Speedo - inner cable size

[IanHood]

I’m mounting a cheapo 60mm speedo on my Desmo but the ‘tang’ of the inner cable (Smiths version) is too wide and can’t be inserted into the speedo. Does anybody know if the CEV version of the cable has a thinner tang?

Ian

[blethermaskite]

If you are careful you can reduce the cross section of the cable end tang with a Dremel or similar little grinder .......I have done this quite often with success.
Cheers, George

[IanHood]

…and this is where I have to admit that I tried that and wasn’t careful enough (went too far and weakened the tang so that it snapped off).

[blethermaskite]

Bug**r that then! so what I have usually done is to taper the "too big " tang until the first 3/4 mm will go into the clock then very carefully grind back another 4 or so mm and that should be enough to get a decent fit without significant weakening of the cable end......if you get back into the area where the cross section changes from square to round that's it wrecked.
Cheers,
George

[Jordan]

Ideally a job for a surface grinder.
But maybe something could be done with a bench grinder or grinding belt and a steady hand.
Grip the cable end in vice-grips and offer the tang up to the flat side of the (fine) wheel, cooling often by dunking in water.

[IanHood]

The answer to this question for anyone that might be doing something similar (if you don’t want to grind the cable end) is that you can fit one of the widely available cheap lookalike gauges by using a Smiths outer cable and a CEV inner. Fits like a made one now

Ian