Speedo cable. Grommet or not?

[SteveOS3]

Having woken to another pint or so of water in the footwell after, foolishly, going for a spin in the rain, I think I've traced the leak to the hole where the speedo passes through the bulkhead.

The gap is 2-3mm and not sealed, my question is should there be a grommet there?

I would add a photo but I don't know how so if anyone can tell me how to add one I'd appreciate it.

Many thanks,

SteveO

[Gerald-TVR]

Hi Steve

Are you sure its the speedo cable as both speedo and rev counter are electronic, a picture would help.

Uncle dave upload guide might help you

http://ph.uncle-dave.co.uk/upload/

[greymrj]

Basically, any unsealed hole in the body is going to leak! Many of the original seals will have perished or dropped out by now, and I am not convinced TVR did a particularly good job on them anyway. My advice would be to check for any possible leaks and use a modern sealant (one that doesn't set completely hard)rather than try to install plugs or grommets. I'd only bother with a grommet where something may need to move or to prevent something rubbing on the bodywork (not normally such a big issue on a GRP rather than a steel body), or where a hole is too big for sealant alone. Even where I have grommets I have been sealing them as well. I put a powerful light in each footwell one dark night and looked for light coming out! I certainly found a few places! I have been using one of the modern hi-tech mastics they use in composite building structures, cannot remember the name. My son swears by something from the car trade called sicaflex or something like that.

[SteveOS3]

First of all an apology - I obviously got up too early this morning because I meant to say accelerator cable not speedo, sorry.

Here's the picture.



I used the torch in the footwell trick as mentioned and found light around the heater cable and accelerator cable. I sealed the heater cable with flexible mastic but the hole around the accelerator cable may be too big, hence my thoughts to fit a grommet then seal with mastic. What do you think?

SteveO

[greymrj]

Looks as if the cable has been replaced quite recently. This is a pretty exposed spot for water thrown up from the wheels and there was certainly a grommet in there originally. Check first to ensure the steel plate inside hasn't started to corrode at all, be worth ensuring it is fully dried out then soaking the edge of the steel in some preservative (a heavy coat of WD40 would be better than nothing but dont spray it through all over the carpet, or get it onto the fibreglass at the opening as it will stop a sealer adhering). Then I would just cut a rubber bung to fill most of the opening, recess it a little from the outside, then build up perhaps a 3mm thickness of flexible sealant all round the cable and across the opening. If you need to change the cable you cut the sealant!
I'm glad you found other holes before you get wet feet again!

[SteveOS3]

All done,

I bought a 1" blanking grommet and cut the raised inner section off, made a hold for the cable, filled the gaps with mastic and put some on the back of the grommet to hold it in place.

Hey presto!



Thanks for the help grey

SteveO

[ketvrin]

Neat job... that should do the trick...

dont forget to have a browse of the "Useful Links" Wiki Steve... includes tips for loading pics (which you have obviously now mastered) but other gems of info and advice... especially owners rebuilds/pictures

K

[mikee boy]

Now you've done that you'll have another leak to find next time it rains, and then another, and then..........