The Ford Barn

[email protected] · 09-26-2023, 03:00 PM

Speedometer cable isn't spinning the speedo. I took the speedometer out and drove the car, and the cable wasn't spinning. Took the cable loose at tranny end and it seems to have gone in "too far." I had to spin the cable to get it to back out. Previously I took the cable out at the speedo end to grease it. After greasing I pushed the cable back into the conduit.

I tested the cable and drove the car again, and the cable was turning. Reinstalled the speedometer and not working. I've done this no less than four times and each time, the speedometer isn't working. The speedometer has been tested with a drill and works.

Is there a right and wrong end on the speedometer cable or a direction it needs to be installed? Is there a "stop or something that keeps the cable positioned one way or the other? I seem to be doing something wrong and am not sure.

jack wingard · 09-26-2023, 04:04 PM

some of the reproductions are too short. I think a 1/4 " long round stock should be installed at the trans.

nkaminar · 09-26-2023, 04:39 PM

Stock cables are 61 and a half inches long. The cable housing and or the cable could have been replaced over the years so different lengths could have been used. If you can find a speedometer shop, you can get a longer cable made up. Of if your cable measure less than the stock length, you can buy a new cable from Snyders.

Richard Knight · 09-26-2023, 07:06 PM

As Jack said, measure the diameter of the end of the cable find a piece of steel roundstock. Cut off about a quarter of an inch and put that into the hole in the gear first. Have the cable in and tightened at the speedometer end, then install in the turtle end and test drive.

Gary WA · 09-26-2023, 08:29 PM

this is how they are installed and when testing the drill should be in reverse.

[email protected] · 09-28-2023, 09:02 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Knight

As Jack said, measure the diameter of the end of the cable find a piece of steel roundstock. Cut off about a quarter of an inch and put that into the hole in the gear first. Have the cable in and tightened at the speedometer end, then install in the turtle end and test drive.

I'm confused about these instructions. "Cut off about a quarter of an inch" --of roundstock. How would roundstock fit into a hole designed for a square cable? What is the purpose of doing this? My apologies for not following.

Phil Brown · 09-28-2023, 11:36 AM

What, you can't put a round peg in the square hole

Just use a little smaller diameter piece of round stock to cut your spacer from, anything that fits into the square, or find a small pice of square stock

Richard Knight · 10-01-2023, 12:06 AM

Kevin, just saw your message. You are right if the round stock is too big. You might find a nail that will fit in the square hole at the drive gear. You just need a piece long enough. Maybe 1/4" to push the cable up into the speedo drive.

Bob C · 10-01-2023, 12:12 PM

You can also shim the speedometer end of the cable to keep it engaged in the speedo.

09-26-2023, 03:00 PM	#1
[email protected] Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Essex, CT Posts: 39	Speedometer Cable - right or wrong way to reinstall after lub. Speedometer cable isn't spinning the speedo. I took the speedometer out and drove the car, and the cable wasn't spinning. Took the cable loose at tranny end and it seems to have gone in "too far." I had to spin the cable to get it to back out. Previously I took the cable out at the speedo end to grease it. After greasing I pushed the cable back into the conduit. I tested the cable and drove the car again, and the cable was turning. Reinstalled the speedometer and not working. I've done this no less than four times and each time, the speedometer isn't working. The speedometer has been tested with a drill and works. Is there a right and wrong end on the speedometer cable or a direction it needs to be installed? Is there a "stop or something that keeps the cable positioned one way or the other? I seem to be doing something wrong and am not sure. __________________ Kevin Essex, CT Last edited by [email protected]; 09-26-2023 at 03:02 PM. Reason: Pertinent information

09-26-2023, 04:04 PM	#2
jack wingard Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Stoneboro PA Posts: 120	Re: Speedometer Cable - right or wrong way to reinstall after lub. some of the reproductions are too short. I think a 1/4 " long round stock should be installed at the trans.

09-26-2023, 04:39 PM	#3
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Re: Speedometer Cable - right or wrong way to reinstall after lub. Stock cables are 61 and a half inches long. The cable housing and or the cable could have been replaced over the years so different lengths could have been used. If you can find a speedometer shop, you can get a longer cable made up. Of if your cable measure less than the stock length, you can buy a new cable from Snyders. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

09-26-2023, 07:06 PM	#4
Richard Knight Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 130	Re: Speedometer Cable - right or wrong way to reinstall after lub. As Jack said, measure the diameter of the end of the cable find a piece of steel roundstock. Cut off about a quarter of an inch and put that into the hole in the gear first. Have the cable in and tightened at the speedometer end, then install in the turtle end and test drive.

09-26-2023, 08:29 PM	#5
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,105	Re: Speedometer Cable - right or wrong way to reinstall after lub. this is how they are installed and when testing the drill should be in reverse. __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com Last edited by Gary WA; 12-30-2023 at 02:35 PM.

09-28-2023, 11:36 AM	#7
Phil Brown Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee Calif. Posts: 509	Re: Speedometer Cable - right or wrong way to reinstall after lub. What, you can't put a round peg in the square hole Just use a little smaller diameter piece of round stock to cut your spacer from, anything that fits into the square, or find a small pice of square stock

10-01-2023, 12:06 AM	#8
Richard Knight Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 130	Re: Speedometer Cable - right or wrong way to reinstall after lub. Kevin, just saw your message. You are right if the round stock is too big. You might find a nail that will fit in the square hole at the drive gear. You just need a piece long enough. Maybe 1/4" to push the cable up into the speedo drive.