Bonneville T140V Speedometer cables . . .

[Lordmac]

I am wanting to get a back-up speedometer cable for my '78 T140V Bonnie (in the inevitable event I need to replace my original) and was wondering which manufacturer is the very best quality. I recently bought a Venhill clutch cable and installed it and think it's very nice and smooth and groovy; therefore, the Venhill line is a top choice so far. But, are there mo-bettuh speedometer cables out there? And while I'm at it, how about tachometer cables, same deal? Talk to me.

 

[NM Bonny]

I don’t know if it’s a Venhill, but I just installed a new T140 speedo cable on my modified ’71 Bonny, and it appears to be excellent quality. Very nice fittings, sturdy casing. I got it from Steadfast. I have installed a Venhill clutch cable and bought a second one as a backup. Have yet to read anywhere that there are superior ones available...

 

[Rudie]

'78 T140V
recently bought a Venhill clutch cable and installed it and think it's very nice and smooth and groovy

In the US, best clutch cables for 750 twins are Barnett - 750 twins have particularly heavy clutch springs, Barnett's method of connecting cable inner nipples resists compressed springs pressure better than other cable makers'.

speedometer cables
tachometer cables

As I posted in https://triumphtalk.com/threads/speedo-error.62076/#post-369309 be very careful with any new cable connecting to a speedo or tacho; if the cable inner is even slightly too long for the outer and/or the ends of the inner have not been tapered correctly, axial force is applied to the speedo or tacho, that do not have thrust bearings to resist that force.

Any speedo or tacho cable should have something small crimped around the cable inner near one end. This end of the cable connects to the speedo or tacho; if you connect it to the drive, nothing to stop the inner sliding out of the outer ...

I always connect the lower end of the cable to the drive first, because it is easier to see any problem with the cable at the speedo or tacho ... Having connected the cable to the drive, I lower the speedo or tacho on to the other end of the cable; speedo or tacho should fit on to the cable end right up to the cable outer without any force at all ... if the speedo or tacho needs any pressure at all to fit it on the cable, something is wrong.

For the above reason, new cable, speedo or tacho in a housing, I always take time to remove the speedo or tacho from its housing so I can at least "check fit" the cable in the speedo or tacho, even if I have to disconnect the cable again, fit the speedo or tacho back in the housing before reconnecting the cable.

Ime, much, much cheaper to spend some time ensuring a new speedo or tacho cable fits properly than spending much more time fixing the speedo or tacho or paying someone else to fix it.

 

[NM Bonny]

In the US, best clutch cables for 750 twins are Barnett - 750 twins have particularly heavy clutch springs, Barnett's method of connecting cable inner nipples resists compressed springs pressure better than other cable makers'.


As I posted in https://triumphtalk.com/threads/speedo-error.62076/#post-369309 be very careful with any new cable connecting to a speedo or tacho; if the cable inner is even slightly too long for the outer and/or the ends of the inner have not been tapered correctly, axial force is applied to the speedo or tacho, that do not have thrust bearings to resist that force.

Any speedo or tacho cable should have something small crimped around the cable inner near one end. This end of the cable connects to the speedo or tacho; if you connect it to the drive, nothing to stop the inner sliding out of the outer ...

I always connect the lower end of the cable to the drive first, because it is easier to see any problem with the cable at the speedo or tacho ... Having connected the cable to the drive, I lower the speedo or tacho on to the other end of the cable; speedo or tacho should fit on to the cable end right up to the cable outer without any force at all ... if the speedo or tacho needs any pressure at all to fit it on the cable, something is wrong.

For the above reason, new cable, speedo or tacho in a housing, I always take time to remove the speedo or tacho from its housing so I can at least "check fit" the cable in the speedo or tacho, even if I have to disconnect the cable again, fit the speedo or tacho back in the housing before reconnecting the cable.

Ime, much, much cheaper to spend some time ensuring a new speedo or tacho cable fits properly than spending much more time fixing the speedo or tacho or paying someone else to fix it.

Good idea. Note that the cable I bought from Steadfast does indeed have a brass crimped ‘shouldered’ sleeve affixed to properly position the inner cable.