Section : Dashboard and Instruments

Speedo needle bounce

Posted By : Andrew Szczecinski, 03-Apr-2006, 06:44am

Hi all

New to the Triumph scene but having a great time with my GT6!

However, apart from all the normal problems (endless list), my speedo needle has a life of its own. The needle bounces below and above the actual speed, getting worse as the speed increases. When i say worse i mean the swing from side to side increases.

I have purchased a new speedo cable as this was a cheap first hit but as yet haven&8217;t fitted it as it disappears towards the gearbox. I assume it&8217;s connected to the gearbox? If so where and how the heck do i get to it?

Any help much appreciated!

Thanks - Andy

Followups :

Speedo needle bounce

Posted By : Aidan Cunnane, 03-Apr-2006, 08:02am

Hi Andy,

You need to remove the gearbox tunnel from inside the car to access the other end of the speedo cable. Its a good opportunity to top up the gearbox oil while you're there....

Before you do all that, make sure that there are no obvious kinks in the cable as this can cause the problems you describe. Likewise, when fitting the new cable, make sure that is doesn't have any tight bends or kinks when fitted.

If you do have to get a replacement speedo, James Paddocks sell reconditioned ones for &163;55 plus vat. Make sure that you get one that's identical to your own. Mine was replaced at one stage by one that turned out to be reading 10 mph too little. There's a number under the rightmost side of the trip meter. This is the number of turns per mile and should match your current one (assuming that your current one is correct of course).

Hope this helps,

Aidan
- Speedo needle bounce
  
  Posted By : Andrew Szczecinski, 04-Apr-2006, 08:20am
  
  Great!
  
  Thanks for your help Aidan
  
  Andy
Speedo needle bounce

Posted By : Phil Grimble, 04-Apr-2006, 10:44am

Hi there, before you fit a new cable, are you sure it is nothing to do with the voltage stabiliser? I believe most/many speedo's fluctuate (gets ready to stand corrected ) - mine swings from 50 to 70 when tootling along A roads, so I assume I'm doing 60!
- Speedo needle bounce
  
  Posted By : Paul Bodiam, 04-Apr-2006, 11:07am
  
  Hi Phil
  
  It is unlikely to be anything to do with the voltage stabiliser. Although this is mounted on the back of the spedo for convenience, it is not connected wit the spedo operation in anyway - it simply provides a "stable" 10 Volt suppliy for the fuel and temperature gauges.
  
  cheers
  Paul
  - Speedo needle bounce
    
    Posted By : Andrew Szczecinski, 04-Apr-2006, 12:03pm
    
    Phil/Paul
    
    Thanks for the info. I wouldn't have known there was a voltage stabiliser or where it was situated but thanks for the input.
    
    Been doing the same as you Phil - driving between the swing and assuming im doing soemthing in between. However, it was a little worrying whilst driving between a set of those speed cameras that measure you over a set distance!
    
    One other thing - would the speedo swing be reason enough to fail the MOT?
    
    Andy
    - Speedo needle bounce
      
      Posted By : Phil Grimble, 04-Apr-2006, 12:29pm
      
      No worries. I knew there was such a thing and assumed it was the cause of the wayward needle in mine! I know/think the rev counter cable is driven from the distributor, guess it makes sense for the speedo to run from the gearbox! Re MOT failure, mine was MOT'd shortly before I bought it and it passed (assuming it was still fluctuating then).
      - Speedo needle bounce
        
        Posted By : Don Cook, 04-Apr-2006, 01:49pm
        
        Hi Andy
        
        Welcome to the world of Triumph. If you take the tunnel off then do everything you can under there while its off - its a pig, I hate taking the damn thing off.
        
        Apart from that I think all old speedos wave all over the place, mine regularly flutters between 40 and 80 mph. At the moment its not working and it passed the MOT a while back in that state, the testers don't take it out on the road and they operate the wheels (braking test) remotely.
        
        Speedo needle bounce
        
        Posted By : Andrew Szczecinski, 04-Apr-2006, 02:05pm
        
        Thanks for the warm welcome Don and your comments
        
        It's sounds like this might be a problem a number of Triumpoh owners face so im probably freeting over nothing.
        
        Looking forward to the South Yorkshire meeting tonight where i can bombard other GT6 owners with loads of questions.
        
        I bought my car with a view to running it for 18 to 24 months before i get serious about doing any work on it.
        
        Silly me - as soon i i lift the lid and saw all those oily bits i had to get my hands dirty.
        As soon as i washed it the brain went into overdrive about buying loads of new tools such as a mig welder to start making those repairs.
        
        Oh - im on the slippery slope now . . . . . . . but enjoying every minute!
        
        Speedo needle bounce
        
        Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 04-Apr-2006, 04:28pm
        
        No!! Don't do it!!
        Drive the car as much as you can, and resist the temptation to do anything major...
        I now have TWO fully MOT'd Triumphs off the road, as well as three other restorations on-going, all because I couldn't keep my hands off them long enough to drive and enjoy them....
        Colin
        
        Speedo needle bounce
        
        Posted By : Mark Elliott, 05-Apr-2006, 09:31pm
        
        Andy,
        
        Hope you got home safe and sound from the club meeting,
        
        i forgot to tell you you only have 1 reverse light working,
        
        Your car looks great! i need some of them wheels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
        
        Mark & Michelle
        
        Speedo needle bounce
        
        Posted By : Andrew Szczecinski, 06-Apr-2006, 08:22am
        
        Hi Mark
        
        Nice to see you both again at the meeting!
        Thanks for pointing out the probs with the lighting. Havent had chance to have a look at it yet but i do remember finding a couple of wires hanging about with gaffa tape on the end so a few nasty DIY wiring surprises may await me.
        
        The wheels do have the edge over the originals and im even starting to get used to that exhaust now i have a pair of industrial strength ear muffs!
        
        Regards - Andy & Isabelle
        
        Speedo needle bounce
        
        Posted By : Mark Elliott, 09-Apr-2006, 06:57pm
        
        Hiya Andy,
        
        Any luck with the bouncy cable?
        
        i think that the Triumph owner's are a great bunch, really helpful and full of great info,
        
        Cheers
        
        Mark
        
        Speedo needle bounce
        
        Speedo needle bounce
        
        Posted By : Andrew Szczecinski, 10-Apr-2006, 10:05pm
        
        Hi Mark
        
        I havent had chance to get stuck into the speedo cable yet but i have managed to sort the rear lights. Nothing more than poor terminal connections
        The club is a great place to bounce ideas about and get answers to problems.
        
        Your GT6 looks in good nick mate - looking forward to seeing it up close and compare notes!
        
        Cheers - Andy