MTFCA Forum

Does anyone have pictures and measurement and attaching point of the leather strap that holds the speedometer cable off the tire when turning or do I just wing it

Saw one of those new leather straps with buckle looped around the wishbone arm. Seemed good.


These period photos show some owner's fittings, Ford didn't supply a speedo cable strap.



Appears this one on the wishbone...and useful to keep the cable out of the water

This strap on the headlamp/fender bracket, may have even been a screen door spring added to take up bounce slack, to keep a wide radius for the cable to run true without bending the cable links. And keep it from dragging in the snow and freezing the lube around the links

Russ Firstnow must make them?
He makes all the leather straps a T needs & is the speedometer king.

I went a different route with the Corbin cable on my roadster. A leather strap held it up to a degree, but with the steering action it still swayed markedly from side to side. I secured it with a black cable/zip tie, with a difference. The tie is first threaded through a 4" length of 3/8" steel fuel pipe, then around the cable, back trough the fuel pipe and then tied around the wishbone. This keeps the cable housing relatively stable without the swaying around.

Allan from down under.

Go to Petsmart, and buy a large dog collar. You might find one that looks appropriate.

It would be nice to know the year of your car. 1915 had it's own special strap.

My car is a 1912 touring Canadian made It will rub on right hand turns. It has never had a strap in 63 years I did not know about the strap until I found the 1918 Steward book online that is the page I posted In Canada our cable housings are steel and it just shows a bit of shine but no damage,so It would go another 63years.

Colin Mavins wrote: ↑

Sat May 18, 2024 12:07 pm

Does anyone have pictures and measurement and attaching point of the leather strap that holds the speedometer cable off the tire when turning or do I just wing itn_1918 Stewart Warner Speedometer_Page_27.jpg

Several available
Three styles at Lang's https://www.modeltford.com/pl.aspx?t=s& ... rap&page=1

Stupid Me I did not think this would be something that was being made I'll know better next time . I am trying to keep the car as period correct as possible the car is at about 95% so if I go new I like to at least copy an original. Thanks Colin

Maybe this is helpful ? My ‘13 came to me this way, cable loop has three flat rivets, working length 7-1/2”. It’s secured to the frame rail with a 5/16” round head machine screw just forward of the carburetor. I have no idea whether the hole in the frame rail was added, or was original.

Well that looks good and keeps the cable straight in the past 3 years I have broken 4 links it is the original cable and chain and the links are getting brittle, keeping it straight can't hurt.

If anyone is interested the STEWART SPEEDOMETER book from 1918 is on the old car manual project I copied it there lots of good information.

I've worked on speedometers and their drive components for a few years and DO NOT recommend using a support strap on a Model T. The Model T uses cables that range from 48" to 63" and this length is just too short to need a support strap. The cable should hang freely from the swivel to the head. When a longer cable is used than what is recommended, then a support strap may be needed. Here are the length of cables used on a Model T Ford:
1909-1914 - 48" cable
1915-1918 - 45" cable
1919-1922 - 54" cable
1923-1925 - 60" cable
1926-1927 - 63" cable
The Stewart Warner Company recommended that the cable have a graceful bend from the swivel to the speedometer head. A tight bend can cause failure. If the bend is too tight, the inner cable (chain link) WILL fail and break. The attached photo shows the correct way the swivel should be positioned, allowing the cable to go straight out from the swivel and creating a graceful arch. I hope this helps. Russ Furstnow