Speedometer cable and tach cable for different trannies and engines

[Tenor]

does the spicer 4 speed use a different speedo cable than the Allison MT643 and is the tach cable different from an 8v71 to a Cat 3208?

[Tom Y]

Tenor, What are you working on?  Some busses use a speedo driven from a front wheel. No cable, no tach cable either. Electrically driven.  Tom Y

[Tenor]

Hey Tom,
I'm looking at a gauge set for sale that was intended for a bus that had an Allison MT643 tranny and a Cat 3208.   I have an MCI 7 with a spicer 4 speed behind an 8v71.  The sending units that come with the gauges are cable driven from the tranny and cable driven from the engine.  The cables are also included in the sale.  A tach was never installed in my bus, so there is no sending unit on my engine.  I'm just trying to see if these are compatible.  If not, the stuff probably isn't worth it for me.

Glenn

[Ncbob]

Glenn, FWIW, I have an MC5 with a Spicer. My Speedometer is a Dixson (reverently provided by the P/O, with a sending unit which attaches to the transmission and sends an A/C signal to the Speedo head.

The 'rub' is..that there's a mismatch and no 'dip switches' on the back of the speedo head for proper calibration.  The days of cable driven speedo's are long over...and to think that you might find a replacement, let alone afford enough lubricant to make it operate smoothly, are mere figments of your overly
active imagination.

All kidding aside, cables and speedo heads are a thing of the past.  Nells Bells!  I can't find the right match for my situation without spending tons of money.  Do a Search for Speedometers and you'll find the perfect one for you, suggested by Belfert (a nice guy) for about $500 bucks! 

Bob

[Tom Y]

I bought my speedo from Delcity if you need more ideas. Tom Y

[Tenor]

Hey Bob,
These are electric gauges, using a sending unit just as you describe, but the sending unit is still cable driven from the tranny.  I assume the sending unit and speedo head are calibrated to work together but I don't know if the head has dip switches.  All I need to know at this point, will the cables work from tranny to tranny.  If they don't, I would not be interested. 

[TomC]

I know that on my bus the speedo has a motor generator right on the transmission with two wires to the speedo up front-the speedo is easily reprogrammable for tire size and re end ratio.  My new tach works the same way- a motor generator drive off the blower with two wires to the front.  Easy way to do it.  Good Luck, TomC