41 speedometer just dropped out??

[hombres ruin]

Hi guys I was driving today in my 41 coupe all was good I watched the Speedo and it was fine then I parked and got out, came back and the Speedo needle just sat there not moving. As I drove I tapped the glass and it bounced up and came down same thing when I tapped the dash . Didn’t work for the drive home. I got under the dash and loosened the cable and checked the cable . It was in the right place, a Lille loose so I tighten it. Still doesn’t work.. any ideas. Thanks for any help

[34pickup]

Needs lube?

[paul2748]

Needs repair

[Brian]

Broken cable. Try this to confirm; unscrew the cable from the speedo head. Manipulate the cable so it protrudes out from under the dash, and take the car for a spin. You should see the inner cable rotating within the outer casing. If not; it's broken!

[fordor41]

There is a lub hole for the speedo bearing on the back. Use light oil. On my '41 every time I broke a speedo cable it was when I stopped and restarted. After lubing no trouble after that. Worth a try

[hombres ruin]

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Thanks Brian I will try that. Also if it needs lube where do I apply it? And what type

[Joe Immler]

My '41 had the same problem that Brian describes...a broken cable. Checked it as he suggests and replaced it.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Yep broken cable. My bet is you'll find one of the "titties" on the ends of the inner broken.

GB

[Blix]

When you buy a new cable, be sure to check that the inner wire is greased, I had to replace a new speedo cable after only 2500 kilometers (about 1560 miles) because it only had grease on the ends. It was broken about 5 inches from the bottom end. Bought from macs.

[hombres ruin]

I took the housing out and the cable just fell out like it wasn't connected at all,it was dry and there was no damage at all to the end of the cable that connects to the speedo. I was having difficulty removing the housing so I can see the internals

[supereal]

To check, lube, clean and lube the speedo cable, unscrew it from the speedometer and the "turtle" housing on the torque tube. If it resists removal, use a Vicegrips or other tool to pull and turn the cable. Most cables have a ferrule on the dash end of the cable. When the cable is out of the housing, carefully clean it with some solvent on a rag before reinstalling it. Years ago, speedometer cable lube was sold in tubes. Now, we use white lithium grease, sold at most parts stores. As the cable enters the sheath, apply the grease liberally. When it reaches the gear in the turtle, slowly rotate the cable so it will enter the square hole in the gear shank. If it doesn't enter, remove the two screws holding the turtle to the torque tube and turn the gear by hand until the cable is seated.

[supereal]

A quick way to determine if the cable is intact is to observe the odometer. If it moves, but the hand of the speedometer doesn't, the cable is OK. The speedometer head has a troublesome place: Wear in the case where the cable attaches allows the magnetic discs to fall out of line, causing the hand either to be erratic, or not move. Speedometers were not designed to last decades, and the job is best left to experts.

[papanick]

Hi if you find that the cable is OK them I would have the speedometer serviced or rebuild.