Speedometer cable - grounding strip

[66andBlue]

I am in the process of installing a new speedo cable and the old tachdrive cable again and have a question about the grounding strip (see picture).  Whereas the clamp on the speedo cable touched the bare metal sheeth the one on the tach cable did not.
Questions: should I remove the plastic cover on the tach cable to make sure it is also grounded?  The new speedo cable does not have the bare spot, so I guess, I should remove the plastic and replicate the old one.
 :?: Why do these cables need to be grounded :?:  There are ground cables on the instrument cluster in addition.

Download Attachment: SpeedoCable_grounding.jpg
52.86 KB

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[merrill]

Alfred,
i do not know if that is a groind cable, but on my 230 sl it bolts to the firewll with a screw, just to the drivers side of the upper speedo cable hole.  

matt

Matt
Austin Tx
66 230 sl - "white"
78 300 D - Blue
98 C230

[merrill]

alfred,
sorry, I did not answer your question.,  on my car this holds the cable to hold the hood.  this is not on the speedo or tach cable.

Matt
Austin Tx
66 230 sl - "white"
78 300 D - Blue
98 C230

[66andBlue]

Matt,
on my car there are clearly two copper mesh ground straps both bolted to the same bare spot on the firewall. One is attached to the tachometer cable (but not touching the metal sheeth) and also to the temperature sensing capillary. The other is attached to speedometer cable, touching the metal sheeth.  I have changed the picture in my original post to show that it is not the cable that releases the hood.
I wonder if anybody else has these straps?

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic