VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Speedometer cable

Can Anybody tell me what the ends of the speedometer inner cable look like?
I have the square-sided end that goes to the gauge but the other end that goes to the transmission doesn’t have a square-sided end.
Could it have been broken off?

The end is probably broken off and still stuck in the speedometer drive gear at the rear of the transmission. You will need to remove the gear and get that end out before you can install a new one.

What are you working on?
Speedometers with the square pin?? on the back were last used ion 1936 (my experience). The cable for that speedo has an appropriate "box" on the end. The other end of that cable often has a round pin with a pinched tang on one side. The transmission gear will have the right size round hole with a slot on one side for the aforementioned tang.
If this make no sense, let me know, I can find one and post a photo.

Mike

Thank you

Thanks.
Yes A pic would be great.
Not sure what a “tang” is but it may be what a part called the “tip” is.
The end that goes in the back of the dash gauge has about a 1” long square-sided end. That may be the “tip or “tang?”
The other end that goes into the side of the transmission housing does not have anything.
Maybe The transmission end just goes into the small hole inside the threaded hole in transmission and is held tight when you screw the housing down on it?
I saw a new cable for sale but it looked like it was the same as mine.
My email is ferryboat5555@gmail.com

I have a n.o.s. spedo cable that I just took a look at and it's the same type of cable in your post. Small metal square on one
end and nothing on the other end , just cable.

O.K.
I realize now, that I mis-interpreted your original post.
Many "universal" replacement speedo cables came with one end swaged square and the other end left round. They would include a separate tip with a square end that was to be crimped or glued onto the round end after the cable had been cut to length.
Cable replacement kits that were specific to given application were swaged square on Both ends and often had a collar crimped a inch or so from one end (top, I presume) to keep the cable in place, once installed.
In the old days a parts store would buy bulk rolls of cable and cut it to length to match the customers broken pieces, or perhaps after consulting a chart, and then swage the ends square. I have one of the swaging tools that transforms the round end to square.
My lengthy dissertation above, is about the 1936 and earlier speedo cable characteristics.

Mike

Thanks!
Yes - maybe the plain end is held somehow in the hole it goes into on the side of the transmission and doesn’t need a squared end.
I guess I’ll find out.
Thanks again for looking.

The plain end has a rib on one side that fits into the slot in the gear shaft.

I have seen some universal cables that have a square end cable at the transmission end with two or three various adapter tips to fit the different sizes of driven gears.

It would still be helpful to know what you are working on.

Mike

Thanks
I’ll look

Chevrolet 1938 1/2 ton pickup
Original 216 engine

Mine is 38
Chevys of the 40s sells what they call a “tip” that attached to the cut end, I assume by crimping it some way.
The hole in my transmission housing looks round same size as the cut round end but I would think it would have to have a flatside or key of some kind to turn with the transmission.

There are many variations of speedo cables. Some replacement and later mfg cables use a plastic outer housing and the cable tips simply pushed and locked into the end of the housing. The drive end gear in the transmission "hole" should have a slot in it. I suggest you remove the gear and post a photo of that and the cable end.

Thanks.
I’ve been a VCCA member for many years but
New to this site.
I’ll have to see how post pics.

This might be the end you need.

Sings38,

I checked with a forum Moderator and he gave your user ID VCCA member privileges, so you can upload photos directly to the club's server to be shown in your posts.

Use the Full Editor to create your posts and then you can use the Attachment Manager to drag and drop up to ten photos per post.

Enjoy! Dean

Thank you!
But looks complicated to me.
I’m used to just attaching pics to messages, emails etc.
Might take awhile to figure out the way it has to be done on this site.

Did you enlarge and look at the photo I posted above?

Mike

I had the same problem with my 35 standard coupe. I contacted Bob's Speedometer Shop talked to Pat and told him what vehicle I have. I sent him my cable and he sent a newly made cable with the correct ends and it was about $ 85.00 and it looks original. I did this about a month ago so I know you could get it done.
Doc

Yes thanks.
However the hole in my transmission is perfectly round with no slot or indentation of any kind.
And the speedometer end is round also.
As soon as I figure out how to post pics I’ll show both.

The trans end is crimped on to cable and may have came lose and is still in hole ( transmission ) . You may want to try magnet or pic to get out .

Thanks I’ll check that.