How to shorten a speedometer cable?

[Matt Harwood]

I have to cut a speedometer cable to a specific length but I'm not really sure how to best cut the cable itself. Since it's wrapped wire, I'd expect it to unwind after being cut so I can't just take a set of wire cutters to it. Does anyone have any experience cutting the wire inner cable? Solder it to prevent the unwinding? Weld it? 

 

Any advice is very welcome!

 

[MCHinson]

You should be able to use a grinder to cut it. The grinding process should result in a clean cut. I don't think it will unravel any. You can solder it if it starts to unravel, but I don't think it will. If you want to be sure how it will work, you could do a practice cut several inches above where the actual cut needs to be to see how the cable reacts to your cutting process. 

[Frank DuVal]

Wrap it tight with masking tape before using the cutoff wheel.

[37_Roadmaster_C]

I agree with using a cutoff wheel on a grinder or Dremel tool to cut the cable after tightly wrapping it. One question: Aren't the ends of speedo cables pressed square or have a square sleeve crimped on them? If so, how are you going to preserve the square driving end?

[Jubilee]

  I still have my speedometer cable kit used in my trucking business back in the day. Consists of a metal box with about a dozen compartments full of different ends, crimper, and some rolls of cable.

  We used to cut cable with oxy/acty torch (that’ll fuse it), smooth up on grinder, and crimp on new end.

[Bhigdog]

1 hour ago, Jubilee said:

cut cable with oxy/acty torch (that’ll fuse it), smooth up on grinder, and crimp on new end.

 

BINGO!!!!...............Bob

[F&J]

1 hour ago, Jubilee said:

Consists of a metal box with about a dozen compartments full of different ends, crimper

Coincidence; I just bought that type of box marked Napa at a swap last weekend for $1 ..yes a dollar.

 

I will try to take a picture today of the contents and the crimper bits that you use in a bench vise.

 

Decades ago at car shops I worked at, we would get an AC branded inner cable kit that came in a large square blue/white envelope that included the proper metal end for the car you ordered it for, and a throw-away metal crimping bit to use in a vise.

 

Some later? AC kits had a plastic end that you put on after heating the end of the cable.  Back then, we just used sidecutters to snip the inner cable to length. 

[wmsue]

I'm working on repairing my speedo cable this week too. You're a few days ahead of me though.

A friend said that he cuts the inner cable to size using an oxy/act torch with a brazing tip. Just heats it up and it fuses the end as it cuts it off.

 

Bill

 

[F&J]

[FLYER15015]

Matt,

When I shortened mine, I brazed a 2" section that would be the new end first, then cut it to length with a 4" grinder, and then ground the end square to fit in the Tx.

 

Mike in Colorado