Date:         Sat, 14 Sep 2002 15:40:30 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: speedo cable installation
Comments: To: Jeff Palmer <jpalmer@MTS.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Jeff, just snake it through where the old cable came out.

Things to watch out for are how much strain is put on the upper end of the
cable. The plastic in the  instrument pods on our vans gets brittle with age,
and they tend to crack and break, especially where the screws go that hold the
speedometer and the tach in place. Can't tell you how many vans I have looked
at that have only one or two screws holding the speedo - especially the speedo
- in place, while the other corners instead of screws have silver duct tape or
epoxy or some other material in there trying to hold it all together. On the
corners where the bosses are that the screws go into the material breaks out
and then YOU are screwed. No way to anchor your new/repaired speedo or tach.
With the strain of the speedo cable pulling down more speedos crack their
bosses than tachs.

Good luck.

John Rodgers
88GL Driver

Jeff Palmer wrote:

> Good morning,
>
> I just received my speedometer cable for my 85 Westfalia GL yesterday.  Any
> tips for installation?  I don't yet have a Bentley although I'm planning to
> hit up a local listee to share the info.  I especially don't want to snap
> the plastic part that connects to the speedo itself (and which caused me to
> have to order a new cable!)
>
> Thanks
> Jeff
> Winnipeg