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How long should the cable extend into the side of the transmission square end of the cable?

What car do you have, what transmission?

Do you mean this part? I think the squared area is about 1" or more. This is on my Ultramatic, not sure if your standard transmission would be the same. (Your cable should be in one piece, not two. )

Yes that is the cable with the squared end. Now I can’t get it to slip into the transmission. I can pull the housing out about 4” and then push the cable into the transmission and spin it with my fingers but it will not engage. Is there another way to get it in?

Surely the mating piece is somehow messed up? Did you confirm that the profile is not stripped, nor the piece otherwise damaged such to prevent engagement?

Quote:

So it was fine before, but after removing the cable it just won't go back in all the way? Or do you mean the cable goes in all the way but is not engaging?

Can you post a couple of pictures?

Important to know what car and transmission. Are you reusing the original cable and if not, are you sure the new cable is for the same model and is long enough to reach the gear. If new, cables for overdrive cars may be a few inches longer than those used in cars without OD. Cables for Ultramatic cars may be different still. Is the square end that slips into the gear receiver the same size and undamaged with no burrs or wires out of place.

Some of the earlier transmission speedo gears are all metal and unlikely to be damaged but there could be other conditions preventing engagement. Some adapters have a retaining arrangement to keep the gear in position and there could be an issue and the gear has slipped out of position. If you are working with a one piece adapter and cable housing assy, have you pulled the adapter out of the trans and verified the gear and shaft are in good condition and secure in the adapter. IIRC, some trans have gears that are only held in position because they are inserted in sort of a "pocket" where limited space at the end of the gear keeps them in position but that arrangement depends on having the proper gear for the transmission. Other gears have combinations of materials or are all nylon and the socket end could have been deformed or broken in some manner.

Packwagon, are you installing a new cable, or just trying to put the same cable back in? If it is a new cable I missed that.

If this is a new cable, lay it beside your old cable and see what the difference is. Length, size of squared end, length of squared portion of the cable, etc.

I had to replace the speedo cable in my '53 Cavalier, the broken one in the picture I posted, and I thought no problem, I'll take the one out of my '53 Patrician parts car. Both have Ultramatics but the cables were different!