Mitchell/speedo not working-need ideas

[1930artdeco]

Hi All, I need the help of the brain trust. So I installed my Mitchell OD but the speedo does not work. I have contacted Mitchell and we are brainstorming ideas but I cannot work on the car until the weekends due to work. But here is what I have.


1) the original speedo cable spins up the the speedometer in the car by itself. With the drill in 'reverse'.

2) the Mitchell cable rotates in its housing.
3) I put the two cables together loosely and watch them both rotate by hand and then screw them together.


Here is the weird part: I put my drill on the gear end and spin it up in 'normal' (like I was drilling a hole) and I get nothing. I switch to 'reverse' on the drill and it will spin the speedometer up-YEAH! But I will stop and try it again and I get nothing. I have not changed anything and the speedo will not budge. I even took the gear off and attached the drill right to the cable and get the same results. Is it possible the original speedo cable is sliding out of the Mitchell adapter? Any ideas as to what I am doing wrong here? Besides probably being an idiot somehow.


Mike

[Keith True]

When you ordered an OD for a 30,did you specify oval or round speedo?Those short cable extentions are different for the two speedos.Using the wrong adapter will leave you with a non-working speedo.

[1930artdeco]

I have the correct adapter according to Mitchell.

[Tom Endy]

The little plastic gear on the end of the Mitchell speedo extension cable has been known to fail. They are available from a Ford dealer or Mitchell. Loosen the set screw and pull it out, expect a bunch of oil to run out with it. The gear is on the end of the cable with a snap ring. Easy to replace.

Tom Endy

[Tom Smith]

Sounds like you may need to add the spacer to the cable, installed between the cable connections. I think it was Brattons that offers the new cable with this extra spacer included. I have installed one as I had the same problem. I also did the gear change as suggested, lasted for a short time then speed-o quit working. I have been told that the drive cables are not always the correct length.



Tom Smith

[cristeven]

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Artdeco - speedometer problems are common. The unit should work with your drill in reverse. That is the correct direction. I’m not sure if you’re connecting the drill onto the cable end at the transmission or if you’re driving the speedometer directly with a square bit driver. Assuming your at the removed speedometer itself then it sounds like you reproduced the issue as being internal to the unit. I recently rebuilt two units (both oval 1928) and both would work intermittently like yours originally. I followed these instructions. http://www.modelahouse.com/tech/spee...r/fischer.html. Astra-werk youtube channel is very good resource for both units.

Edit - after further thought - the answer your “pulling out” question is “yes”. Indeed it is extremely easy to disengage the cable from the rear of the Speedo as you asked. The cable length is just perfect. Any lose connection on the sheath nuts will disengage the cable from the back of the Speedo. This sounds like your major issue.

[1930artdeco]

Update: while conversing with Steve about my different test results he shipped me another cable that he made a smidge longer. Installed and now I have a speedo meter again! Now I can’t wait for the snow/ice to melt-and no rain.

Mike

[Keith]

Make sure that the speedometer cable coming from the speedometer is correct length
I had a 29 cable in our 30 sedan when I got it and had a similar problem the inner cable would just barely catch the speedometer drive and as it walked up and back inside the cable would disengage. Replaced it with a correct 30 cable and everything worked.
It is possible that this is happening with the Mitchell extension.