Speedo drive 58 Super Rocket

[Slymo]

Hi there I'm new to this forum but have just purchased a Super Rocket in very tired but complete condition. It has come with chrono tacho and speedo but there is no drive gearbox for the speedo on either wheel and the gearbox appears to have a welch plug in the drive hole that looks as though it has always been there. My question is did they ever put wheel driven speedometer gearboxes on the A10 and if not did they ever sell Super Rockets in the States without a speedo?

[Joolstacho]

Far as I'm aware (but I'm no guru!), speedo drive was from the gearbox, tacho drive was taken from a drive gearbox mounted on the timing cover driven from the magneto drive, and later models the tacho drive was moved to the front lower forward 'edge' of the inner timing cover, driven from the oil pump.

[JulianS]

Some years ago I imported a needle roller gearbox from the USA which had both speedo drive and kickstart blanked off with plugs.

Presume for competition/off road use.

In UK the blanking plugs were offered for sale by Gold Star man Eddie Dow. Probably similar items sold by Webco in the USA.

The first photo from 1958 US catalogue showing Spitfire with no speedo fitted.

Second from Eddie Dow catalogue.

[Slymo]

Yes well it seems that I'm going to have to find the internals and knock out that plug. Can't not have a speedo especially as its a lovely chrono!

[duTch]

 Not hard to fit a drive, and as far as I know, no pre-units had other than a tranny driven Speedo, and not sure what the A65/50's did until the rear hub driven ones (64)... maybe some guesswork...

[Joolstacho]

With a bit of luck your internal speedo drive bits will still be in place and the plug was just put in to stop the oil pi**ing out.

[Greybeard]

  Slymo, please will you go to Introductions and give us a short bio.

[Slymo]

Struggling to find a place to add to my profile. Can you please point the way?

[Joolstacho]

Here mate:

https://www.a7a10.net/forum/index.php?board=13.0

(that's to into your good self, your profile is different).

[muskrat]

PM sent.
Cheers