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 Posted: Apr 19, 2017 05:12PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scargo
Your odo is reading kilometers in lieu of miles.
Perhaps. In any case, here's where I'm leaving it... The outer numbers (KPH) accurately indicate MPH throughout the entire range. Well, 10 - 80 MPH anyhow. I'm good with that. The odometer is way out, mileage-wise. Using a correction factor of 1.254777 (actual odo reading divided by 1.254777) gives me the correct mileage—checked both speedo & odo w/ GPS. Don't need Excel after all; just my iPhone. Sweet! Thanks for your help, everyone.

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Apr 19, 2017 02:34AM
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I would agree that its a km speedo and that the odo would also read in kms.... but its still very inaccurate.

15 miles = 24 kay's..... 19.5 isn't very close

And to answer the earlier question.. no.  Changing the speedo gears will necessitate a speed re-calibration.  

Best left alone and a quick tutorial on excel ..IMHO

Cheers, Ian

 Posted: Apr 19, 2017 02:08AM
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Your odo is reading kilometers in lieu of miles.

 Posted: Apr 18, 2017 07:42PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerkuld
 
I think it gets even more complicated than that.

Yes, there are the gears in the housing at the gearbox end immediately below where the cable attaches. These will determine how many revolutions your cable makes relative to tire rotations, basically cable revolutions per mile, or kilometer traveled. But there are also several different calibrations within speedometers and odometers. On the face of the speedometer, usually right under the odometer display, is a three or four digit number which represents the calibration of the unit. I don't recall what the numbers are, but something like 1504, 1408, etc. This is the speedometer/odometer calibration for cable turns per mile/kilometer. For the odometer, this is the gear ration within the unit itself which drives the digits on the display. If this isn't matched to your cable speed, then your distance traveled will not be accurate. The speedometer, as you say, is calibrated by controlling the distance between magnetic discs inside the speedometer, but this too will be calibrated on each speedometer to match cable revolutions.

If you've got lucky and the speed in kph on your display matches your actual speed in mph then your odometer reading should also be reading the actual distance in miles, even though it was originally set up to read kilometers. However, it may be worth checking your odometer accuracy against your GPS app.
Well, it turns out my odometer is indeed off, by quite a bit. On a test run the GPS measured 15.5 miles, the odometer measured 19.5 miles. I still like the way the speedo reads (large KPH numbers indicates actual MPH). Do I understand correctly that I can recalibrate the odometer by changing internal gear(s) and this won't effect the MPH reading? I don't see any calibration numbers on the dial face but perhaps a speciality shop can determine the correct gear/cable-speed ratio. On the other hand, I might be OK with simply applying a correction factor for mileage related maintenance. Anybody good at math? Not me...

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Apr 13, 2017 03:41PM
 Edited:  Apr 13, 2017 03:42PM
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...what are the odds?

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Apr 13, 2017 07:23AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1963SV2
Fortunate fluke???  The word is serendipity...

The relationship between the vehicles speed and the reading on the speedo dial is determined by the gears in the housing at the end of the gearbox and the distance between the drive and driven plates inside the speedo.

Dip switches are not possible with a mechanical/magnetic device

I would raise a glass to the Mowog and keep watching the big numbers.....

Cheers, Ian
I think it gets even more complicated than that.

Yes, there are the gears in the housing at the gearbox end immediately below where the cable attaches. These will determine how many revolutions your cable makes relative to tire rotations, basically cable revolutions per mile, or kilometer traveled. But there are also several different calibrations within speedometers and odometers. On the face of the speedometer, usually right under the odometer display, is a three or four digit number which represents the calibration of the unit. I don't recall what the numbers are, but something like 1504, 1408, etc. This is the speedometer/odometer calibration for cable turns per mile/kilometer. For the odometer, this is the gear ration within the unit itself which drives the digits on the display. If this isn't matched to your cable speed, then your distance traveled will not be accurate. The speedometer, as you say, is calibrated by controlling the distance between magnetic discs inside the speedometer, but this too will be calibrated on each speedometer to match cable revolutions.

If you've got lucky and the speed in kph on your display matches your actual speed in mph then your odometer reading should also be reading the actual distance in miles, even though it was originally set up to read kilometers. However, it may be worth checking your odometer accuracy against your GPS app.

 Posted: Apr 13, 2017 06:06AM
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CA
So when you're doing 60 mph (gps), the speedo reads 60kph...not 100kph??...that's hugely out

 

"Everybody should own a MINI at some point, or you are incomplete as a human being" - James May

"WET COOPER", Partsguy1 (Terry Snell of Penticton BC ) - Could you send the money for the unpaid parts and court fees.
Ordered so by a Judge

 

 

 

 Posted: Apr 13, 2017 05:20AM
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You got very lucky. You probably have the original speedo but a later gearbox and final drive set up and as luck would have it yours matches the KPH to the MPH readings.

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Apr 12, 2017 11:56PM
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Fortunate fluke???  The word is serendipity...

The relationship between the vehicles speed and the reading on the speedo dial is determined by the gears in the housing at the end of the gearbox and the distance between the drive and driven plates inside the speedo.

Dip switches are not possible with a mechanical/magnetic device

I would raise a glass to the Mowog and keep watching the big numbers.....

