Stock speedo cable bending radius - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

OrrieG · 02-02-2009, 07:42 PM

The stock speedo cable comes up inside the engine compartment and does a lazy bend thru the firewall into the speedo head. I want to run mine up the inside to keep the firewall clean. Has anyone done this with the stock cable? Don't want to do all the work to find I am binding it up because of too tight a radius. Thanks

OrrieG · 02-04-2009, 01:14 PM

Bump. looks like I will just do the trial and error method.

Which way does the speedo cable turn?? Thanks

bondobob · 02-05-2009, 08:38 AM

Looking at the speedo, the needle rotates clockwise so that is the way the cable rotates. The inner cable is very flexible so a tighter bend shouldn't hurt anything. It will put more stress on the back of the speedo housing so you may want to support it with a bracket.

OrrieG · 02-05-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bondobob

Looking at the speedo, the needle rotates clockwise so that is the way the cable rotates. The inner cable is very flexible so a tighter bend shouldn't hurt anything. It will put more stress on the back of the speedo housing so you may want to support it with a bracket.

Thanks, good point about stressing the speedo housing.

OrrieG · 02-08-2009, 04:43 PM

Turned out to be a non-issue, thanks for all that replied. I got to quit over thinking some of this stuff....

JMR5 · 08-29-2010, 08:23 PM

Realize this is an old thread, but instead of starting a new one thought I piggy-back on this one. I purchased a new speedo cable for my 59 Apache last year and it has worked flawlessly, but recently I cleaned up my firewall and brought the cable in from down low causing a tighter bend as OrrieG noted. Well, now the speedo is wacked out and bouncing all over the place. If it's not the tight bend to blame what could I have done wrong? I've removed the ends and made sure they were clean/lubed a few times now and still no improvement. Appreciate any helpful advice!!

bondobob · 09-01-2010, 01:02 PM

I don't know if this will help but I seem to remember my dad grinding off the end of the cable to stop the speedo from bouncing. Maybe your tighter radius is pushing on the speedo housing/gears? Try loosening the nut holding it to the speedo so it pulls out a little or disconnect it from the trans and spin it by hand or with a drill to see if it's free. I'm done.

02-02-2009, 07:42 PM	#1
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Stock speedo cable bending radius The stock speedo cable comes up inside the engine compartment and does a lazy bend thru the firewall into the speedo head. I want to run mine up the inside to keep the firewall clean. Has anyone done this with the stock cable? Don't want to do all the work to find I am binding it up because of too tight a radius. Thanks __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

02-04-2009, 01:14 PM	#2
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Stock speedo cable bending radius Bump. looks like I will just do the trial and error method. Which way does the speedo cable turn?? Thanks __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

02-05-2009, 08:38 AM	#3
bondobob Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Deep River, Ct Posts: 135	Re: Stock speedo cable bending radius Looking at the speedo, the needle rotates clockwise so that is the way the cable rotates. The inner cable is very flexible so a tighter bend shouldn't hurt anything. It will put more stress on the back of the speedo housing so you may want to support it with a bracket.

02-08-2009, 04:43 PM	#5
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Stock speedo cable bending radius Turned out to be a non-issue, thanks for all that replied. I got to quit over thinking some of this stuff.... __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

08-29-2010, 08:23 PM	#6
JMR5 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 64	Re: Stock speedo cable bending radius Realize this is an old thread, but instead of starting a new one thought I piggy-back on this one. I purchased a new speedo cable for my 59 Apache last year and it has worked flawlessly, but recently I cleaned up my firewall and brought the cable in from down low causing a tighter bend as OrrieG noted. Well, now the speedo is wacked out and bouncing all over the place. If it's not the tight bend to blame what could I have done wrong? I've removed the ends and made sure they were clean/lubed a few times now and still no improvement. Appreciate any helpful advice!!

09-01-2010, 01:02 PM	#7
bondobob Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Deep River, Ct Posts: 135	Re: Stock speedo cable bending radius I don't know if this will help but I seem to remember my dad grinding off the end of the cable to stop the speedo from bouncing. Maybe your tighter radius is pushing on the speedo housing/gears? Try loosening the nut holding it to the speedo so it pulls out a little or disconnect it from the trans and spin it by hand or with a drill to see if it's free. I'm done.

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