Speedo Cable Change

[Coupeboy]

Has anybody changed their speedo cable recently? I changed the gearbox oil yesterday - relatively straight forward - and was planning to swap to a new speedo cable at the same time (flickering speedo needle at low speed). Unfortunately I could not find a way to undo the cable fat hexagon end from the speedo drive wheel unit (I had the drive removed from the gearbox). I didn't try to undo it with the cable/drive reinserted into the gearbox as I couldn't see anything to provide resistance . Any ideas please or am I missing something obvious? Thanks. BTW how are you supposed to 'see' the new oil level? I resorted to putting in 1.85 litres (half way between Lotus' claimed refill and dry fill)

[dapinky]

BTW how are you supposed to 'see' the new oil level?

DIPSTICK

The bit which goes into the hole has 2 markings on it - min & max.

When it is fitted into the hole, then removed, it acts as a dipstick

[Coupeboy]

Yeah, I know that but because the new oil is so 'clean' after several attempts at wiping and re-inserting I gave up trying to discern where the level was. The gear wheel was definitely being covered but it was running off/reflecting badly off the level marks. It was quite obvious with the old, darker coloured oil. For anybody else doing this I suggest measuring the (correct) level of the old oil (you can see it through the gearbox opening) before draining it. That way you can fill with new oil to the same level. BTW - shifting with my new Millers 75W90 seems better and I haven't managed to induce yet the 3rd gear crunch I had when quick upshifting with the old oil. I have never seen such yucky dark coloured gearbox oil the colour of what came out so maybe it had never been changed (110k miles)?

[DeanG]

I did the speedo cable this year 91 Federal car so it could be quite different. I did this job once before. In both cases I had to resort to pulling out the instrument cluster as I couldn't get a good angle of pull to get the cable to snake through the obstructions.

The first time an errant cable tie caused me a bunch of grief. I could feel it but couldn't see it. Cutting it was one of the more tramatic events in my M100 ownership. I was very sure but not absolutely shure that the cable tie was the only thing in the jaws of the nipper.

With the new cable in hand it should be obvious how to disconnect it from the transmission drive gear. It took a fair amount of force to dislodge it on my car.

Good luck.

[Specky]

Tiz easier than it first appears,

Undo the little 10mm bolt, remove it with the retaining plate.

Simply remove speedo drive.....

Now for really what to do....

Undo the little 10mm bolt, remove it with the retaining plate.

You're aiming to pull straight up the on the whole speedo cable assembly.( inclusive of the nut looking housing), at first it will appear jammed, but some gentle teasing with a flat dumpy bladed screwdriver will soon have it out.

Once out, you can check your gearbox oil, cos it's also the dipstick.

Have you got two bits or one? Or another way of putting it, is the gear drive still on the cable?

If you want to remove the drive gear off the end of the cable,remove the cable as an assembly, drift out the roll pin, remove the gear, undo the big nut on the cable.

TTFN