Cheers, Ian

 Posted: Apr 12, 2017 05:59PM
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I got Rosebud up on a lift earlier this week and finally got the transmission end of my speedo cable hooked up. Works fine and the speedo speed matches the GPS. But here's the weird thing; the outer scale of the speedo reads in KPH, the tiny inner scale reads in MPH. I'm in the U.S. so naturally I figured I'd be watching the inner scale. Not so! the outer scale (KPH) indicates the correct MPH! What's up with that? Not that I'm complaining. Those big outer numbers are much easer to read. I don't recall seeing any dip-switches on the back of the speedo that toggles between KPH/MPH. Is this just a fortunate fluke?

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Dec 26, 2016 10:22PM
 Edited:  Dec 26, 2016 10:24PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldminimover49
Don't sweat it, most minis l have had the pleasure of owning never had a working speedo- It's a mini thing. ,,? Big AL
I think you're right. I've watched dozens and dozens of in-car Mini racing videos and haven't seen a working speedo yet.  

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Dec 26, 2016 07:39PM
 Edited:  Dec 26, 2016 10:18PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by malsal
Quote:
…undo the gear housing (3/8" or 7/16") bolt remove the fork retainer and attach the assembly to the cable then re install it. A 1/4" ratchet and short extension or the circular small ratchet works well for this.
  • I've heard of the "gear housing disconnect method." If I can't secure the barrel nut by hand I'll try it, but either way, I think I'll wait until I get the car on a hoist. In the meantime I'm using my phone and a speedo/GPS app. Found one that looks just like my Smith speedo, complete w/ magnolia face. Cool! Just wish the odometer didn't reset every time I close the app. 

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Dec 23, 2016 11:07AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldminimover49
Don't sweat it, most minis l have had the pleasure of owning never had a working speedo- It's a mini thing. ,,? Big AL
When I got my Mini, the speedo worked intermittently: it would work for a few miles then suddenly drop to zero. I liked to think that I'd reached warp speed. I thought it might be the cable expanding and disconnecting he core, but replacing the cable did not help. Then one day it decided to keep working and has done so ever since.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Dec 23, 2016 09:34AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosebud
Thanks for your help guys! I've got the spedometer end of the cable secure and working. I spun it up with a drill motor and all is well. I found the transmission end by feel from both underneath and from the top, but I hesitate to tighten the barrel nut by feel for fear of stripping the threads. It is made of the softest aluminum alloy I think I have ever seen—just slightly more robust than aluminum foil. I'm going to wait until I get the car on a hoist so that I can see what I'm doing  and make sure I get it threaded properly. Thanks again. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all! 
The last time i did this i found it easier to do from the bottom and lubed up my hands and arm with WD40. Don't sweat getting the cable end ultra tight just nip it up with finger pressure. Also if you are having trouble getting the threads started undo the gear housing (3/8" or 7/16") bolt remove the fork retainer and attach the assembly to the cable then re install it. A 1/4" ratchet and short extension or the circular small ratchet works well for this.

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Dec 23, 2016 08:08AM
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Don't sweat it, most minis l have had the pleasure of owning never had a working speedo-

It's a mini thing. ,,?

Big AL

[email protected]

Niagara Ontario Canada

 Posted: Dec 23, 2016 05:55AM
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You pretty much have a choice... you can see it OR you can get your hand on it. Either way, it isn't easy.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Dec 22, 2016 04:12PM
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Thanks for your help guys! I've got the spedometer end of the cable secure and working. I spun it up with a drill motor and all is well. I found the transmission end by feel from both underneath and from the top, but I hesitate to tighten the barrel nut by feel for fear of stripping the threads. It is made of the softest aluminum alloy I think I have ever seen—just slightly more robust than aluminum foil. I'm going to wait until I get the car on a hoist so that I can see what I'm doing  and make sure I get it threaded properly. Thanks again. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all! 

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports

 Posted: Dec 17, 2016 01:29PM
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in the picture you posted, the large thing along the top left is the lower rad hose. The U-shaped hing at the bottom is the differential end of the U-joint - the rubber cross and drive shaft are missing. On later cars, the pot joint would be here. You can't really see this view with the engine in the car, but if you look down, following the speedo cable between the lower rad hose, the firewall and rad, you might get a glimpse of it. If your arms aren't too big, you can follow the cable down with your hand and feel the connection.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Dec 16, 2016 07:51PM
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I think they are still talking about tightening it...maybe it will help though

//www.minimania.com/msgThread/110741/1/1/How_do_you_get_to_the_speedo_cable

 Posted: Dec 16, 2016 07:05PM
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 Can someone provide me with a clear photo of where the speedometer cable attaches to the transmission? The Haynes  photo isn't much help—I can't really tell what I'm looking at. I was able to remove the old cable from the top of the motor by feel, but can't seem to locate the hole again now that the cable is out. 

Haynes says to remove and/or attach the cable from under the car "through the aperture above the left–hand driveshaft." Fine, but I don't have a clue where to look, and it seems like I wouldn't be able to see the hole anyhow because it's facing up and I'm looking from underneath. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Michael, Santa Barbara, CA

. . . the sled, not the flower

      Poser MotorSports