Speedometer

Tiny
GFFR57
  • MEMBER
  • 1973 FORD F-100
  • 6.4L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 200,000 MILES
The speedometer doesn't work. I replaced the cable and the plastic drive gear with no success. The gauge seems fine. I disconnected the cable from the gauge and drove it and the cable doesnt spin. Any suggestions?
Thursday, January 14th, 2016 AT 1:30 PM

16 Replies

Tiny
CATAFINA
  • MECHANIC
  • 168 POSTS
Double check everything from the speedo head and especially on the transmission side installation something here is amiss
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Thursday, January 14th, 2016 AT 3:35 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check to make sure that the speedo gear on trans hasn't moved due to a broken clip on shaft. Then check gear that drives cable. Finally was the just the cable replaced or casing as well? Make sure cable doesn't bind and cable is completely installed and clipped inside speedometer.
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Thursday, January 14th, 2016 AT 3:39 PM
Tiny
GFFR57
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  • 24 POSTS
I am at a loss. Drive gear is fine, clip is fine. Gear inside the tranny moves if you turn the driveshaft with your hand. Speedometer works if you spin the gear end with your hand or drill. Does not work when I drive it
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Thursday, January 14th, 2016 AT 5:32 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
WITH THE TRANNY END CONNECTED

ON THE SPEEDO END OF THE CABLE

CAN YOU SPIN THE INNER CABLE WITH YOUR FINGERS?

NO MOVEY- THE INNER CABLE IS DEFINITELY LOCKED INTO THE GEAR?

THE OLD CABLE DID NOT BREAK OFF FLUSH WITH THE GEAR? NEW ONE DON'T SEAT?

THE MEDIC
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Thursday, January 14th, 2016 AT 7:52 PM
Tiny
GFFR57
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
Its is definately locked in. I can spin it on the tranny end and the speedo needle will move. Just will not work when plugged in to the tranny. Could the speedo gear in the tranny be bad. When I stick my finger in the hole it seems ok and it moves when rotating the driveshaft by hand
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Thursday, January 14th, 2016 AT 8:07 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
ON THE SPEEDO END OF THE CABLE

CAN YOU SPIN THE INNER CABLE WITH YOUR FINGERS? (HAVE YOU TRIED?)

THE MEDIC
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Thursday, January 14th, 2016 AT 8:14 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
RECKON THE GEAR IS NO LONGER SQUARE (STRIPPED ROUND)?

THEM FELLERS AT THE AUTO PARTS STORE WAS "CELL PHONING" AND GAVE YOU THE WRONG CABLE (SMALLER DIAMETER THAN IT SHOULD BE)?

THE MEDIC
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Thursday, January 14th, 2016 AT 8:27 PM
Tiny
GFFR57
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
The drive gear is new. Ill check to see if I can make it spin from the speedo side. However, with the drive gear on the cable, I can spin it and make the speedo needle move
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Thursday, January 14th, 2016 AT 8:52 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Take a drill motor and put it on reverse hook up to cable and see if speedo works it should if not it's either the cable has a bad end on it going into speedo or speedo is bad. Also pull the extension hsg off and look at gear on shaft. See if it turns without the shaft or the the speedo gear that you put in is the wrong size for what you have.
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Friday, January 15th, 2016 AT 6:50 AM
Tiny
GFFR57
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  • 24 POSTS
What is hsg?
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Friday, January 15th, 2016 AT 6:54 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Short for housing
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Friday, January 15th, 2016 AT 7:48 AM
Tiny
GFFR57
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
I have an 18 tooth speedo gear. Do they make fatter ones?
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Friday, January 15th, 2016 AT 7:56 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
They make all different sizes I don't think you are understanding what I meant circumference of gear so it may be the wrong gear. I have no further comments.
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Friday, January 15th, 2016 AT 9:49 AM
Tiny
GFFR57
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  • 24 POSTS
Thanks! You all have been a tremendous help with telling me to do things ive already said I tried 2 or 3 times. It also helps a great deal that you all type like your dyslexic
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Friday, January 15th, 2016 AT 10:59 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
SO LIKE HE'S SAYING THE GEAR MAY BE THE WRONG ONE!

JOE CUSTOMER MIGHT HAVE HAD 5 BOXES OUT LOOKING FOR THE ONE HE NEEDED. "PRESTO" - HE FOUND IT! THE OTHER 4 ARE IN THE WRONG BOXES, AS HE HAS THE ONE HE NEEDS, NO NEED TO WASTE TIME PUTTING 'EM IN THEIR CORRECT BOX

LET'S SAY THE GEAR IS A LITTLE SMALLER THAN THE CORRECT ONE (IF THERE IS SUCH) IT MAY BE SORTA "TOUCHING" BUT NOT FULLY MATING WITH THE WORM. SO WHEN YOU SPIN THE YOKE/ DRIVESHAFT, IT DOES TURN

NOW LETS THROW IN TWO CHANGES OF DIRECTION WITH THE OUTER SHROUD, NOW THE INNER CABLE HAS SOME RESISTANCE FROM THOSE BENDS. MR. GEAR NOW STARTS JUMPING THE WORM IT'S BARELY TOUCHING.

MAYBE THE SQUARE HOLE IN THE GEAR IS NOW ROUND (RETURNED "NEW" BY A PREVIOUS CUSTOMER, AFTER HE BUTCHERED IT. CABLE END MAY BE TOO SMALL FOR THE TRANNY END.

JUST SOME "IT CAN'T BE!" THOUGHTS

WE UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION, AND MOST ALL OF US HERE WILL SORTA LET YOU KNOW WHEN THEIR BRAIN IS SPENT! (WE STILL GET NOTIFIED IF THE THREAD CONTINUES, AND SOMETIMES JUMP BACK IN IF THE OLE LIGHT BULB POPS IN OVER OUR HEAD).

THERE IS A SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM, WRONG PARTS, CHEWED UP WORM, ETC. WE ARE HERE TO ATTEMPT TO HELP YOU FIND IT! IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO SEE AND TOUCH THE VEHICLE FROM WHERE WE ARE. ALL WE HAVE TO GO ON IS YOUR RESPONSES.

HAVING BEEN ON HERE SINCE 2009, WE DO SEE MANY FOLKS THAT CAN TALK THE TALK, WHEN GIVING THEM TEST INSTRUCTIONS TO ATTEMPT A DIAGNOSIS, THEY NEVER RETURN WITH AN ANSWER/ OR THEY CONTINUE TO ASK COULD IT BE THIS OR THAT. ALL WE CAN SAY IS "YES" OR "NO". THE WHOLE TIME NEVER PINNING DOWN WHICH ROUTE TO TRAVEL, FOR LACK OF "HIS" TEST RESULTS

PLEASE DO THE FINGER TEST FROM THE SPEEDO END, IT MAY SHED LIGHT ON WHICH END IS THE BANDIT.

THE MEDIC
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Friday, January 15th, 2016 AT 4:54 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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  • 48,601 POSTS
One thing I have to ask since you think we are all dyslexic is did you have to put the end by the speedo on the cable and did you have to cut the cable to fit?
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Friday, January 15th, 2016 AT 5:11 PM

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