Speedometer, Synchronizer, & Tachometer Cables
Custom Drive Cables
Tachometer, speedometer and synchronizer drive cables, built in our Fort Lauderdale shop to the length and end fittings you need. Choose your casing, inner core, cable nuts and tips; we assemble and test every cable before it ships.
Ordering is by phone. Have your old cable, photos of it, or the measurements below ready and we will spec it with you in a few minutes.
Call to order: (954) 522-4885Mon - Fri, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET
the USA
Cables we build
Pictured are typical builds. Every cable below is made to your length, with the nut and tip you specify. Prices shown are starting points for common configurations; call for a firm quote.
Synchronizer X Drive Cable
Flexible rotating shaft between the engine and an automatic twin-engine synchronizer. Twin-engine synchronizers need two drive cables, one per engine.
| Cable nut | 7/8"-18 threaded, steel |
| Tip | .187" (3/16") round tip with integrated tang |
| Core | Wound drive core |
| Jacket | Black high-density polymer |
| Lengths | 2 to 16 ft in whole feet; longer on request |
Tachometer / Speedometer Drive Cable
Rotating drive cable from the engine, transmission or sender to a mechanical tachometer or speedometer head. Flared bell end with split drive fitting, shipped packed with grease and ready to install.
| Drive end | Flared bell, split (two-piece) drive fitting |
| Gauge end | Square drive .150", .187" or .250", or tang |
| Cable nut | 5/8"-18, 3/4"-18 or 7/8"-18 |
| Jacket | Black high-density polymer |
| Lengths | Whole feet or custom inches, nut to nut |
Brass Hex Nut Drive Cable
Same drive core with a solid brass hex nut for a wrench-tight connection where a knurled nut cannot be reached by hand. Popular on older engine-side takeoffs and gauge heads behind dashes.
| Cable nut | Solid brass hex, 5/8"-18 or 7/8"-18 |
| Drive fitting | Split (two-piece) drive, bronze |
| Core | Wound drive core |
| Jacket | Black polymer with molded strain relief |
| Lengths | Whole feet or custom inches, nut to nut |
End fittings up close
Match these against your old cable. If yours looks different, send us a photo or the cable itself (see below) and we will match it.
Options we stock
Tell us which of these you need when you call. Not listed? Ask; we build to whatever your old cable had.
- High-density black polymer (standard, UV resistant, non-hygroscopic)
- Grey nylon
- Chrome-look vinyl
- Wound drive core, multi-layer, for rotating cables
- Greased and tested before shipping
- 7/8"-18 (synchronizer standard)
- 5/8"-18 (most speedo and tach heads)
- 3/4"-18
- Brass hex or knurled steel
- .187" (3/16") tang tip
- .150", .187", .250" square drive
- Split drive, flared bell
- Synchronizer drive
- Tachometer drive
- Speedometer drive
How to measure your old cable
- Lay the cable out straight on the floor or a bench.
- Measure from the outside face of one cable nut to the outside face of the other. Nut to nut, not tip to tip. That is the length we build to.
- If the old cable is gone, run a string or tape along the exact path the cable takes, through every bend, and add about 6 inches of slack.
- Drive cables are sold in whole feet. Round up, never down. A cable that is too short cannot be fixed.
- Check the thread on each cable nut with a thread gauge or by matching a known nut: 7/8"-18, 5/8"-18 or 3/4"-18.
- Measure the tip with calipers across the square or the round tang: .150", .187" (3/16") or .250".
Have this ready when you call
- Boat or vehicle, year, and engine (for example "1998 Sea Ray 270, twin Mercruiser 5.7")
- What the cable drives: tach, speedo or synchronizer
- Nut-to-nut length in inches or whole feet
- Thread size of each nut and tip size, if you know them
- Any part numbers printed on the old cable or its tag
- Photos of each end up close and of the whole cable (text or email them to us during the call)
Twin-engine synchronizer? You need two drive cables, one per engine.
Lead time: custom cables are built to order, typically about 2 weeks. Call before ordering if you need it sooner.
Not sure what you have? Send us the old cable
The surest way to get an exact match is to mail us your current cable. We measure it, identify the nuts and tips, build the replacement, and can return your original with the new one if you ask.
Attn: Cable Samples
300 West State Road 84
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
- Call first so we have your order on file, then write your name and phone number on the box and on a tag tied to the cable.
- Coil the cable; do not fold it. A kinked casing cannot be measured accurately.
- Wipe off heavy grease and bag the ends.
No refunds. All sales are final.
All custom cables are built to order. There are no refunds, exchanges or cancellations once an order is placed; all transactions are final. You, the customer, are responsible for the choices you make when ordering, whether they turn out to be correct or incorrect, and even if you did not know they were incorrect. We highly recommend sending a sample of your current cable, or at least clear photos of it, so we can check your selections before we build.
Ready to order? Give us a call.
Lauderdale Speedometer · 300 West State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 · Mon - Fri, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET
Call: (954) 522-4885the USA