Yes, I'm back with another one...

I got a cable kit and need to cut it to the right length. The book says this cable is 69.20" long.

I am going to assume (and we all know what that does) that means tip to tip of the actual cable, and has nothing to do with the case or sheath or whatever it's called. At that length, there is some cable protruding from both ends of the case, and I think there has to be.

All this comes from the fact that the two remaining pieces of the broken cable are not 69.20" long combined, and I'm now wondering if this is a replacement cable that was cut too short... and that's what caused the problem.

Can anyone tell me if that is correct before I cut this puppy?

 

Joe , can't help on the length but I would assemble one end and install it to either the speedometer or tranny, which ever is easier, run it how it fits best then mark and trim the other end as needed.

 

Thanks Dave. I'm thinking I could cut the cable to 69.20" and try your method without clamping the new end on. If it fits right lengthwise, I could then trim off the end to attach the new drive pin.

Did that make sense to anyone besides me?

 

As long as 62.9" is not to short. I meant 69.2".

 

Joe, the only problem with cutting it to the 69.20 is that the cable housing may have been switched out longer or shorter somewhere during Betsy's long life. Why not mark the open end at 69.20", slide the cable into the housing 'till it fits firmly into the drive gears and see what that length looks like. Measure twice, cut once. Go slowly, I am sure you'll figure out what length to cut.

 

OK, so I measured 4 times and cut twice... The cable in the kit was 113" long, so I cut it to about 69 3/4" to start. I did slip it into the back of the speedo to see how much was sticking out the other end. It "looked" like it was about 1/2" too long (the "expert" speedo cable maker speaking here ).

The old cable was 68 3/4" long. The cable length is supposed to be 69.20". So I'm thinking the PO made it a little on the short side, it fell back slightly out of the speedo, bound up and broke. I'm going with that theory until I learn my new one doesn't work.

I calculated the cut so it would be 69.2 inches after I added the end piece from the kit, attached it to the speedo, and ran it with my drill for 1/2 mile. Boy am I tired.

It's too dark to attach to the tranny now and I don't like it when I can't see the black widows. So I'll hook up the other end in daylight and HAVE to test drive it.