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Speedy gonzales - not!
thugbug - June 10th, 2008 at 10:04 PM

Hi all. Have to replace speedo cable in the L bug. Both inner /outer. Ordinarily it would be a case of unscrewing from the dial, removing wheel,circlip etc. Anything sinister i need to know? Thanks


greedy53 - June 11th, 2008 at 07:02 AM

no you got itdont forget the little clip on the wheel end


thugbug - June 11th, 2008 at 09:16 AM

Thanks greedy 53. Now i (think) i know why they call them 'L' bugs. L for lax. I found out the speedo gauge just sits in the dash opening,'secured' by a rubber ring ! They certainly went out of their way NOT to spend any money on a securing bracket like most other cars. Even ordinary oil/temp etc gauges have a securing bracket. Don``t you just love simplicity? cheers


mackaymanx - June 11th, 2008 at 01:00 PM

Simplicity! maybe, but I spent years looking at a crocked speedo. I could never get the thing to sit straight, didn't matter how many times I straightened it it always twisted around just that little bit.


thugbug - June 11th, 2008 at 02:51 PM

Probably due in part to resistance from the speedo cable. I found a thicker rubber grommet which has an offset extended protrusion thru which i fed the cable. It meant filing the original opening somewhat more but it secures the cable more readily than originally. I then neatly secured an electrical tie cable adjacent to where the cable enters through the grommet. Gauge centred.


Joel - June 11th, 2008 at 06:12 PM

ah the old crooked Lbug speedo
LOL used to drive me nuts to
trick is to feed a bit more cable thro the grommet behind the glovebox
most painfull part of the job is feeding the new cable thro the grommet
u have to pull out the switch panel and radio to get to it


thugbug - June 11th, 2008 at 07:51 PM

Swith panel / radio out ? I must have got lucky then.


Joel - June 12th, 2008 at 09:27 PM

u must have skinny arms :lol:


thugbug - June 12th, 2008 at 11:22 PM

Yep, not much meat on them (now). ha