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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Speedo

The speedo on my 1978 midget is playing up.The speedo increases on accelleration but stays at 50mph and does not go up or down.Will the problem be the speedometer or the cable.
G Flatman

Hello mate

Could be the cable although that is doubtful

The speedo works on a magnetic coupling inside the speedo head. If this magnetic coupling is sticking all sorts of issues can happen

In your case the description of the problem seems wierd?

Do you mean that once the speedo reaches 50 it then does not indicate higher even though you are travelling faster>? The point I need o understand is does the speedo fall back when the speed decreases and you stop?
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Hi.The speed goes up to about 45-50 mph then stops there.It doesn't decrease,then when the car has stopped,it comes down after a while.
G Flatman

I rather think this must be a problem in the head unit itself.

If the cable was broken then the speedo would read zero.

If the cable was binding then the speedo would be all over the place.

If the magnetic coupling was catching then the speedo would shoot to maximum and hold there perhaps or return to zero.

The only scenario that seems to fit is that the Pointer is sticking in the speedo itself, thus changing the head unit ought to solve the problem.

Before you do that undo the speedo cable behind the head unit and see if the inner cable is turning as you drive along. If it is broken then you should be able to get hold of the squared end and turn it. If it is fairly solid and will not turn independently and turns as you drive along then go ahead and change the speedo itself.

Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

I have done that and the cable is turning fine.I will change the head unit.Cheers.
G Flatman

I found John Ostick (www.jdo1.com) very good. He fixed my speedo in just a few days and price very reasonable (and No I am not on commission!)
Graham M V

This thread was discussed on 20/03/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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