Tach Cable replacment in a SB 72 Holy smokes!

[Brian C]

I short time ago I heard a light whacking from my distributor and then on a nice drive one evening the whacking sound was abruptly replaced with the sound of metal wires breaking loose. My tach valiantly tried to keep working but lasted only a couple of street lights after that. I bought a new tach cable from Zip and first issue, question is that the one I just bought is much shorter. So much shorter that I question whether it will do the job. The reason why I don't know if it will reach is because I undid a couple of screws on the drivers side dash and also took a peek up underneath it from the gas/brake pedal area. Holy cramped crevices batman! If any one could shed a little light on my situation (the new short cable, how to get at the back of the inst. tach) it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all very much.

Brian

[Wayne W.]

Re: Tach Cable replacment in a SB 72 Holy smokes!

Easy, but you need a friend to help. Get the gromet loose that goes through the firewall. One of you which ever is the best contortionist, smaller, younger, etc. get your hand or a small screwdriver or something on the clip on the back of the tack. Its a spring clip and pushes straight down. As you push the clip have your friend pull the cable from the engine compartment. It will pop right out. On reinstall guide it to the back of the tack and have your friend push it on. The clip will snap into place. See how easy that is!

[John M.]

Re: Tach Cable replacment in a SB 72 Holy smokes!

Brian, Just a thought, but why don't you just get a new inner cable made and leave the what I suppose is the original outer sheath in place. You can probably get one made in most any speedometer shop. It will avoid pulling out the old one and keep it original if you ever have it judged. John

[Michael W.]

Re: Tach Cable replacment in a SB 72 Holy smokes!

My experience is that just replacing the inner cable might be a short lived solution. If the outer part is internally damaged, it will chew up the inner cable pretty quick.

my 2 cents.

Mike

[Gary S.]

Re: Tach Cable replacment in a SB 72 Holy smokes!

About two hours ago, I helped my neighbor replace the tach cable on his 73 BB and the new cable is about 1" longer than the old cable so swapping out just the inner cable did not work. We wound up doing the whole thing and the technique about one pulling while the other releases the spring worked well.

Gary 21316

[Tom Sarno]

Re: Tach Cable replacment in a SB 72 Holy smokes!

Brian,

The fastest way to replace the cable is to remove the center instument bezel screws and pull it foward. Loosen the driverside dash and pop the top out slightly. Reach around the side of the drivers side dash from the center area and push the clip in while someone else pulls from the outside. Install the new cable from the outside.

Hope this helps. Tom