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Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: My S1 on Monday,April 07, 2025, 09:39:48 AM

Title: Smiths Speedo Cable 90 Degree Adaptor
Post by: My S1 on Monday,April 07, 2025, 09:39:48 AM
A friend of mine who owns an S1A said that he had a recurring problem with his speedometer cable breaking due to the tight bend required at the gauge back.  Has anyone else with an S1 experienced this problem?  He suggested a 90 degree adaptor but I'm unable to find one on the internet.  Any suggestions or sources?
Title: Re: Smiths Speedo Cable 90 Degree Adaptor
Post by: BDA on Monday,April 07, 2025, 10:06:05 AM
Summit Racing has something that might help (https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/speedometer-cable-adapters?page=1). Amazon has 90° tach cable adapters which might work (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=90deg+tach+adapter&i=automotive&crid=208OPFETX7BJP&sprefix=90deg+tach+adapter%2Cautomotive%2C66&ref=nb_sb_noss). Autometer has this (https://www.autometer.com/catalogsearch/result?q=speedometer%20cable%20adapter).

Searching "90 degree speedo drive adapter" (no quotes) on DuckDuckGo gave me those and several more hits.
Title: Re: Smiths Speedo Cable 90 Degree Adaptor
Post by: My S1 on Monday,April 07, 2025, 10:58:41 AM
The difficulty that I'm having with the search is the thread size and count.  Mine measures out at 1/2" (12mm) with approximately 27 TPI.  It is in kph, not sure if that has any bearing on the subject.
Title: Re: Smiths Speedo Cable 90 Degree Adaptor
Post by: BDA on Monday,April 07, 2025, 11:26:12 AM
Have you tried Smiths dealers like Nisonger (https://nisonger.com/) or repair shops like North Hollywood North Hollywood Speedometer (https://www.nhspeedometer.com/)?
Title: Re: Smiths Speedo Cable 90 Degree Adaptor
Post by: Bryan Boyle on Monday,April 07, 2025, 12:55:42 PM
The difficulty that I'm having with the search is the thread size and count.  Mine measures out at 1/2" (12mm) with approximately 27 TPI.  It is in kph, not sure if that has any bearing on the subject.

It's a standard size for smiths/jaeger speedos.  I used a 90 degree adapter as they used in MGAs and Bs back when.  Never had a problem in 14 years of owning 693R after breaking a cable every month or so. 

Title: Re: Smiths Speedo Cable 90 Degree Adaptor
Post by: My S1 on Monday,April 07, 2025, 03:07:49 PM
I'll track one down.  Thank you.  Do you recall where you sourced it from?
Title: Re: Smiths Speedo Cable 90 Degree Adaptor
Post by: My S1 on Monday,April 07, 2025, 03:16:44 PM
Bryan,

I think I found it...thanks to you.  I'll double check with them on the thread size.
Title: Re: Smiths Speedo Cable 90 Degree Adaptor
Post by: 4129R on Tuesday,April 08, 2025, 12:40:59 AM
https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-120694OE

Not cheap !!!
Title: Re: Smiths Speedo Cable 90 Degree Adaptor
Post by: Bryan Boyle on Tuesday,April 08, 2025, 11:50:14 AM
https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-120694OE

Not cheap !!!

neither is replacing the cable 2 or 3 times.  They seem to be a bit cheaper on this side of the pond.
Title: Re: Smiths Speedo Cable 90 Degree Adaptor
Post by: 314159td on Tuesday,April 08, 2025, 05:43:00 PM
BPNW has them for like $50.

https://bpnorthwest.com/austin-healey/angle-drive-unit-for-speedometer-cable/ (https://bpnorthwest.com/austin-healey/angle-drive-unit-for-speedometer-cable/)
Title: Re: Smiths Speedo Cable 90 Degree Adaptor
Post by: EuropaTC on Tuesday,April 08, 2025, 10:08:14 PM
Plenty on Ebay UK with a wide range of prices, and presumably quality. They were fitted to quite a few cars, the Elan has one directly on the gearbox because otherwise the cable would never turn in the tight transmission tunnel.

For example - UK Ebay ;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116446507720?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D264184%26meid%3Dfed9c77af2bd4d6db1875752006e50a1%26pid%3D101875%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D202260280230%26itm%3D116446507720%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionEmbeddingSearchQuerySemanticBroadMatchSingularityRecallReplaceKnnV4WithVectorDbNsOptHotPlRecall%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A116446507720fed9c77af2bd4d6db1875752006e50a1%7Cenc%3AAQAKAAABYHKEKKNMUePryBh1zZl0qrjonWK6%252Bbjh8v6%252FxTRbw1Loxqx736BoO2V7ozv6W4xuOBJjwGhPLWk9lnRB2teM6PFgOrZGVcTwpTth7MW79p066SWQrB1VasW1Di58xl1RMBXsH%252BaNxpzil0t8bdqbPkgJlZgvtHVYNSkxo5xG%252Bq21xNRlHZFODeVNdZ4BwLMfl%252B4cfAFaMJyRU%252BI%252B7iYpXHiXYQLfRc91odtfeasuw6ghm7jGd6OXxWrvn5UO3nqhfa5DAkxj1VvZ0KHS5H40nRRy9RpaBsXjxMisY7hPkkr4Y3KaK30MRyMtvB5Nawz9CUe%252Fs0iGn3bMpjimzCtAYIH8MdDiPkytLDt256iqgEoyReWbDKs%252FgxvlkHY1FpTyiQZRe6CTYwbfxh46L%252BhKWE64VIHKlSRFdGDrSKoRAn3RqktCNPvdtm3Artv8w90cqUFm5qPZF7YgiGO1fqNdxxE%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01JRCEY3YHQGWM5VJYAZ89W7P9 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116446507720?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D264184%26meid%3Dfed9c77af2bd4d6db1875752006e50a1%26pid%3D101875%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D202260280230%26itm%3D116446507720%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionEmbeddingSearchQuerySemanticBroadMatchSingularityRecallReplaceKnnV4WithVectorDbNsOptHotPlRecall%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A116446507720fed9c77af2bd4d6db1875752006e50a1%7Cenc%3AAQAKAAABYHKEKKNMUePryBh1zZl0qrjonWK6%252Bbjh8v6%252FxTRbw1Loxqx736BoO2V7ozv6W4xuOBJjwGhPLWk9lnRB2teM6PFgOrZGVcTwpTth7MW79p066SWQrB1VasW1Di58xl1RMBXsH%252BaNxpzil0t8bdqbPkgJlZgvtHVYNSkxo5xG%252Bq21xNRlHZFODeVNdZ4BwLMfl%252B4cfAFaMJyRU%252BI%252B7iYpXHiXYQLfRc91odtfeasuw6ghm7jGd6OXxWrvn5UO3nqhfa5DAkxj1VvZ0KHS5H40nRRy9RpaBsXjxMisY7hPkkr4Y3KaK30MRyMtvB5Nawz9CUe%252Fs0iGn3bMpjimzCtAYIH8MdDiPkytLDt256iqgEoyReWbDKs%252FgxvlkHY1FpTyiQZRe6CTYwbfxh46L%252BhKWE64VIHKlSRFdGDrSKoRAn3RqktCNPvdtm3Artv8w90cqUFm5qPZF7YgiGO1fqNdxxE%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01JRCEY3YHQGWM5VJYAZ89W7P9)