why do I keep breaking speedo cables in my 40??

[land cruiser kid]

This is the third time my speedo cable has broken in my fj40. I've looked on a few old posts on this and have done what was suggested. I've taken my speedometer apart cleaned and siliconed it, it seems to move freely, I know this because I used the broken end of the cable to turn the speed by hand. greased the new cable, replaced the O ring, cleaned and inspected the gear that goes in the t case because it had been leaking and still the thing breaks again Wtf. This last time I left the t case end of the cable loose while I plugged in the speedometer end of the cable. I'm lost here. Do you think I'm bending the cable when I fit the cluster into the dash hole? At 50 bucks a shot I'd like to do this for the last time, what do you guys think? Thanks

 

[land cruiser kid]

One thing I left out, After I replaced the cable the last time it worked normally for a few drives and then it started being erratic from zero till about 40 mph and from 40 on up it was smooth.

 

[PixelWrangler]

I'm assuming you don't have any sharp bends or kinks in the cable as that would be a pretty obvious cause. What are you using to "grease" it with? There really shouldn't be any reason for three cables to break. Being erratic indicates that there is some sort of binding going on that causes the needle to jump around.

 

[land cruiser kid]

I'm assuming you don't have any sharp bends or kinks in the cable as that would be a pretty obvious cause. What are you using to "grease" it with? There really shouldn't be any reason for three cables to break. Being erratic indicates that there is some sort of binding going on that causes the needle to jump around.

David, I don't have any sharp bends or kinks and I used the grease that was supplied with the new cable. I can tell you that the piece of cable that broke off where it goes into the back of the speedo had a little bit of a bend to it and I'm wondering if it was caused when I pushed the cluster back into the hole or it just bent when it was breaking off. It still doesn't explain why the other ones broke though.

 

[huminajumina]

how does your speedometer and odometer operate other than the erratic indication?? sometimes the odometer has some nasty crusty grease in it and it breaks its self, the speedo usually keeps going tho.... but if you hear any weird noises disconnect your cable immediately... your speedo/odometer may need a good disassembly and cleaning and reassembly with some decent grease. I have had issues in that area, but I don't want to send you on a wild goose chase. Also, I have never broken a cable because of it, but I bought my cruiser with a broken speedo (which I rebuilt) and a broken/shreaded speedo cable.... since then I have only melted one...

 

[land cruiser kid]

how does your speedometer and odometer operate other than the erratic indication?? sometimes the odometer has some nasty crusty grease in it and it breaks its self, the speedo usually keeps going tho.... but if you hear any weird noises disconnect your cable immediately... your speedo/odometer may need a good disassembly and cleaning and reassembly with some decent grease. I have had issues in that area, but I don't want to send you on a wild goose chase. Also, I have never broken a cable because of it, but I bought my cruiser with a broken speedo (which I rebuilt) and a broken/shreaded speedo cable.... since then I have only melted one...

The only time I heard it making noise when it was about to break and right after it stopped working. As far as being crusty, Before this last break I had cleaned the speedometer lightly and sprayed it lightly with silicone. Like I said, even now, when I use the broken piece of cable, insert it in the back of the speedometer, and turn it, it seems to move smoothly.

 

[PixelWrangler]

David, I don't have any sharp bends or kinks and I used the grease that was supplied with the new cable. I can tell you that the piece of cable that broke off where it goes into the back of the speedo had a little bit of a bend to it and I'm wondering if it was caused when I pushed the cluster back into the hole or it just bent when it was breaking off. It still doesn't explain why the other ones broke though.

If the third one broke where it was kinked, that's your reason. The cable sheath is pretty stout and the cable breaking won't kink it. The first broken cable was probably dry and died from old age/zero maintenance. The second one, can't tell ya, but something was amiss. Forth time will probably be the charm, take what you know from the previous three experiences and apply it. If you have the firewall grommet, put it in place after the instrument cluster is in place. There really should be no reason to kink it by putting the cluster back in.

 

[land cruiser kid]

Heres a picture of the broken piece, you think that's enough of a kink to break it?

 

[huminajumina]

if you are refering to the slight curve in the cable, mine is about the same and 5,000+ miles on my new cable and everything is fine. I don't think that is enough bend to break anything. plus the break isn't even where the curve is.... I'm no speedo expert but I have dealt with speedo cables quite a bit on my bikes. I have put 50 miles on a cable with barely any grease or graphite in it at all, with no issues.(by accident) Most FJ40 cables I have heard about are getting exhaust burns on them or the shielding is noticeably pinching the core and binding or bend in a super tight angle....

 

[Pumpkin Troopy]

I went through two before I got a longer one. I then ran it in slightly differently removed the sharp turns been running for 2 years.

 

[land cruiser kid]

I went through two before I got a longer one. I then ran it in slightly differently removed the sharp turns been running for 2 years.

I'm definately getting a longer one next time.

 

[AlaskanWheeler]

Could it just be the quality of the steel being used?

Original Toyota replacement parts?

 

[land cruiser kid]

I'm not sure, the last two I bought were from TPI and JT OUTFITTERS and I think the first one was from cruiser corps. None of them were genuine toyota, I would hate to spend the extra money if the problem wasn't solved. If it was just a quality issue I would get an oem.

 

[91 4runner]

NAPA has the speedo cables too,

Vhttp://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=BK_6151677_0066954715

$22.00 is cheap

x2 on installing it in the cluster first, then routing it so there are not any harsh curves,

 

[land cruiser kid]

NAPA has the speedo cables too,

Vhttp://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=BK_6151677_0066954715

$22.00 is cheap

x2 on installing it in the cluster first, then routing it so there are not any harsh curves,

That one says it's 90" long, more than 20" longer than stock, do think that would be ok?

 

[91 4runner]

I just looked it up for my 78, you didn't specify what year your 40 is, idk a little bit longer may be the way to go, you could route it how ever you wanted to.

 

[land cruiser kid]

I just looked it up for my 78, you didn't specify what year your 40 is, idk a little bit longer may be the way to go, you could route it how ever you wanted to.

Mine is a 78 40 also.

 

[91 4runner]

Nice, I to had to replace my cable, I bought it from cruiser corps and didn't have a single problem,

my old cable snapped right at the Tcase where it threads to the speedo gear,

Wired that yours are braking...

 

[Gumby]

Very, very rare, but make sure your ground to the block is good. I've heard of clutch cables breaking because they were trying to carry starter current from the chassis to the engine.

 

[land cruiser kid]

What ground ?