Your speedo is named Eric? (As in Eric Idle? ;-) ) Gee, now I don't feel so
crazy for naming my cell phone Suzy!
Laura G. and 'Nigel'
-----Original Message-----
From: Atwell Haines <carbuff@tempest.nac.net>
To: Kirby T. Kenyon <kenyonkt@maple.lemoyne.edu>; spitfires@Autox.Team.Net
<spitfires@Autox.Team.Net>
Date: Thursday, September 10, 1998 8:08 PM
Subject: Re: Speedo changing speeds?
>At 08:48 AM 9/10/98 -0400, Kirby T. Kenyon wrote:
>>I've got a weird one on my '80 Spit.
>>
>>I drive the NYS Thruway to work. When I drive my Spit, early in the
>>drive the Speedometer reads the correct speed (70MPH @ 3400 RPM with OD,
>>verified by time over mile marker method) but approximately 30 miles
>>later, it reads low (63MPH @ 3400 RPM).
>>
>>I verified that I was still going about the same speed at the end of the
>>trip that I was in the beginning so I know there is no slip in the drive
>>train.
>>
>>Could this be a symptom of a slightly binding speedo cable? It does
>>bounce some at lower speeds but smooths out about 30MPH.
>>
>>Has anyone else encountered this?
>
>
>Kirby,
>
>To answer this one it is neccessary to understand the principals of
>speedometer operation.
>
>Inside the Instrument is a small yet nimble mammal (similar to a Marmot,
>but not really, and on a much smaller scale.) The one in my car is named
>Eric.
>
>As the car goes faster or slower, a raisin is held closer or farther from
>Eric's nose, causing him to run correspondingly fast or slow. This moves
>the needle you see from the cockpit.
>
>After several miles, Eric is tired from all that running (and on a toll
>road no less!) so it is understandable that he runs a bit slower when the
>car is going the same speed.
>
>This is not always a real problem. Do not be concerned, unless Eric
>starts leaping and jumping, in which case he is on his "Last Legs". In
>that case you may have to rely on the Tach to gauge your speed.
>
>Sometimes the raisin falls out of the speedometer. In this case, the
>indicated speed will be zero.
>
>Please try to be more understanding of the forces at work inside the
>machines we use every day. I hope this helps you.
>
>Your Public Servant,
>
>
>Atwell Haines
>'79 Spitfire FM96062 UO
>(53 HP)
>
>Succasunna, NJ USA
>
>The One Immutable Rule of Automotive Satisfaction:
>"It is more fun to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow"
>- Cory Farley in Autoweek, 8/17/98
>
>
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