The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors New speedo cable installation issue for 1957 3100

I am installing a new speedometer cable in my '57 3100, 235, with 4 speed floor shift. The new cable slides part of the way in but will not get close enough for the knurled nut to thread on. It seems that the new cable is getting hung up on the long shoulder on the speedometer. Is this a common issue? Do I need to use more force to get the cable to seat? I hate to force it if it should just slide in easily. This is a 63" cable from LMC Truck. Thanks in advance!

Make sure that something isn't jammed inside speedo head. Just had same issue with my 1955, wouldn't go into back of speedo.

Try maybe a mirror to see if you can see up in there. I was lucky just head out for another reason so it came out easy.

What does the old speedo cable look like, might be a sign of your problem.

Maybe a broken piece of the old cable in the socket? Compare the old with the new as far as the length of the square end, compare the other end of the cable, you might be able to flip it inside the housing. If the square is too long, take it over to the bench grinder.

I never thought of a broken cable. Maybe some day I will be so wise. And I should have thought to keep the old cable...which would have told me if it was broken. Thanks for the help! I may just mark and remove the wiring to see what I can find with the speedo all of the way out. Might explain why the speedo didn't work previously? Oh well...onward. Thanks!

Bingo! Or should I say 'Nuts'! Broken cable. Now to figure out how to get it out. Way deep inside. At least you all pointed to what the problem was. Thanks again!

If you have a strong magnet...the type used in older style computer hard drives...this will sometimes be enough to pull the broken end out for you. Good luck.

You might want to pull the whole gauge panel out, clean and lube the speedo, if a cable broke off at that spot, I would be investigating why it was under enough strain to break.

I've kept one of those from a circa 1970 Memorex 30 meg disk drive in my garage since I scrapped a bunch of them for the gold content in the early 80's. Probably use it once a month, usually for magnetizing screwdrivers, etc. Probably weighs 5-10 pounds.

I guess I was luck with my cable, it must have been an aftermarket cable already as it had a plastic tip going into the speedo head. I was able to drill out the plastic piece and reassemble with the new cable on to back of speedo. Just waiting for the weather to permit a test drive.

Good luck

The plastic adapter probably explains the broken/non-working scenario. You might be fine once you get it back together.