Problems with Speedo cable

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Lorenzo

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Just received a new AN Speedo cable and the needle of the Speedo is flickering. I read somewhere here that the inner cable needs to be greased (Silicon grease or Molebdynem?) and this could be the reason for the speedo needle flickering. I checked and it seems the inner cable to be crimped on both sides, so I don't know how to get it off. It is a Venhill cable. I understand that AN is not suggesting to grease. I tried with an older cable of another bike and the needle of the speedo is not flickering.
What do you suggest?
 
Lorenzo said:
Just received a new AN Speedo cable and the needle of the Speedo is flickering. I read somewhere here that the inner cable needs to be greased (Silicon grease or Molebdynem?) and this could be the reason for the speedo needle flickering. I checked and it seems the inner cable to be crimped on both sides, so I don't know how to get it off. It is a Venhill cable. I understand that AN is not suggesting to grease. I tried with an older cable of another bike and the needle of the speedo is not flickering.
What do you suggest?
Click to expand...
Do you mean to say that there is a brass ferrule crimped on BOTH ends of the inner cable?
I've never seen that.
 
concours said:
Do you mean to say that there is a brass ferrule crimped on BOTH ends of the inner cable?
I've never seen that.
Click to expand...
exactly: it seems that all the new cables produced by Venhill and sold at Andover have a ferrule crimped on both ends, and this is preventing to take it off to grease it.. the good news is that the inner cable cannot move from a standard position.. I also heard to use some kind of graphite spray, which is dry and clean, but I am not sure how this can go through the overall cable..
 
Lorenzo said:
Just received a new AN Speedo cable and the needle of the Speedo is flickering. I read somewhere here that the inner cable needs to be greased (Silicon grease or Molebdynem?) and this could be the reason for the speedo needle flickering. I checked and it seems the inner cable to be crimped on both sides, so I don't know how to get it off. It is a Venhill cable. I understand that AN is not suggesting to grease. I tried with an older cable of another bike and the needle of the speedo is not flickering.
What do you suggest?
Click to expand...
Maybe try temporarily loosening the collar lock nut a bit and see if that helps. It could be the drive cable end protrusion is a smidgeon too long. If the old one worked, compare the end lengths.
 
Last edited:
Those bronze/brass ferrules look like they are in place to eliminate end to end play of the cable within the sheath. Possibly a modification to stabilize/eliminate jounce in the drive cable when in use.
 
Lorenzo said:
Just received a new AN Speedo cable and the needle of the Speedo is flickering. I read somewhere here that the inner cable needs to be greased (Silicon grease or Molebdynem?) and this could be the reason for the speedo needle flickering. I checked and it seems the inner cable to be crimped on both sides, so I don't know how to get it off. It is a Venhill cable. I understand that AN is not suggesting to grease. I tried with an older cable of another bike and the needle of the speedo is not flickering.
What do you suggest?
Click to expand...
Routing (too tight bends).

Theend that goes into the speedo too long or short (too long most common).

Slipping in the speedo drive. When the speedo drive is made, the connection to the cable is a round tube that they squeeze in two directions to make it square. If the cable end is a slightly smaller square it can slip in the drive and will eventually not work at all.

Disconnect the cable at the drive and connect to a drill. If the speedo does not flicker, the problem is in the drive. If it still flickers, then with the cable just connected to the speedo and drill and not routed in the bike, see if it flickers. If not, there it's a routing problem.

IMHO, the standard-length cable is 1-2" too short and routing becomes critical. I use cables that are 5'11" rather than the standard 5'9" for more straightforward routing.

You can't lub because they are lined and don't want them lubed.

BTW, Vintage British Cables has been my goto for many years - they are retiring from some of their work but will still have a host of info on their site:
 
marshg246 said:
Routing (too tight bends).

Theend that goes into the speedo too long or short (too long most common).

Slipping in the speedo drive. When the speedo drive is made, the connection to the cable is a round tube that they squeeze in two directions to make it square. If the cable end is a slightly smaller square it can slip in the drive and will eventually not work at all.

Disconnect the cable at the drive and connect to a drill. If the speedo does not flicker, the problem is in the drive. If it still flickers, then with the cable just connected to the speedo and drill and not routed in the bike, see if it flickers. If not, there it's a routing problem.

IMHO, the standard-length cable is 1-2" too short and routing becomes critical. I use cables that are 5'11" rather than the standard 5'9" for more straightforward routing.

You can't lub because they are lined and don't want them lubed.

BTW, Vintage British Cables has been my goto for many years - they are retiring from some of their work but will still have a host of info on their site:
Click to expand...
thank you for all the suggestions:
I confirm I already tested all the trials you are suggesting (drill, routing and so on). I am purchasing again the cable from Vintage British Cables, but my feeling is that the inner cable needs to be lubed (I understand the inner cable has already a teflon treatment and then it should not need greasing though). After all the trials, I understand it is a problem of cable. The routing seems fine and I tied only on the frame, but not on the swingarm to avoid issues..
 
Lorenzo said:
exactly: it seems that all the new cables produced by Venhill and sold at Andover have a ferrule crimped on both ends, and this is preventing to take it off to grease it.. the good news is that the inner cable cannot move from a standard position.. I also heard to use some kind of graphite spray, which is dry and clean, but I am not sure how this can go through the overall cable..
Click to expand...
Before you give up, use this, squirt some ZEP45 in it

 
If your speedo is flicking then the brass ferrule is not set in the right place the cable might have gone too far up in the speedo, I had that same problem when I replaced my original cable and was able to readjust the ferrule to make it work right, but the new cables didn't last long, went through 2 replacement cables in a short time they broke in the middle but my old original cable still work good except for the big kink in the middle of the cable, I have never lubed the cable in the 49+ years of ownership, with the Featherbed frame the original speedo cable is longer, Featherbed frame is shorter than the Commando frame hence the kink in my original cable but the speedo works great with my old cable.
You can just make out the kink in my speedo cable just under the gear lever under the header pipe and you can see from my speedo drive the cable is a little long, but as I say it works with no speedo flicker.
Problems with Speedo cable
 
 
NPeteN said:
In what regard? I've had a few, they are fine but not as good as the ones made by Vintage British Cables in my opinion. I find they often don't fit exact or look as correct as I would like. Some will disagree.

Nice bike Ash, looks like a rider.
Click to expand...
to give a bit of context, you may read my very first post: I just got a new AN Venhill Speedo cable and the needle of the Speedo is flickering. I read somewhere here that the inner cable needs to be greased (Silicon grease or Molebdynem?) and this could be the reason for the speedo needle flickering. I checked and it seems the inner cable to be crimped on both sides, so I don't know how to get it off in order to grease it. I understand that the cable has PTFE and AN is not suggesting to grease. should I just thrash it and replace with the ones made by Vintage British Cables or someone has already some experience with these cables from Venhill and can give me suggestions?
 
Lorenzo said:
to give a bit of context, you may read my very first post: I just got a new AN Venhill Speedo cable and the needle of the Speedo is flickering. I read somewhere here that the inner cable needs to be greased (Silicon grease or Molebdynem?) and this could be the reason for the speedo needle flickering. I checked and it seems the inner cable to be crimped on both sides, so I don't know how to get it off in order to grease it. I understand that the cable has PTFE and AN is not suggesting to grease. should I just thrash it and replace with the ones made by Vintage British Cables or someone has already some experience with these cables from Venhill and can give me suggestions?
Click to expand...
If you're proven it's the cable, then at least inform AN: technical@andover-norton.co.uk There's always a chance that you got a bad one and the rest they sell are good.
 

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