replacing speedometer inner cable on 1969 280SL

[rutger kohler]

Hi, The squared end on the inner solid speedo cable on my  pagoda is showing a bit of wear, where it fits into the speedo. I know in older cheaper makes of car you could pull the cable out, take it to just about any garage and have them make a new one.  Is it possible to pull the inner cable out from the in the dashboard, is a "standard diameter" and most importantly is it easy to feed it back down and into the gearbox again without  pulling anything off the gearbox?

[WRe]

Hi,
decide yourself, see photo!
...WRe

[batman]

Normally, NO, the inner cable can NOT be pull out from the dash end as it crimped at the transmission end, meaning that you would need to replace the whole cable (inner & outer).

As you would need to obtain a RHD version - these are very hard to get. I was considering buying a new one (as I have my dash out) and Tom Hansen from MB recently quoted me US$260 for a new one.

[Paul & Dolly]

Mark,

There must be someone like this

http://www.speedycables.com/

down by you ?

The local VSCC Vintage guys use Speedy cables, they were always quite accommodating.

any help ?
Paul

[WRe]

Hi,
what's the difference between a RHD and a LHD speedo cable (length)?
...WRe

[batman]

I guess it can only be lenght. I have never measured the two but looking at the extra distance a RHD cable would need to travel across the dash versus a LHD cable needing to come almost directly up and just slightly across from the tranny - the RHD cable may be 1m longer

[rutger kohler]

Hi, thanks for all the replies, I have had another look and suddenly the fit doesn't look too bad!  I think I will jack the back wheels onto wheelstands and start the car up and in gear at low speed to make sure the speedo runs ok before I put it all back together.

[rutger kohler]

Have since found the inner speedo cable was indeed broken. I had no trouble extracting the longer piece from the bottom (or the short bit from the top). I did not have to remove anything under the car other than the cotter bolt that holds the bottom of the inner cable into the transmission.

Andy Burns gave me an inner cable from a W108 which is exactly the same only approx 200mm longer. I did consider getting this cut down and re-squared on the end that fits into the Speedometer itself, however I got a brand new inner cable made from a local instrument repair company for $NZ56 which is about $US40.  This included a new end for the bottom, plus courier charge.

From this it appears there is no need to buy a complete inner and outer cable for north of $US200.