Speedo cable broken!

Technical questions and answers
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Stewart
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 5:02 pm
Location: Norfolk

Speedo cable broken!

Post by Stewart »

Dear all, "Can anyone advise me on what to replace my broken speedo cable with"? I drive a late stage one, I am guessing it would be either a Rang Rover or a Series 3, but I am not sure which. If you know what I need and can offer me as much help and advice, it really would be appreciated. Many thanks Stewart.
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Geoff
Posts: 599
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 2:21 am
Location: Leicester UK

Re: Speedo cable broken!

Post by Geoff »

I too would be interested if anyone thinks they have any definitive wisdom on this subject. The Series 3 parts book lists two cables specifically for the 109 V8: PRC1599 and RTC3495. Both are still available, the latter considerably more expensive. Does anyone know what the actual difference is between them? (I don't know about the Range Rover Classic but they're evidently, according to the parts book, different from those for the 4 & 6 cylinder Series 3) The parts book states the PRC1599 is for RHD detoxed vehicles up to vehicle 158451 (January 1982) and RTC3495 is for all 109V8s from vehicle 158452 - it doesn't say what you want if your vehicle is pre-1982 and either LHD or non-detoxed! (Can anyone explain to me why detoxed or otherwise should make any difference to a speedo cable, unless it's just some other coincidental change?) The parts sellers all seem to simply list the PRC1599 for pre-1982 and RTC3495 for 1982 onwards Stage 1s, if they say anything at all, although I have seen PRC1599 being sold on ebay as for 1982 onwards, not that that means anything. Confused? - you will be:

I fitted a genuine PRC1599 to my first (1981) Stage 1 in 1997 - it was a bastard to fit to the back of the (original, correct) speedometer and in fact wouldn't connect to it at all until I broke off a plastic clip/lug on it - it seems to have worked fine ever since. Last year I fitted another PRC1599 to my other (1981, non-detoxed) Stage 1 - it has the wrong speedometer fitted and the cable was always falling off and it was under-reading - it's still falling off & still under-reading and I have a correct speedometer purchased on ebay waiting to be fitted and am pretty sure that's the cause of the problem, but now I'm wondering if, at the same time as going to the trouble of changing the speedometer, I should if possible be sure I've fitted the right cable. Anyone??
2 1981 Stage One 109 V8 SWs
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Pageant Blue 109 V8
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:09 am
Location: Redhill, Surrey, United Kingdom

Re: Speedo cable broken!

Post by Pageant Blue 109 V8 »

Detoxed and non-detoxed engines used different air cleaners. The non-detoxed uses the big dustbin type, the detoxed the RRC type. I would guess speedo cable differences are due to length of the cable to get past these different air cleaners.

I got fed up with the one piece type failing, especially breaking the clip when forgetting to unhook the speedo end when moving the instrument panel out - so opted for the two-piece type. Whilst a bit more expensive it is more convenient to disconnect the head end and pull the instrument panel out.

The 109 V8 Speedometer Cable has a unique configuration (no surprises there). The head end has the Series 3 plastic clip connection, but the gearbox end has the clamp plate with stud and nylock fitting for the LT95. I'm pretty sure the RRC cable has a threaded nut connection at the head end. The 110 version has a different shaped plastic clip connector, which looks only slightly more robust than the 109 V8 version.
disco2hse
Posts: 1637
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:51 am
Location: Auckland NZ

Re: Speedo cable broken!

Post by disco2hse »

All of those, plus beware of components whose manufacturer starts with B.

I recently replaced mine and after finding three cables that were made with bent top ends, and consequently caused the speedo to wobble horribly. Additionally, I found the spring to be very thin. In the end, I got one made for less than the cost of the manufactured variety.

About the speedo reading wrong, it needs to be corrected. This needs a specialist Smiths technician and a machine that looks like something from Flash Gordon. The magnets need adjustment or it may even need a gear change.

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Alan

1983 ex-army FFR 109 Stage 1
2005 Disco 2 HSE TD5
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