Simple speedometer cable question

[woodsietx]

Seems like a silly question but when you loosen a speedometer cable from the instrument cluster, can you pull the inside cable out of the sleeve? If you can, does that mean it's broke somewhere?

I'm trying to determine if I need a cable, the drive gear or both. Two different speedometers won't work.

Thanks.

Woodsie

[Turtleface]

Seems like a silly question but when you loosen a speedometer cable from the instrument cluster, can you pull the inside cable out of the sleeve? If you can, does that mean it's broke somewhere?

I'm trying to determine if I need a cable, the drive gear or both. Two different speedometers won't work.

Thanks.

Woodsie

I think so. My cable's broken, and I was able to. Keep pulling the cable out, how it's broken might indicate that it needs attention, possibly in routing. That reminds me, I've got to order a new cable.

[bwringer]

You can pull an intact cable out from the wheel end, but not from the speedo end.

Therefore, if you can pull it out from the speedo end, you have a broken cable and/or the fitting at the wheel end is detached from the cable.

[DanTheMan]

If you pull it from the speedometer end and it pulls out, it's either broken or the end has unscrewed from the cable down at wheel. If you find it's not broken, you can screw the driver end back on (counterclockwise, put red loctite or epoxy in to hold it and it won't do that again), don't screw it on too tightly or you'll ruin rhe cable and have to buy a new one. The speedo cable and tach cable are the same, but different lengths, by the way.