Speedo cable

[B-bear604]

So I’m looking for some advice. The other day we took Yogi out for a run down to Bellingham, a nice 140km trip, first real distance that it has gone since we bought it. Everything went fairly well (a few hiccups with the engine, but going to clean more grounds for that) but the speedometer stopped working on the way back. Read a few posts and figured it was the cable so I ordered a new one. Yesterday I was cleaning up the dash pod trying to trace some lighting issues and I noticed that the cable had fallen off the back of the speedometer. Replaced it and all is fine, but it doesn’t seem to hold on very well.
So the question is should I just replace it when the new one gets here, keep the part for when it does break, or send it back.
Just for reference I have an 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia, originally from California, with the original 2 cable setup still in place.

[geo_tonz]

If the clip is faulty on the original then replace it. If you just didn't have it on there very good before but now it's good then lube it up and run the original (return the other if you wish). Also lube the lower one and check that the square hole in the grease cap is not rounding out. You can pop the cap off and peen around it with a center punch to tighten it if you need, then use a square file to sharpen the corners so the cable end fits. Should be good for a while after that.
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"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper

[B-bear604]

thanks for the tips, decided to keep the replacement just "in case" figured with shipping to and from wouldn't be worth returning it. If the cable falls off the speedo again I'll see about fixing the clip that holds it on, since it shows no issues when attatched.

Now to figure out my dash lights.....

[dobryan]

If it helps I have also zip tied the speedo cable sheath to a dash part to keep it more secure to the back of the speedo. YMMV.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

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[B-bear604]

That's what I was thinking a zip tie right at the clip maybe with something under it push the tab deeper in the groove.

[kalispell365]

Also,
Those clips are weak by nature, especially on the aftermarket cables. I have wrapped a little bit of electric tape partially around the speedometer nipple and if you just use a little it will keep the cable engaged properly.
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1983 Diesel Vanagon Westfalia chassis with Subaru 2.2l

[fxr]

(Newbie alert - first post)

One of the things I had to fix on the (new to us) Westy yesterday was the intermittent speedo. Yes, the clip had broken off at the speedo end, and it was weakly tied on with ancient electrical tape. So I tweaked a cheapo hose clamp to hold it on securely.

Start with a standard 3/4" hose clamp, open it up, bend the inside end by 90°, cut that end to a point, re-assemble around the end of the speedo cable so that the pointed bit is held in the groove that the broken plastic clip should have been in.

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Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[Gnarlodious]

I put on a new cable and the first thing that happened was the plastic retainer broke off. My solution was to use silicone in the firewall hole to anchor the cable in place such that it always presses against its socket. Has worked well, stays tight and is easy to get on and off as I upgraded my cluster. No retainer required!
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Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit