Wouldn't you know it!

This is the place to discuss restoration problems, post questions or projects-complete or partial.
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rjkoop
Posts: 976
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:45 am
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spider
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Wouldn't you know it!

Post by rjkoop »

So I finally got my car registered and got a temporary permit (10 days) to allow me to take the car to get it safetied.

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Runs great but I noticed the speedometer is not working which won't pass safety in Canada. So I'm thinking the cable popped off on the speedometer. So I removed the gauges and it had fallen off. Just in case while I had it apart I unscrewed the tranny end of the cable, pulled out the cable, cleaned it, lubed it and put it back in. Also I ensured that the plastic clip on the speedo end was attached well. Hopefully it will work.

It seemed that the cable seemed a bit short for the housing (ie. it didn't stick out enough). Has anyone had this issue before? Maybe once I seated both ends of the housing the cable inside should sit well enough. Not sure.
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MrJD
Posts: 551
Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:23 pm
Your car is a: Looking to ask questions about a 79 2.0
Location: Laurinburg NC

Re: Wouldn't you know it!

Post by MrJD »

nice looking car. Good luck with the issue.
vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: Wouldn't you know it!

Post by vandor »

I think they look short, but are actually just right when you bolt everything back up.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
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rjkoop
Posts: 976
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:45 am
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spider
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Wouldn't you know it!

Post by rjkoop »

So took it for a test drive and it was fixed! But after about 20 minutes stopped working again. I think the clip doesn't hold over the bumps. So I'm going to try a zip tie to hold it in place.

Let me son drive the car. He's never driven standard and really enjoyed learning on this car. It's pretty forgiving.
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rjkoop
Posts: 976
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:45 am
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spider
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Wouldn't you know it!

Post by rjkoop »

So I took off the steering column/dash again. This time I ensured that the cable is in and was clips engaged correctly. I also noticed that I had to slide a plastic column up over the clip to ensure it doesn't come off. I even put a zip tie so the column couldn't slide back down. Put everything back together and it still doesn't work. I'm thinking a small piece of the cable broke off and it's just a 1/4" too short and not engaging the speedometer fully. The end of the cable at the speedometer end is recessed into the housing about 3/4". Is that normal or should it be closer to the end of the clips?

I'm going to try to unhook from the transmission end again and when I twist the cable I should see the speedometer turn. I'll also check the cable at the transmission end and ensure it's long enough.
User avatar
rjkoop
Posts: 976
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:45 am
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spider
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Wouldn't you know it!

Post by rjkoop »

Pulled the cable out again, this time from the transmission side. I'm thinking that I installed the cable the wrong way around. One end has a squared off length of about 3/4". The other has a squared off end of about 1 1/4". Here's a picture...

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Does anyone know which side (the speedo or the transmission) should have the longer squared off part of the cable?
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