The Ford Barn

SteveR. · 05-06-2018, 05:44 PM

Took my '30 Tudor on a 90 mile trip today, it did fine except the speedometer broke. I'll dig into it as soon as I have time, but I'd like to know where to start. I do have Les' manual and will read it. Driving down the highway, about 50mph, I noticed the speedometer starting to "sag", i.e., over 20 seconds or so it was slowly decreasing even though the car's speed was not. I then heard a fairly loud "clacking" sound, that I honestly thought was a rod bearing so I immediately pulled over. By the time I had stopped the sound was gone and the car was running fine, but the speedometer wouldn't move off 0. Obviously something is broken, but at which end? Just want to start looking in the right place.

Thanks!

Tacoma Bob · 05-06-2018, 06:29 PM

Sounds like your speedo cable broke is all. Not a biggie. Your speedo maybe in need of a clean and lube job.

1955cj5 · 05-06-2018, 06:34 PM

I agree, your cable probably broken, but why?

Check your speedometer and make sure it isn't frozen before you replace and break a new cable........

.

Jacksonlll · 05-06-2018, 07:18 PM

Try to turn the speedo input shaft with your finger. They do freeze up and break the cable and the fix can be quite involved. The main shaft is hard to get out.

SeaSlugs · 05-06-2018, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacksonlll

Try to turn the speedo input shaft with your finger. They do freeze up and break the cable and the fix can be quite involved. The main shaft is hard to get out.

Yes it should turn pretty easy with your fingers. Be aware depending on year theres a "large" and "small" diameter square end. The small will fit in the large for awhile but eventually round off the corners on the cable and stop working.

Id guess the speedometer started siezing up causing the cable to bind and break off.

DHZIEMAN · 05-07-2018, 07:57 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Speedometer cable! In particular if there was a lot of noise!

papanick · 05-07-2018, 08:00 AM

Hi check the speedometer first to see if it is turning hard. If it is then that should be serviced or rebuild. But check the cable to see if that is turning ok. If you need help with the speedometer let me know. [email protected] Always here to help.

burner31 · 05-07-2018, 11:04 AM

Had the something happen to me, turned out the cable came out of the holder I had set up under the car and rested on the muffler, burnt it, fried it, melted it.

pooch · 05-07-2018, 05:19 PM

It should turn freely by hand.

If it is an Oval, (the only one I have expereince on), I pull the guts out and drill thru the pot metal with a 1/8th drill, until I hit the mainshaft going in thru the single main screw hole at back .

Unscrew the drive bevel gear housing out and flick off the oval cover plate and clean out the dry congealed grease and lube in there too and re grease.

Then blow the swarf out and lube it down the hole while running it with a drill in reverse and turn speedo up and down so the lube goes each way..

If the mainshaft is really tight and you don't want to risk using a drill at first, pull the speedo drum off top and turn magnet by hand back and forth until it gets free enough to use a drill.

I have had great sucess with a number of speedos getiing the main shaft freed up again without dismantling.

Dab some oil around any gears you see as well.

SteveR. · 05-08-2018, 02:26 PM

It is an oval speedometer. I pulled the cable out last night, and surprisingly it is just fine, no chewed up ends, not even a broken strand. I assume it is either the speedometer itself, or the gear drive on the rear of the transmission. I'll take those apart tonight.

Thanks for all of the input, it is helpful!

pooch · 05-08-2018, 10:24 PM

Save puling the cable or the turtle, just drive it forward slowly and grab the top end of the cable with your fingers.

If you cannot stop the cable from turning it is good, unless the top end square has rounded off a bit.

papanick · 05-09-2018, 06:48 AM

All you need to do is send it in to one of the builders and have it serviced. They can get it working free with out putting holes in the casing. I have done 1000's of them. You can drill the holes and it dose work but it may let oil into the inside of the speedo as you drive the car. Just trying to help.

