Speedometer cable issue

[MrBlimp]

When I got my 78 124 it was sans speedometer cable. I purchased a new one (snap onto back of speedometer not screw on), but had some issue with the internal cable not being long enough.

Once installed the cable wasn't working so I bought a universal one that would allow me to cut it to the exact length required but before I could install it the speedometer started working with the one that came in the new cable as if it finally self seated.

After a few hundred miles it stopped again. So I figured the shortness of the cable allowed it to unseat.

When I pulled it out I found it had snapped clean. I checked the outer cable and found that that about 3 inches of the exterior coating was gone and the internal metal wrap was badly damaged.

I've ordered a new one but am questioning how this could have occurred. Could there be something rubbing (like the steering column) or maybe some slight kink stressed the inner cable heating it up and melting the outer cover and metal wrapping. I think had that occurred I would have smelt something from the outer cable.

[grrrdot]

Last time I replaced my speedo cable I had to lube the inner cable otherwise it would get stuck. Not sure if something like that could have happened in your case?
-G