The Ford Barn

Babyboomerboy · 02-23-2015, 09:57 AM

Can anyone tell me the easiest way to remove the speedometer gauge from the dash? I thought I had a broken speedometer cable but I changed that and the speedometer still doesn't work. Thanks

dmsfrr · 02-23-2015, 10:18 AM

'56 Fairlane?

Babyboomerboy · 02-23-2015, 12:34 PM

Yes, I am sorry. A 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan

dmsfrr · 02-23-2015, 04:59 PM

I haven't yet had the pleasure of tackling this project.
But I will eventually, my speedo reads 10mph when the car is parked.

Are you sure the speedometer cable is spinning when the car is moving? If not, did you check the driven gear on the trans. end of the cable when you changed it?
If it's a plastic one the teeth can easily wear down and not turn the cable.

My first guess would be to get a rough idea of the location of the gauge cluster back-side mounting screws by looking at photos of similar ones. Ebay probably has some listed for sale with several photos for each.
Disconnect the battery, use some tape & a pen to label everything you disconnect, round up a small mirror and a fluorescent/LED worklight to see around corners while you're upside down under the dash, and go for it.

Babyboomerboy · 02-23-2015, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmsfrr

I haven't yet had the pleasure of tackling this project.
But I will eventually, my speedo reads 10mph when the car is parked.

Are you sure the speedometer cable is spinning when the car is moving? If not, did you check the driven gear on the trans. end of the cable when you changed it?
If it's a plastic one the teeth can easily wear down and not turn the cable.

My first guess would be to get a rough idea of the location of the gauge cluster back-side mounting screws by looking at photos of similar ones. Ebay probably has some listed for sale with several photos for each.
Disconnect the battery, use some tape & a pen to label everything you disconnect, round up a small mirror and a fluorescent/LED worklight to see around corners while you're upside down under the dash, and go for it.

Thank you for your response. We connected the new cable to the trans and after it didn't move the speedometer we disconnected it from the back end of the speedometer and felt the end as we moved forward and it turned. I was afraid that it was going to be a pain to get the speedometer out and I am an old man that can't bend like I use to. I'll keep you posted as to this project. Thanks again

dmsfrr · 02-24-2015, 10:32 AM

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It might be worth the trouble to remove the front seat to give your self more room to work.
I guess we'll both hope for someone to chime in with a better answer.....

RCM · 02-25-2015, 05:19 AM

I need to do that also, so I'll appreciate any insight given.
Do remove the seat. I recently had to assemble and disassemble the vac wiper motor several times and, being a pretty much straight forward operation, it still gave me a bad back for a couple of days. Removing the speedo seems like a tougher task.
Regards

bfdinardo · 07-12-2018, 11:08 AM

Definitely remove the front seat to give you enough room to lay on the floor of the car and work behind the dash. First remove the 3 light bulbs that fit into the speedo cup but label them as 1 of them is for the high beam indicator and the other two are simple gauge back lights. then there are 4 screws that hold the speedo cup to the gauge cluster. once the screws are out you have to twist the cup about 45 degrees or so to then pull it out towards the front of the car. then put a few drops of 3-1 oil into a little hole on the back side to lubricate the spinning bearing and clean up the worm gears and you should be good to go.

Grumpy Rick · 07-12-2018, 04:30 PM

I once got trapped in a position under the dash of a '55
customline, with a floor shifter. No fun, and I was only 60 at the time.

papanick · 07-14-2018, 12:49 PM

Hay if you like to have it checked out or serviced let me know. [email protected]

Ole Don · 07-14-2018, 03:14 PM

The speedo on my 55 was removed several times. The whole cluster on the 55 is held in with four nuts, lock washers, and clips. I moved the seat all the way back, layed down two old bath towels to lay on and went down with the 1/4 drive and some sockets, masking tape and a writer, and a light with a magnetic base. When I was younger, my feet ended up over the seat top. Later I just played like a worm. If you are a large person, removing the seat or finding a younger skinny helper is the only way. I was about 195 the last time I did the job. Not sure if I could do it today because of arthritis. Good Luck.

poolplayer1 · 07-15-2018, 03:19 PM

Yes, that's the rough part of it,reaching behind the cluster to get those 4 nuts off.I think u also have to remove 2 Philips screws in front of the cluster cover facing up and maybe one at the bottom that holds a plate that sits over the steering coluum.I did one about 10 years ago so can't remember exactly.
Mando

02-23-2015, 09:57 AM	#1
Babyboomerboy Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Kansas Posts: 77	Remove speedometer gauge from dash Can anyone tell me the easiest way to remove the speedometer gauge from the dash? I thought I had a broken speedometer cable but I changed that and the speedometer still doesn't work. Thanks

02-23-2015, 10:18 AM	#2
dmsfrr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Abq, NM Posts: 3,725	Re: Remove speedometer gauge from dash '56 Fairlane?

