Hi,

I've got a 1963 850 and have a question about the speedo cable length. I'm getting motor ready to put back into car and want to connect speedo cable at engine end before I put it back in.

The one that was in the car (original I'm guessing) is 24" long but it's damaged. The outer sheath is broken in places and the inner cable looks like its been stretched a bit and bent where it screws into the motor. It is possible to force the inner cable into its right length when you screw it on both ends but I'm thinking it can't be good for it operation wise.

When I was getting a few 2nd hand bits, I pulled a motor and box out of a later model (perhaps a 66??) that had a 1098 motor but still had the magic wand gearbox. It had a single central speedo like mine. The cable is in really good nick but its 34" long - 10" longer than mine. I didn't take a lot of notice of where the cable ran before I pulled the motor out.

I'm running a single 1 1/2" SU fitted with a pancake type air filter PF102A with the heated inlet manifold C-AHT770 and a set of 3-1 maniflow extractors C-STR816. I seem to recall reading somewhere that a longer cable is required when using the 1 1/2" SU but not sure that's right.

Do you reckon the longer cable will be OK to use?

Thanks Rocky

Mini King's catalogue lists GSD101 for 1960-1964 850cc at 26 inches; GDS105 for 1960-1977 at 40 inches. Seems to be interchangeable.
The cable just needs to have open curves and no tight corners obviously.

The factory originally had a retaining clip on the bulkhead crossmember to hold the cable away from the exhaust, but it usually got pinged off when the motor was removed. I think the clip was the same as the clip used for the radiator overflow tube.

G'day Bill,

Here's a pic of the old cable in place before I pulled the motor out. It came up in between the carbies. Can see the clip.
Not sure how they measure the cables - I just measured the length of the outers. I think my old one got damaged somehow when it was removed from the motor. In the pic, you can see that the speedo end sits inside the outer ok. Might have been stuck in the drive on the motor end.

Given I've ditched the twin 1 1/4" (they were not a matched pair), the extra length may not be a bad thing as I'll need to work around the new air cleaner.

Thanks for your help.

Rocky

There are basically 2 type of early speedo cables.
Centre speedo GSD101 26"
Soeedo in front of driver GSD105

Both have the same fittings on both ends so interchangeable but most people purchase the correct one.

From what Karcraft has said, I had the one for Clubman style speedo and it was far too long for centre speedo and never fitted it.

Thanks for the info. Would be a bummer to fit the longer one and then find out it's no good. I believe they are a bit difficult to fit on the motor end. Looks like Karcraft are going to be sending me a new cable.

Appreciate the advice.

Rocky

Fitting the cable to the gearbox is a bit awkward to reach with motor in. I think it is best with the front of the car on a ramp and reach in from underneath.
The main problem I found was the connection on the gearbox that you are trying to screw the outer cable to, is a very fine thread in mushy alloy (or plastic?) that has often been cross-threaded before and always covered in oil and grit so you can't tell if you are on square and cannot get more than a few threads started.
Once the gearbox end is connected, grease the inner cable and feed it down from the speedo end until it engages with the square drive in the gearbox.

Thanks for the install tips Bill.

Rocky

Absolutely no grease or oil required

_________________
1960 Morris Mini Minor

The last new one I bought here a few years ago, the inner cable was rusty, it was dry as a bone, and squeaked. I lightly smeared it with molygrease except the top 6".
It's still working fine.

_________________
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.

Just following the Leyland workshop manual:
"Withdraw the inner cable and lightly grease it except for 8 inches at the speedometer end, reinsert it in the outer casing and wipe away surplus grease. Check that there is approximately 3/8 inch projection of the inner cable beyond the outer casing at the speedometer end."
Sorry, I forgot to mention the last 6-8 inches - to prevent grease getting into the speedo head.

Thanks Doc and Bill for the clarification about the grease. No grease on the speedo end.

Rocky

I knew I would get a rise on that one.
Speedo cable material is multi layered and each layer is greased as it is manufactured.
For Doc your ‘new’ cable is old if it is rusty. Bill B the important part of your reference to British Leyland which by inference is 42 years old at least is that grease may be applied but wiped off ie: wiped into the layers of the inner cable.
If grease or oil works it’s way up into the speedo ( and of course this relies on it being clockwise Or anticlockwise lay cable both of which are still used today) then you will more than likely have an issue with the speedo. No big deal as it keeps me in business.

_________________
1960 Morris Mini Minor

I'm not trying to "rise" to an alternative view.
I actually like to know about the latest technology and I completely understand that modern materials need to be used in different ways. That is one thing I get from being on this site.
My advice to "rocky&bullwinkle" was based on my own experiences trying to help him.

If you had explained why grease or oil was not needed on modern cables, it would have been more informative to all of us.

@minijcar,
I suspect my cable was made in the Far East like much rubbish these days.
Not UK or Oz made Quality.

_________________
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.