Has anyone had an issue with the speedo itself failing somehow?

I can imagine changing the full cable & outer sheath is a bugger of a job. Maybe it is easier to get a new inner cable custom-made and just replace that?

[911hillclimber]

Doubt changing the whole cable is much different to doing the clutch cable?

[RobFrost]

My Speedo & Odometer suddenly stopped working.

I will have to pull the speedo to see if the cable is turning, easier said than done in a 69 of course. Im not sure if its more likely to be the cable or the speedo itself.

Has anyone had to change a cable on a car? Im not sure if the cables are different RHD/LHD and throughout the years etc.

Has anyone had an issue with the speedo itself failing somehow?

I can imagine changing the full cable & outer sheath is a bugger of a job. Maybe it is easier to get a new inner cable custom-made and just replace that?

Is it the same as my 1970 car? If I remember they're stupidly expensive. You can buy the core alone and reuse the sheath, although I was lucky to find a used one.

You can pull the cable and thread it back down the tunnel. On my car, the hole in the bulkhead had some other wires etc. running through it, and the trick to getting the speedo cable through that was to remove those wires first.

Finally, check your clock turns with a little square drive by hand. In my case, the cable broke because the clock had seized. Had I put the cable in and gone again, the new cable would have been destroyed too.

I didn't get the clock fixed yet but others have mentioned an outfit up in Scotland who seem reliable and not too slow.

P.S. before concluding it's the cable or clock, make sure it's screwed fully in both ends. I could see either end coming loose but most likely the gearbox.

Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk

[SeanP]

I had to change my 69 speedo cable just recently. TWICE. Both ends had crimped fittings so had to change the whole cable. Took the passenger seat out along with the gearstick handbrake and tunnel cover for access. Getting it through the tunnel was the easy part. Getting to the speedo and connecting it. Blower removed and an hour or so of laying/kneeling/performing all sorts of yoga moves had the cable connected. Didn’t remove the speedo the second time as you can just about connect the cable with the speedo in place.
Try Carpoint.DE for the speedo cable a lot cheaper than anyone else. The cable on mine was exactly the same as the SWB speedo cable. The first one I bought was a 74 and on cable. Way too long.

Hope that helps

Sean

[Lightweight_911]

.

Whenever I've changed a speedo cable in the past (911 & 356) I've got a replacement cable from Speedograph Richfield - a fraction of the cost from any Porsche parts supplier:

https://www.speedograph-richfield.com/car-flex-drives


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[knapmann]

All great advice here guys thanks a lot, especially about testing the speedo isnt siezed.

I will have to get round to pulling the speedo and seeing if it turns or not. I really would prefer to not have to change the outer sheath but sean above is saying that this isnt possible on a 69 so I will have to investigate that. As has been said you can buy just the inner cable but apparently they are too long for early cars, I dont see how I could cut it short and then re-square the end of the cable, so assuming the cable is snapped I will see if I can get one made, there are numerous places online that say they can make cables to match anything so hopefully they can.

[neilbardsley]

Before you change anything how about removing the Speedo and turning the input with a drill to see if it's the Speedo?

Try disconnecting both sides of the cable and have someone carefully twist the gearbox side and see if the other end moves?

Sent from my 22011119UY using Tapatalk

[SeanP]

Before you change anything how about removing the Speedo and turning the input with a drill to see if it's the Speedo?

Try disconnecting both sides of the cable and have someone carefully twist the gearbox side and see if the other end moves?

Sent from my 22011119UY using Tapatalk

Have you ever tried to get the speedo out of a 1969 911?
Once you have yo know why porsche changed the design!
They are the same as 356 and swb gauges with the thumbscrews and brackets. With the added excitement of the blower and all the ductwork.
If you remove the speedo you have done half of the hardest part of the job!!!!!

[knapmann]

Managed to get the speedo out last night, the cable is indeed snapped. I tested the speedo with a drill and it works ok. New plan is to order a full replacement cable, hopefully I can pull the inner cable out of it and put it into my original outer sheath without having to install the new one, however if the new cable is slightly short/long this plan wont work, will have to see...

[deano]

hopefully I can pull the inner cable out of it

I imagined that there must be something crimped to both ends of the cable, that might prevent this...

Does anyone know if the inner can be removed or not?

[RobFrost]

hopefully I can pull the inner cable out of it

I imagined that there must be something crimped to both ends of the cable, that might prevent this...

Does anyone know if the inner can be removed or not?

If it's anything like the 1970 cable, the lump of metal on the inner worm prevents it being pulled through. So once the inner has snapped, each half can pull out of its respective end. Then you can slide a new worm (available from Desisg911) into your existing outer. Hw well it works and whether it stays in, when you have not crimped it back up to trap it inside, I cannot say.

https://www.design911.co.uk/p/speedo-ca ... 174111201/

[knapmann]

hopefully I can pull the inner cable out of it

I imagined that there must be something crimped to both ends of the cable, that might prevent this...

Does anyone know if the inner can be removed or not?

Theres noting in the speedo ebd of the cable, you have to pull it out from the gearbox end if its in one piece, as mine was snapped i pulled it out from either end

[Cortina]

If it helps you (or anyone else ?) I have "The Tool" to make round speedo cable inner into square. (from memory there are 2 size options). A most "interesting" device , and NOT the sort of thing most people have in their toolbox !

It weighs about 5 kg ... guess, and probably cost a fortune ... the things ones buys 40 years ago at public auctions !

[knapmann]

If it helps you (or anyone else ?) I have "The Tool" to make round speedo cable inner into square. (from memory there are 2 size options). A most "interesting" device , and NOT the sort of thing most people have in their toolbox !

It weighs about 5 kg ... guess, and probably cost a fortune ... the things ones buys 40 years ago at public auctions !

If I have to try and shorten the new cable it might come in useful! Who knew such tools even existed! you must have had some serious speedo cable woes to invest in such a tool Would probably be easier for me to send you the cable than for you to send me the tool!

[knapmann]

Before you change anything how about removing the Speedo and turning the input with a drill to see if it's the Speedo?

Try disconnecting both sides of the cable and have someone carefully twist the gearbox side and see if the other end moves?

Sent from my 22011119UY using Tapatalk

Have you ever tried to get the speedo out of a 1969 911?
Once you have yo know why porsche changed the design!
They are the same as 356 and swb gauges with the thumbscrews and brackets. With the added excitement of the blower and all the ductwork.
If you remove the speedo you have done half of the hardest part of the job!!!!!

I assume yours is a LHD? with them the speedo quite central in the dash, above the shifter almost and directly behind the blower? Mine is RHD and the speedo is actually quite easy to get at to the side of the blower unit. For me the Fuel and oil gauges would be the nightmare ones.

Its quite easy to get your arm in this gap actually.