Triumphrat

Kittlemeier · 11-08-2007

I ordered a new speedometer cable for my '00 Tbird from my local dealer. He said from his microfiche that he didn't need the last five digits to get the right one.

The one I received didn't have a bend(for headlight clearance?) at the top of the cable like the one I took off. Because of the headlight, I had to loosen the speedometer to get the threads started unlike the original.

It seems to work fine and he checked again and said this is the part number for my bike. I'm just a little worried about binding because it's so tight against the headlight. Any experience with these cables or this problem?

Slinky · 11-09-2007

I've never seen a speedo cable with a bend on it. I can only think the bend or kink developed over time.

Do you have a part number for the one you have bought?

Kittlemeier · 11-09-2007

The part number of the new cable is 2040033-T0301. The bend in the old cable isn't a kink or a problem with the cable, it's an intentional bend in the last couple of inches of the metal housing to clear the headlight. It's not damaged, it looks like bent fuel/oil? lines in a car. The angle is supposed to be there, like it was done with a mandrel from the factory. Does this make sence? The new one just has a long rubber boot but it's laying against the headlight housing with a good amount of pressure.

Falcon_52 · 11-09-2007

Kittlemeier -

I just did the same on my Thunderbird about 2 weeks ago. I ordered my cable from BikeBandit because my nearest dealer is over an hour away. They listed two different speedometer cables on their website (one for serial numbers 71698 and below and one for 71699 and higher). It sounds like the dealer may have given you the wrong cable. Mine went on with no disassembly of anything other than the two ends of the cable (and swinging the brake caliper out of the way!).

Noel

Slinky · 11-09-2007

That is the part number that the fiche shows for all models. The drawing does not show a kink in the cable, just a straight cable. I never had any clearance issues with my 98, but I have a feeling the headlight bucket and maybe the clock pods changed from 99 on.

It's weird.

Kittlemeier · 11-09-2007

The thing is I replaced my clock pods with chrome ones from a '98 and they were a direct replacement. Don't know about the headlight bucket though.

Falcon, did your cable have the bend at the top end?
How about yours Slinky?

Wombat · 11-09-2007

I just checked mine and it does have a bend in it.

http://www.triumphrat.net/memberalbu...o=3717&cat=500

SWare · 11-09-2007

The cable on my '95 is straight.

Stan

jimmyj900 · 11-09-2007

If the cables are the same length you can pull the core out of the new one and use it in the old one.

Don't forget to oil it...

Jim

MickMaguire · 11-09-2007

IIRC the one with the bend was introduced when they brought in the revised deeper headlamp bucket. The problem is the one with the bend tends to suffer from more boken cables than the one without. I was told once that they deleted the one with the bend in the end, superceding it with the original item as you can make the non bend one work with the later bucket.

I hope this explains the confusion above. As Jimmy says you can have the bend if you want by swapping the inner from the new cable into the old housing.