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MG MGA - 5 speed speedo angle adapter

Anyone had any experience with the 90* angle connector/adapter for the speedometer cable on a Sierra
transmission. Peter Gamble sells them as an add-on to the 5-speed kit.

I was wondering about reliability.

Jim
Jim Ferguson

Jim

I was not aware of the adapter. It must be a fairly new item. I could be interested as the normal lie of the cable comes well out into the right side cockpit. I also had a cable end break inside the housing. I could not get it out in situ and ended up having to pull the engine and gearbox. Removal of a defunct angle adapter may well be an easier process!

Steve
Steve Gyles

I had considered putting oe on my car but endedup deciding against it. They are quite expensive and, like you, I wondered about reliability. Running the speedo cable under the carpet accross the passenger side floorboard works just fine provided you use a reasonably wide arc.
Andy Bounsall

I don't know anything about the right angle speedo cable adaptor that Peter Gamble sells, but if of the proper quality then reliability should not be a problem.
Many Triumphs had them fitted 40 years ago and they are still running today.
Triumph 2000 image attached.


Mick


Mick Anderson

I have just spoken with Peter. Most interesting.

He explained that the cable he provides with his 5-speed conversion has a compromise inner cable to enable the Ford speedometer spigot match up to the MGA speedometer drive. The consequence is that he believes the inner cable moves around a lot, has a lot of friction, 'winds up' then releases causing the speedometer to swing by up to 20mph. (This swing used to happen in his MGA - about 10mph on mine).

The adapter is a 1:1 drive but has the correctly sized MGA inner cable spigot, allowing you to refit the original MGA cable. His speedometer swing with the adapter is now no more than 3mph.

I have ordered one despite its expense - nearly £100.

Steve

PS. For those who will point out that the speedometer swing could be instrument stiction, I would add that I regularly follow Barney's process for cleaning the speedometer mechanism.
Steve Gyles

My MGA speedometer had a swing of 5 mph. I tried all the remedies,nothing worked. Eventually I bought and installed the longer speedo cable allowing a larger arc coming from beneath the car into the engine compartment. The 5 mph swing vanished.

I installed the 5 speed, yet to get it on the road or cut the two holes for the route of the new 5 speed cable.
So what I understand, for about 150.00 US dollars Peter can deliver a mechanism that attaches at the tranny and your existing speedo cable attaches to it.
Since my cable is relatively new, I would interested to hear how it works out.
Steve when you get the item, could you show a picture and write your comments here?

Ray
Ray Ammeter

Yes Steve, please do share a photo and your comments. I'm also still curious about that item.
Andy Bounsall

Ray

Certainly will. Peter was positive about it, but there again he is selling the item. He was just a bit concerned that he had been forced to raise the price again because of his supplier's rising charges (I knew the credit crunch would get into the equation somewhere). However, I understand it is the same item that is installed on certain marks of TR, re-engineered for the Ford gearbox. I am led to believe that it is a proven article with longevity.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I spoke to Peter today and confirm what Steve reported. He also said that installing it may require a hole in the tunnel side to get it in. He said it is fragile and could be damaged if in place before the transmission is installed.

Jim
Jim Ferguson

Jim

The existing set up also requires a hole in the tunneling adjacent to the speedo offtake. I am guessing that I will have to enlargen that hole significantly.

Glad I understood Peter's more or less correctly.

Thanks for the original tip off about the adapter.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Has anyone ever considered these:

http://www.speedograph-richfield.com/html/rgb1030.html

They look sturdy and come in different ratios to make your speedo indicate the correct speed.
James Johanski

James

I believe that is the actual item. I think it was Speedograph that Peter named as his supplier. They also supply his cables.

Steve
Steve Gyles

James,

thanks for that link, it shows what I have fittet to my Ford T9 gearbox. It works well for me for 15k kilometers but it is very difficult to stop the oil leak. one need to help with special compound put on from outside and have the cable fixed that it does not move or vibrate during driving. leave it off during assembly, it is easy put on from underneath when the gearbox is in position.

Siggi
Siggi

This thread was discussed between 10/08/2008 and 11/08/2008

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