Speedometer not working with new cable

[MikeyM]

Hi all,

Hoping for some input. Like the title says. I installed a new cable because the old one was run incorrectly and the sheathing was pretty rough. But the old cable turned. The new cable installed pretty easily and I have sweeping bends all the way up to the speedo. I heard the "click" when I reached up behind the dash to push on the speedo end, pulled back on it, and it was secure. Took it for a drive - nothing. Dead speedo? Anything I can dive into inside the speedo to test?

Thanks,
Mikey

 

[WileE]

Was the speedometer functional before ?

 

[MikeyM]

Sorry, probably should have mentioned that... no. The old cable was disconnected so i reconnected it, and got nothing. Removed that, spun the cable inside and it turned. Replaced it with new cable and no love.

Thanks,
Mikey

 

[Sam69sat]

Does the odometer work?

 

[Don Frelier]

Sorry, probably should have mentioned that... no. The old cable was disconnected so i reconnected it, and got nothing. Removed that, spun the cable inside and it turned. Replaced it with new cable and no love.

Thanks,
Mikey

With the cable installed and disconnected from the speedometer you shouldn't be able to spin the cable if it's engaged in the speedometer transmission gear down below.
You may be missing the gear in the trans.

 

[pnora]

Unhook it from the transmission and spin the cable with someone watching the head and see if it moves.

 

[kiwigtx]

You may be missing the gear in the trans.

.....or someone may have rotated the gear head to the wrong location meaning the gears are slipping or not meshing with the output shaft.

 

[MikeyM]

Thanks all. Sorry if I wasn't clear - with both the old and new cable out of the car, the inner cable spun at both ends. So both cables seem good. The speedo gear connection didn't seem out of place but I guess I could pull it to make sure the gear isn't trashed. And/or still there.

 

[Belvedere408]

I did the same thing with my 67 B I replaced the cable. Bought a matching speedometer gear for my tires and rear end. Plugged it into my gauge cluster and nada. I think my gauge cluster is inoperable.

 

[Car #4]

Thanks all. Sorry if I wasn't clear - with both the old and new cable out of the car, the inner cable spun at both ends. So both cables seem good. The speedo gear connection didn't seem out of place but I guess I could pull it to make sure the gear isn't trashed. And/or still there.

The transmission gear needs to be clocked properly when you insert it. There's different notches in the gear housing that the clamp fits into. If the gear is, say, a 24 tooth and the housing is clocked for a 36 tooth it's possible that the speedo gear is not engaging the transmission gear.

 

[radical rob]

Spin the cable at the trans end. If the Speedo moves then problem is connection in trans. If it doesn’t move, the end of the cable may not be far enough into the Speedo to turn it,