TheSamba.com :: View topic - so is there a trick to installing a new speedo cable?

Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:50 pm

My son's speedometer quit working. I've bought a new cable and hope that's all it is. But I've never changed one before...anything I need to know?

Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:51 pm

Nope... just like a bicycle cable.

Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:47 am

First use the broken cable end, insert into speedo, turn with your hand, make sure speedo turns (the needle should pop up if you turn it fast in the correct direction). If the speedo is locked up which caused cable #1 to break, you'll just break the new one.

Pull off the circlip or cotter pin at he wheel dust cap, pull broken cable out. Easier to fit back through dust cap if you pull that off (like with a claw hammer) first.

Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:53 am

Cusser wrote: Easier to fit back through dust cap if you pull that off (like with a claw hammer) first.

feed some extra through the spindle, put the end through the square hole on the dust cap and install circle clip. then gently feed the extra cable back through the spindle by pull on the cable and pushing on the cap.

Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:51 am

There are two rubber grommets that the cable passes thru...
One at the left front inner fender.
The other on the inside of the spindle.

If they are worn, now would be a good time to change them.

Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:46 am

I hate to admit this, but it hadn't occurred to me that the actual speedometer might be broken. So, if I insert the other end of the cable into the speedometer and spin it, it should tell me if it's good? And if it isn't, is this tricky to replace? I did a quick check and it seems there are several used speedometers in the classified section if I need one. Are they fairly interchangeable? This is a 71 Super.

Thu Feb 11, 2010 7:20 am

The speedometer is easy to work on. You could rebuild it yourself. There's a DIY in the Sticky at the top of the forum:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=179776

Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:27 am

also make sure when you put that cable through you pay attention to the old one and all the holes it went through, i broke two of them cause i got it through the first hole and not the second...

Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:36 am

garrisons54 wrote: I hate to admit this, but it hadn't occurred to me that the actual speedometer might be broken. So, if I insert the other end of the cable into the speedometer and spin it, it should tell me if it's good?
Yep.

garrisons54 wrote: is this tricky to replace? This is a 71 Super.

Not bad to replace; draw a good diagram of the wires color codes and label them with tape before starting. If yours is bad, try to fix it, use that link above - I did mine over a decade ago, works fine.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:46 pm

Has anyone ever had to enlarge the hole in the dust cap to get a new speedo cable through it? Or is it one of those things that has to be just right?

Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:06 pm

Dont be like me and buy a new cable and let it sit for 3 months before finding out it is about 6 inches too short....

Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:46 pm

I never had to open up the hole - just have the wheel off the ground so you can spin it a little while trying to get the cable in. sometimes there is a bunch of crud in the opening in the back of teh spindle that may throw the cable off.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:31 am

The cable fed through without a problem. I'm just trying to put it through the dust cap, and getting frustrated that it won't go through the hole in the dust cap.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:00 am

91lespaul wrote: The cable fed through without a problem. I'm just trying to put it through the dust cap, and getting frustrated that it won't go through the hole in the dust cap.
I'd try filing the cable end a little till it fits, rather than modifying the OE part that's the correct size