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Motion Pictures Model A Speedometer Cable

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by lake_harley, Jan 2, 2021.

  1. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,405

    lake_harley
    Member

    I'll be using a stock oval 30/31 speedometer. The transmission is a Borg Warner 4-speed. The Model A cable screws onto the transmission speedometer output, but the Model A cable has a tang fitting on the end. Might the cable end be ground to a 1/8" square shape to match the transmission speedometer output?

    Thanks, in advance for suggestions.

    Lynn


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  2. theboss20
    Joined: Dec 30, 2018
    Posts: 274

    theboss20

    Most of the time the ‘tang’ fitting is slid over the squared cable...may take a soaking with WD40 or Nutsoff to get it loose...


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  3. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,405

    lake_harley
    Member

    So you're saying that the round cable end with the tang is slid over a squared-off cable end that might match the gear for the transmission's speedometer output? That would almost be too easy!

    Lynn
     
  4. theboss20
    Joined: Dec 30, 2018
    Posts: 274

    theboss20

    Good chance...we used to make Speedo cables and you had an anvil former that squared the round cable for different uses and one of those uses was for sliding the various types and shapes of tangs on to the cable...


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  5. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,405

    lake_harley
    Member

    Cool! I'll check that out this afternoon. With any luck at all that would cross one more thing off the still-have-to-do list. Thanks!

    Lynn
     
  6. ClarkH
    Joined: Jul 21, 2010
    Posts: 1,568

    ClarkH
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I believe the driveline end of the Model A speedo cable was tanged in '28-'29 and square in '30-'31. So maybe just get a later cable?
     
  7. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,405

    lake_harley
    Member

    Well, I pulled and tugged at the tanged end but it didn't budge. I don't know if the cable was year correct but it was in a '30 coupe body, still with clamps in place inside the firewall, so I don't know what to say about "tanged" vs "Square" on the transmission end. Maybe someone had a '28/'29 turtle on the driveshaft for some reason?

    Anyhow.....I wanted to get something done if I could so I ended up machining the tanged end to a square on the milling machine. It was a trial and error, and very tedious process but I got the 4 flats within a couple thousanths of square and parallel. With a tiny bit of emory paper work to break the edges of the square it fit into the GM speedometer drive gear just fine. Now, I guess I'll wait to see if the old oval speedometer actually works.:rolleyes:

    It would have been easier to just buy a cut-to-fit cable with crimp-on ends (if such a thing is made for the type of ends I had to match), but then again I bought the mill to do one-off stuff so that's what I did.

    Lynn
     

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