6 replies to this topic

[james753]

Hello all,
Having just battled with replacing the speedometer drive on my mini over the weekend, and eventually finding a good method to loosen the old cable from the gearbox end, i thought it might be useful to someone if i shared my idea!

I found that the cable was too tight for me to undo with my hand, especially as its difficult enough to fit your hand up past the drive shaft anyway, so eventually, after trying to get grips or pliers on the thing, came up with this method:

1, Acquire a medium sized chisel and hammer.
2, Poke chisel through hole where driveshaft goes through subframe.
3, Position chisel on one side of the nut on the end of the cable.
4, Tap gently with hammer until the chisel digs in slightly and rotates the nut.
5, Repeat until finger loose then undo by hand.
6, Congratulate yourself and put the kettle on.


Pictures of the method:





Hope this is useful

James

[Asphalt]

I've always done it either that way or just removed the radiator

Be carefull with the chisel-method:
A mate of mine chopped of the whole speedo-drive off the gearbox
No brute force here

I think that's worth a sticky, isn't it?
Good to have a illustrated guide here.

Regards,
Jan

[dklawson]

On early cars like mine, removing the radiator is a much more complicated task than it is for later cars. I'd also be afraid to use a chisel to turn the knurled nut.

The method I use is to reach up from underneath the car with a 7/16" [11mm] open end wrench and remove the single hex head bolt holding the speedo cable flange to the gearbox. You can then remove the flange and cable complete from underneath the car so you can work on the cable at the work bench. Getting the bolt out is a bit slow if you have big hands but on early car's its preferable to removing either the radiator or the driveshaft.

[james753]

You do have to be gentle with the chisel, and positioned on the side of the nut to avoid chopping through the cable

[jmetal88]

Thanks for the guide! My speedo cable broke while I was out on the highway today and I managed to remove it using the chisel method, although I discovered mine was loose enough that I did not need the hammer, as I was able to supply enough force with the chisel to move the knurled nut by just pushing with it.

[tadleysimon]

i changed mine today, i did the same thing but i used a flat screwdriver anf i poked it up directly underneath, (where the txt box is on the second pic)

[Guess-Works.com]

I use one of these.... a basin or tap wrench, will un-nip speedo cables fairly easily...

Edited by GuessWorks.co.uk, 11 November 2009 - 06:11 AM.