Tach Cable replacement
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 411
Likes: 1
From: New Hampshire
Tach Cable replacement
My tach cable (not the casing) recently broke near the tachometer. Anyone know if one can only replace the cable inside of the casing while it is in the car?
Or do I have to remove the tach cable and replace as a unit?
Thanks
Or do I have to remove the tach cable and replace as a unit?
Thanks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 411
Likes: 1
From: New Hampshire
Originally Posted by LYLE
You can replace the cable but it is put in the housing from the tack head end so you won't find the job any eaiser.
I was afraid someone was going to say something like that!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
To remove the broken part you release the cable housing from the tach (theres a little clip you push in with your thumb) and pull it out with the rest of your hand (much easier with a helper pulling on the sleeve)
If the square part of the cable is accessable at the tach end you just pull it out of the tach then run your new inner cable through the casing.
You definately need to lubricate it (I use cable lube, I have no idea what it is made from) and then just re insert it into the tach first, then to the distributor... not a tough job.
I would recommend using a brand new cable and sleve so you wont be doing it again in 3 months
If the square part of the cable is accessable at the tach end you just pull it out of the tach then run your new inner cable through the casing.
You definately need to lubricate it (I use cable lube, I have no idea what it is made from) and then just re insert it into the tach first, then to the distributor... not a tough job.
I would recommend using a brand new cable and sleve so you wont be doing it again in 3 months
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 3
From: CA
Can you pull the cable out of the housing at the distributor end? If yes, I dont know why you couldnt replace it from that end. While its been years since I replace mine, I thought thats how I did it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by PaulH
Can you pull the cable out of the housing at the distributor end? If yes, I dont know why you couldnt replace it from that end. While its been years since I replace mine, I thought thats how I did it.
Does that need to be removed to get to the Tach cable?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 20
From: Central Michigan
I used a tach cable from Corvette Central, it self-destructed after about an hours run time(during a resto, car never left the driveway!)
Locate a GM cable if you can, I believe Carters in Livermore has them
Locate a GM cable if you can, I believe Carters in Livermore has them
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by 682XLR8
I used a tach cable from Corvette Central, it self-destructed after about an hours run time(during a resto, car never left the driveway!)
Locate a GM cable if you can, I believe Carters in Livermore has them
Locate a GM cable if you can, I believe Carters in Livermore has them
That is usually the reason for a short lived tach cable
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Hello,
depending on where your cable broke, and how long the casing is, there is a way to repair this until you can do it the right way.
The tach cable is similar to what a coax electrical cable is. There is a cable within the casing. If you cut the casing back to expose approx. 1 inch of the cable itself, you can then install a square peg on the end of the tach cable. The end of the casing can be uncrimped, and then reinstalled on the end of the black casing.
I found this square peg at my local parts store. It was listed as a speedometer cable repair kit. All I needed was the silver square peg that will go over the cable, and then crimp in place.
kdf
depending on where your cable broke, and how long the casing is, there is a way to repair this until you can do it the right way.
The tach cable is similar to what a coax electrical cable is. There is a cable within the casing. If you cut the casing back to expose approx. 1 inch of the cable itself, you can then install a square peg on the end of the tach cable. The end of the casing can be uncrimped, and then reinstalled on the end of the black casing.
I found this square peg at my local parts store. It was listed as a speedometer cable repair kit. All I needed was the silver square peg that will go over the cable, and then crimp in place.
kdf
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by 682XLR8
I clocked the distributor to take the bend out(I had heard about this problem beforehand), and it still destroyed itself. Then again maybe I just got a bad cable.....
Maybe a faulty cable
OOPS almost forgot.... you need to use cable lube as well
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 411
Likes: 1
From: New Hampshire
Tried to re-clock it. But when I did, the vacuum advance can hits the bracket that holds up the distributor shielding during timing. Just my luck...where the car runs swell I can't put the shielding bracket back because of the distributor vacuum advance.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 20
From: Central Michigan
Mine came close when I first clocked it, but now that I'm running a different motor(no shielding yet) and have been playing with the timing, I may have to get creative when it comes time to re-install the brackets
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by Streamline
Tried to re-clock it. But when I did, the vacuum advance can hits the bracket that holds up the distributor shielding during timing. Just my luck...where the car runs swell I can't put the shielding bracket back because of the distributor vacuum advance.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 411
Likes: 1
From: New Hampshire
Originally Posted by 682XLR8
I used a tach cable from Corvette Central, it self-destructed after about an hours run time(during a resto, car never left the driveway!)
Locate a GM cable if you can, I believe Carters in Livermore has them
Locate a GM cable if you can, I believe Carters in Livermore has them
I bought a NOS Tach cable (original true tach cable...not the upper speedometer cable for a 79 and up with cruise part# 88959470) from GM dealer for 10 + 8 shipping.
Carters price $100...what a deal...THANKS BUT NO THANKS KEN CARTER! I hope you haven't had to purchase anything from him. Everything he sells is way overpriced. Unfortunately all of the corvette shops in the Bay area are all greedy bast*ards! I do not even consider buying anything from them. I use to live a hour from Carlisle,PA. Too bad nothing like that here locally.