02-23-2015, 12:34 PM	#3
Babyboomerboy Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Kansas Posts: 77	Re: Remove speedometer gauge from dash Yes, I am sorry. A 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan

02-23-2015, 04:59 PM	#4
dmsfrr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Abq, NM Posts: 3,725	Re: Remove speedometer gauge from dash I haven't yet had the pleasure of tackling this project. But I will eventually, my speedo reads 10mph when the car is parked. Are you sure the speedometer cable is spinning when the car is moving? If not, did you check the driven gear on the trans. end of the cable when you changed it? If it's a plastic one the teeth can easily wear down and not turn the cable. My first guess would be to get a rough idea of the location of the gauge cluster back-side mounting screws by looking at photos of similar ones. Ebay probably has some listed for sale with several photos for each. Disconnect the battery, use some tape & a pen to label everything you disconnect, round up a small mirror and a fluorescent/LED worklight to see around corners while you're upside down under the dash, and go for it.

02-24-2015, 10:32 AM	#6
dmsfrr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Abq, NM Posts: 3,725	Re: Remove speedometer gauge from dash Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) It might be worth the trouble to remove the front seat to give your self more room to work. I guess we'll both hope for someone to chime in with a better answer.....

02-25-2015, 05:19 AM	#7
RCM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Portugal Posts: 374	Re: Remove speedometer gauge from dash I need to do that also, so I'll appreciate any insight given. Do remove the seat. I recently had to assemble and disassemble the vac wiper motor several times and, being a pretty much straight forward operation, it still gave me a bad back for a couple of days. Removing the speedo seems like a tougher task. Regards

07-12-2018, 11:08 AM	#8
bfdinardo Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 64	Re: Remove speedometer gauge from dash Definitely remove the front seat to give you enough room to lay on the floor of the car and work behind the dash. First remove the 3 light bulbs that fit into the speedo cup but label them as 1 of them is for the high beam indicator and the other two are simple gauge back lights. then there are 4 screws that hold the speedo cup to the gauge cluster. once the screws are out you have to twist the cup about 45 degrees or so to then pull it out towards the front of the car. then put a few drops of 3-1 oil into a little hole on the back side to lubricate the spinning bearing and clean up the worm gears and you should be good to go.

07-12-2018, 04:30 PM	#9
Grumpy Rick Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: SoCal Posts: 208	Re: Remove speedometer gauge from dash I once got trapped in a position under the dash of a '55 customline, with a floor shifter. No fun, and I was only 60 at the time.

07-14-2018, 12:49 PM	#10
papanick Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: gouverneur n,y, Posts: 2,840	Re: Remove speedometer gauge from dash Hay if you like to have it checked out or serviced let me know. [email protected]

07-14-2018, 03:14 PM	#11
Ole Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St. Michael, Minnesota Posts: 1,713	Re: Remove speedometer gauge from dash The speedo on my 55 was removed several times. The whole cluster on the 55 is held in with four nuts, lock washers, and clips. I moved the seat all the way back, layed down two old bath towels to lay on and went down with the 1/4 drive and some sockets, masking tape and a writer, and a light with a magnetic base. When I was younger, my feet ended up over the seat top. Later I just played like a worm. If you are a large person, removing the seat or finding a younger skinny helper is the only way. I was about 195 the last time I did the job. Not sure if I could do it today because of arthritis. Good Luck.

07-15-2018, 03:19 PM	#12
poolplayer1 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 408	Re: Remove speedometer gauge from dash Yes, that's the rough part of it,reaching behind the cluster to get those 4 nuts off.I think u also have to remove 2 Philips screws in front of the cluster cover facing up and maybe one at the bottom that holds a plate that sits over the steering coluum.I did one about 10 years ago so can't remember exactly. Mando