Reproduction early tach and speedo cables

[Steve Swan]

Sorry so slow to respond.

I checked 232 & 2157.

All 4 cables have exposed holes in the calbe end attaching to gauge. 

Metal ends of tach cables attachingto engine are zinc plated.

The speedo cables have plastic ends attaching to the speedo drive.

[markb]

Would guess metal on engine and plastic on speedo has to do with the difference in temperature at the engine versus the speedo drive.

That makes sense that the tach cable end is steel.  I wonder why the speedo end isn't steel.  No matter, it appears that is the way they still make them.  So all we have to do is find someone who will make them using short nuts.  Including me it looks like 18+ sets so far.  I'm surprised.  I thought the demand would be higher for cables than for mirror stems.  I'm going to send mine to Motion Pro and see what they can do. 

[Wayne]

Count me in for a set Mark. Strange that my original short nut tach cable doesn't have the hole at the gauge end???

[Steve Swan]

I've known people who have had cables made by Motion Pro.  MP's cables are very well made.  Not sure MP would be able to withstand the rigors of duplicating a cable to A.S.S. standards.  But, it is worth a try.

[markb]

Any other options?  I'll gladly pursue them.

[markb]

So far Motion Pro is the only company that says they will consider making these custom cables.  I haven't sent mine to them yet to confirm that they can/will do them (hope to get them out today).  But they said the price for a custom tach or speedo cable would be $55 each.  MP will sell them cheaper to a dealer but then he would have to add his markup.  Add to that the cost of the nut.  Still looking for a shop to make them but with plating I would guess they would be $10 to $20 each. 

Two ways to procede after that.  I could supply a batch of nuts to MP and have a bunch of cables made up or I could supply you guys the nuts and you could each work directly with MP (obviously a lot less work for me).  That would also give you the option of taking nuts off your old cables, replating and using them.  Maybe I'm thinking too far ahead here.  I would want to get one set made up to check it them out first. 

Based on feedback I received the tach cable will have a metal end at the engine and the speedo cable will have the plastic end.  I'm not planning on having any made with the black sleeve on the gauge end.  There should be a small hole on the gauge ends.

If none of this pans out I do have another crazy idea.  I was looking at the flare on the gauge end and it might be possible to buy the standard cable, carefully "unflare" it, slip off the nut, replace it with a short nut and reflare it.  The cables would only be about $20.  I might play with one of my bad cables to see it that is feasible.

[Wayne]

Am I the only one with an original short nut tach cable that doesn't have a hole drilled at the gauge end?? Strange. 

Sounds like you're moving along nicely Mark. Keep us posted.

[markb]

I sent my cables to MP.  Believe it or not they have a nut they say is pretty close.  (Don't tell anyone but it's for a Harley).  The rest of the parts for the tach cable sound close but the end for the speedo cable is different.  I decided to have them make a sample of each to check them out.  Should have them in about 10 days. 

By the way, after inspecting the speedo closer before sending it off, I discovered that the black "sleeve" on the gauge end was a couple of wraps of black electricians tape. 

[kp]

Good show Mark. Champion 
KP

[markb]

I got my cables from Motion Pro.  Here are some pics of the gauge ends, speedo on left, tach on right, Motion Pro on bottom.  Notice that the knurls did not extend all the way to the end on the Motion Pro nuts.  They’re not tapered either but it’s difficult to see.


Here’s pics of the drive end, speedo on left, tach on right, MP on bottom.  The speedo end of the MP cable has an extra groove and the tach end has some flats that the originals don’t have but the tach cable is actually pretty close.


The overall lengths and short piece of larger diameter covering look good.


They’re really not too bad.  They’re not perfect but an easy option for close and with short nuts.  On the bike one would have to look pretty close to spot the difference and there are maybe 10 or 20 guys in the world that would know what to look for anyway.  I’ll probably use them on a later VIN but I’m looking for better for #97. 

My next attempt will be to straighten out the flare and remove the nut on one of my old cables so I can measure it and get some nuts made.  I could then supply them to MP and be a little bit closer but I might try buying some Honda cables and carefully straighten out the flare, swap the nuts and try to re-flare.

[Steve Swan]

Thanks, Mark for the update !

What would "one," say for example me, do IF i wanted to get a pair of these cables from MotionPro to run instead of my originals.. ?  

[markb]

Call Joe at Motion Pro, 650-594-9600.  I checked my packing slip and there wasn't a part number or description other than "Duplicate sample as close as possible".  My sales order number might help, 170814.  They may have a record.  Otherwise he may remember what he did for me.  If you decide to order and have a problem I could call him too.  I may call him anyway just to get the part number for the nut.  They were $55 each (which I think is a little high for something that isn't exact) but it was the best way to find out what they could do.  Before you order, if you do, you might want to wait until I check if the nut has the right threads.  I recall he told me the nut was a Harley item.  I would assume they would make sure the thread matches but you never know.

[Riccardo]

Call Joe at Motion Pro, 650-594-9600.  I checked my packing slip and there wasn't a part number or description other than "Duplicate sample as close as possible".  My sales order number might help, 170814.  They may have a record.  Otherwise he may remember what he did for me.  If you decide to order and have a problem I could call him too.  I may call him anyway just to get the part number for the nut.  They were $55 each (which I think is a little high for something that isn't exact) but it was the best way to find out what they could do.  Before you order, if you do, you might want to wait until I check if the nut has the right threads.  I recall he told me the nut was a Harley item.  I would assume they would make sure the thread matches but you never know.

Hi Mark, can you call Joe for me to recommend the same specification also for my cables? Short nuts, sizes,  ecc.ecc.

I'll send an email to Joe recording your order #.

Please reply me on this post.

Thanks.

Riccardo

[UK Pete]

That really is paying attention to detail mark, i think they were a bit naughty charging $55 per nut though, you could look at other bikes cables and possibly find a cheap cable with the nut same as yours, cut it off and sent it to them to build up a cable, i am going to look at some of my kawaski cables i am sure the fitting looks the same size, if it is ill get back to you

[markb]

i think they were a bit naughty charging $55 per nut though

That was $55 for the whole cable.
After looking at the drive end on the clutch cable, I think I can put it in the lathe and turn it to almost be a match to the original.  With that in mind, if I send MP some correct reproduction nuts, I'd have something that was very close.  I'll remove one of my original nuts and measure it up and look into manufacturing them.