Smiths speedo rebuild

Author
Discussion

TooMany2cvs

Original Poster:

29,008 posts

125 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
I've just got a 1980 s3 Landy back on the road, and the speedo's playing up.

The odometer works just fine, and is accurate, so it's not a cable issue.

From cold, the speedo is broadly accurate (although I've not checked it
against GPS), and the needle smooth. But, after about 10 miles or so, it
becomes ever more pessimistic, until it refuses to acknowledge anything
above 30. The other day, it decided 30 was where it REALLY wanted to be,
and just stuck there, even when the speed dropped. A day later, I got
back in the car - and the speedo still read 20, until I moved the car,
at which point it decided that we really were stationary.

The odometer says 42k miles, and is accurate and original, so I don't
want to just lob a replacement in.

Anybody got any experience or recommendations for getting it rebuilt?

Mellow Yellow

885 posts

261 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
I've used Speedy Cables in the past and found them to be very good, although more recently I've heard their turnaround times are quite high so I'd suggest checking beforehand.

TooMany2cvs

Original Poster:

29,008 posts

125 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
Mellow Yellow said:
I've used Speedy Cables in the past and found them to be very good, although more recently I've heard their turnaround times are quite high so I'd suggest checking beforehand.
Thanks - they're one of the ones I'd found, and dropped an email. You're right about turnaround - they're saying "20 working days".

Missingbadly

198 posts

110 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
Speedy Cables are very expensive. have it apart and you will find its simple and probably just needs lubricating. If somethings broken you can always still send it to them but personally I would still buy another and use it for parts. Speedy's are good for recalibrating or refurbishing (if you have a 1930 Bentley) but are a sledgehammer to crack a nut for your issue I think.

nta16

7,898 posts

233 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
as above some repair for themselves, there are details and probably videos on t'net somewhere

or a couple of alternative specialists, I've never used them but have seen them recommended by others

J D O Instruments - http://www.jdo1.com/

Speedograph Richfield Ltd - http://www.speedograph-richfield.com/index.html

Edited by nta16 on Thursday 29th January 14:55

bstark

204 posts

132 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
We've used JDO a couple of times for my other half's MG. First time converting the rev counter for electronic ignition, the second repairing the speedo to correct a wobbly needle and broken odometer.

No hassle and turned around in a few days for a reasonable price. I'd recommend them:

JDO

Bob

lowdrag

12,869 posts

212 months

Friday 30th January 2015
quotequote all
Mellow Yellow said:
I've used Speedy Cables in the past and found them to be very good, although more recently I've heard their turnaround times are quite high so I'd suggest checking beforehand.
Four months for all my E-type gauges and that was with a lot of pushing. May well just be old grease gumming it up and a shot of WD40 might loosen it up.

TooMany2cvs

Original Poster:

29,008 posts

125 months

Friday 30th January 2015
quotequote all
lowdrag said:
Four months for all my E-type gauges and that was with a lot of pushing. May well just be old grease gumming it up and a shot of WD40 might loosen it up.
Oof. Thanks for the warning.

With a couple of PDFs that I've located, I've just about summoned up the courage to dive in there and have a rummage. It almost certainly is just a bit sticky - it might well free up with some use. The Landy's back on the road for the first time since 2011 - it did about 3,000 miles across three years then, after sitting for a decade before that...

PositronicRay

26,959 posts

182 months

Friday 30th January 2015
quotequote all
I've always been happy with Alan Davis @ The Gauge Shop. Quick turn around and resolved a minor problem with no fuss. He's not everyone's favorite but speak as you find I've found him okay.

nta16

7,898 posts

233 months

Friday 30th January 2015
quotequote all
lowdrag said:
Four months for all my E-type gauges and that was with a lot of pushing. May well just be old grease gumming it up and a shot of WD40 might loosen it up.
yes Tony my mate calls them "not-so"