Speedo

Should I be able to turn the cable and make the needle move? I installed a new cable and cannot turn it. The old one was twisted off at the TC. What can go wrong inside the speedo? Can it be easily fixxed? I hate to wreck a new cable. Ideas?? Thank you in advance.

 

Yes, you should be able to make the needle move a little. The cable should turn freely.

I believe that they either wear out, or get clogged with dirt.

Not much you can do for a speedo head than to clean it and maybe a drop of oil or two. It has a spring and bearings, like a watch, and depends on the speed of the cable rotating a pair of magnets inside an aluminum cup. The eddy currents created in the cup by the rotating magnets make an elecric motor of sorts. The forces of the currents against the magnets rotate the cup against the spring, which is connected to the needle. Fairly delicate. There are spedo shps that can repair them, but it's hard for someone without the tools, parts and know-how. The shops aren't so common now, but you can find them on the net. Try "classic speedometer repair" on Google.