05-06-2018, 05:44 PM	#1
SteveR. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Aledo, TX Posts: 63	Speedometer broke (noisily), where should I start? Took my '30 Tudor on a 90 mile trip today, it did fine except the speedometer broke. I'll dig into it as soon as I have time, but I'd like to know where to start. I do have Les' manual and will read it. Driving down the highway, about 50mph, I noticed the speedometer starting to "sag", i.e., over 20 seconds or so it was slowly decreasing even though the car's speed was not. I then heard a fairly loud "clacking" sound, that I honestly thought was a rod bearing so I immediately pulled over. By the time I had stopped the sound was gone and the car was running fine, but the speedometer wouldn't move off 0. Obviously something is broken, but at which end? Just want to start looking in the right place. Thanks!

05-06-2018, 06:29 PM	#2
Tacoma Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,025	Re: Speedometer broke (noisily), where should I start? Sounds like your speedo cable broke is all. Not a biggie. Your speedo maybe in need of a clean and lube job.

05-06-2018, 06:34 PM	#3
1955cj5 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,578	Re: Speedometer broke (noisily), where should I start? I agree, your cable probably broken, but why? Check your speedometer and make sure it isn't frozen before you replace and break a new cable........ . __________________ Early '29 CCPU that had a 4-speed, but not any more.......in the family since '62

05-06-2018, 07:18 PM	#4
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Speedometer broke (noisily), where should I start? Try to turn the speedo input shaft with your finger. They do freeze up and break the cable and the fix can be quite involved. The main shaft is hard to get out.

05-07-2018, 07:57 AM	#6
DHZIEMAN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Sunrise Beach, Mo Posts: 439	Re: Speedometer broke (noisily), where should I start? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Speedometer cable! In particular if there was a lot of noise!

05-07-2018, 08:00 AM	#7
papanick Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: gouverneur n,y, Posts: 2,756	Re: Speedometer broke (noisily), where should I start? Hi check the speedometer first to see if it is turning hard. If it is then that should be serviced or rebuild. But check the cable to see if that is turning ok. If you need help with the speedometer let me know. [email protected] Always here to help.

05-07-2018, 11:04 AM	#8
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Speedometer broke (noisily), where should I start? Had the something happen to me, turned out the cable came out of the holder I had set up under the car and rested on the muffler, burnt it, fried it, melted it. __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

05-07-2018, 05:19 PM	#9
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: Speedometer broke (noisily), where should I start? It should turn freely by hand. If it is an Oval, (the only one I have expereince on), I pull the guts out and drill thru the pot metal with a 1/8th drill, until I hit the mainshaft going in thru the single main screw hole at back . Unscrew the drive bevel gear housing out and flick off the oval cover plate and clean out the dry congealed grease and lube in there too and re grease. Then blow the swarf out and lube it down the hole while running it with a drill in reverse and turn speedo up and down so the lube goes each way.. If the mainshaft is really tight and you don't want to risk using a drill at first, pull the speedo drum off top and turn magnet by hand back and forth until it gets free enough to use a drill. I have had great sucess with a number of speedos getiing the main shaft freed up again without dismantling. Dab some oil around any gears you see as well. Last edited by pooch; 05-07-2018 at 05:27 PM.

05-08-2018, 02:26 PM	#10
SteveR. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Aledo, TX Posts: 63	Re: Speedometer broke (noisily), where should I start? It is an oval speedometer. I pulled the cable out last night, and surprisingly it is just fine, no chewed up ends, not even a broken strand. I assume it is either the speedometer itself, or the gear drive on the rear of the transmission. I'll take those apart tonight. Thanks for all of the input, it is helpful!

05-08-2018, 10:24 PM	#11
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: Speedometer broke (noisily), where should I start? Save puling the cable or the turtle, just drive it forward slowly and grab the top end of the cable with your fingers. If you cannot stop the cable from turning it is good, unless the top end square has rounded off a bit.

05-09-2018, 06:48 AM	#12
papanick Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: gouverneur n,y, Posts: 2,756	Re: Speedometer broke (noisily), where should I start? All you need to do is send it in to one of the builders and have it serviced. They can get it working free with out putting holes in the casing. I have done 1000's of them. You can drill the holes and it dose work but it may let oil into the inside of the speedo as you drive the car. Just trying to help.