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04-03-2021, 06:01 PM | #1 |
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Speedometer stopped working on my 29
I was just out for a drive when I noticed my speedometer was not working. As I drove along I was hearing a tick tick tick. I take it that the cable came off but I wanted to check with the guys on hear first before I start taking things apart. Any tips or tricks when it comes to getting the speedometer working? Thanks for all your help.
Ron |
04-03-2021, 06:26 PM | #2 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Ron if you need the speedometer service or rebuild I can help. It could have locked up and damaged the cable. email me at [email protected] if you need my help. papanick.
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04-03-2021, 06:38 PM | #3 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
The speedometer was replaced by the PO and has 350 miles on it so I do not think that's it. It was working fine one minute and then it just stopped working and tick tick tick. To me it sounds like the cable popped out under the car but when I looked the cable was screwed into the trans.
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04-03-2021, 06:45 PM | #4 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
I had the same issue on my 29 tudor. I found where the cable goes into the speedometer there is a small piece of tin between the cable and the part that spins where the cable goes in. My tin piece ended up getting rounded some and stopped working. I was able to pull out the tin piece with needle nose pliers and turn it around so the end that was originally in first is now facing out since it was in better shape than the other end. Not sure if all speedometers have this tin piece or not but thats how i got mine going again. I also removed the back cover of the speedometer and applied small amount of oil on the gears to help things move freely.
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04-03-2021, 06:46 PM | #5 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
I hope it's just the cable popped out of the back of the head. However, I'm never lucky. I tell ya, would not surprise me if your speedo is broken. Every darn time I send a job out to be done I am dissatified in some way. Either It cost way more than I feel is fair, it's half-A$$ed, I have to take it back which is a PIA...you get the idea. Got som I just dread sending any work out.
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04-03-2021, 07:10 PM | #6 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
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I guess the first thing to do is unhook the cable from the back of the speedometer, jack up one wheel at the rear end, run the car in the garage, and check to see if the end of the cable is rotating. Then check for the tin piece that Slow mentioned. Before getting that far along, check to see if the cable is loose at the speedometer. To check the speedometer, I have used a variable speed electric drill motor. The speedometer I was checking had a protruding shaft to hook to but if you speedometer has a recess you will have to find something like a square driver to fit.
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04-03-2021, 07:25 PM | #7 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
I believe a S2 square bit fits the speedometer
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04-03-2021, 07:35 PM | #8 | |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Quote:
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04-03-2021, 07:35 PM | #9 | |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Quote:
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04-03-2021, 09:54 PM | #10 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Hey Master Cyl,
You might just have the wrong speedometer gear in the torque tube. You will need to check your differential ratio and get the speedometer gear that matches the ratio. |
04-03-2021, 09:54 PM | #11 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Model A speedometers are very accurate if rebuilt and calibrated properly.
After a proper rebuild most Model A speedometers can be calibrated to plus or minus one MPH from 10 MPH to 70 MPH if the rebuilder knows what he is doing has the proper equipment and willing to spend the time to get it wright. Non original size tires, different rear-end ratios and wrong driveshaft gears will make your speedometer read wrong, if you try to make internal adjustments inside the speedometer to compensate for these changes then your odometer will be off. The only way to make a properly calibrated speedometer read wright on a modified drive train is by changing the gear ratios at the driveshaft. |
04-03-2021, 10:28 PM | #12 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Do you need to take any special care when inserting the speedometer cable into the transmission? Can it pop out on that end?
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04-03-2021, 10:53 PM | #13 | |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Quote:
Reproduction cables are a crap shoot, some are 1/2 to 1 inch too long or short and when mixing and matching inner and outer cables it may or may not work. Also on many reproduction cables the inner cable will have 1/2 inch or more end play and will drop down and come out of the speedometer and it will stop working. Sometimes the end play can be corrected and sometimes it cant. some people put a nail in the driveshaft gear to hold the cable up. |
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04-03-2021, 11:04 PM | #14 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
That is a good thought except the odometer reads correctly.
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04-03-2021, 11:29 PM | #15 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
And what pray tell did the vendor say when you returned the speedometer to him?
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04-03-2021, 11:38 PM | #16 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
There are 3 adjustments on the calibration. If your odometer is correct move the metal tab to the left to make it read faster. The other two adjustments require special equipment and training, If you move it all the way to the left and it is still too slow then someone with the special equipment and training will need to adjust it.
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04-03-2021, 11:54 PM | #17 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
[QUOTE=Model A Ron;2003550]Do you need to take any special care when inserting the speedometer cable into the transmission? Can it pop out on that end?[/QUOTE
Unless you have something like a Mitchell overdrive installed, the speedometer cable hooks up the drive shaft.
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04-04-2021, 12:21 AM | #18 | |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
[QUOTE=redmodelt;2003563]
Quote:
Thanks Ron |
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04-04-2021, 12:16 PM | #19 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Happy Easter everyone!
Took the speedometer out and it works just fine when I tested it so I put it back in the car. Then I jacked the car up and looked at the cable in the car. It was not turning with the car in gear but when I applied a little pressure and pushed it in it started to turn. I know some have said to add a nail to the transmission gear but I do not understand how this looks or how to do it. Can someone post a photo of the fix with the nail? I am sure it works but I cannot visualize it. Thanks Ron |
04-04-2021, 02:49 PM | #20 | |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
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04-04-2021, 05:34 PM | #21 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
I took the speedometer out and it works just fine when I tested it so I put it back in the car. Then I jacked the car up and looked at the cable in the car. It was not turning with the car in gear but when I applied a little pressure and pushed it in it started to turn. I know some have said to add a nail to the transmission gear but I do not understand how this looks or how to do it. Can someone post a photo of the fix with the nail? I am sure it works but I cannot visualize it.
Thanks Ron |
04-05-2021, 07:32 AM | #22 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
I think my cable is a bit short because when the car is in gear and I have the cable off the speedometer in the car it does not turn. When I apply a bit of pressure the cable begins to turn. What size of nail can I put into the speedometer gear? What is the max length of nail spacer that can be used and still have the cable work on the transmission end.
Thanks Ron |
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04-05-2021, 08:26 AM | #23 | |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Quote:
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04-05-2021, 08:58 AM | #24 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Do you have the correct cable. The oval speedometer has larger ends on the cable
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04-05-2021, 09:25 AM | #25 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
A speedometer shop can make up a longer cable for you. (Do speedometer shops still exist?) Or you could buy one from one of the suppliers.
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04-05-2021, 10:21 PM | #26 | |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
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Quote:
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04-05-2021, 10:22 PM | #27 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
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04-06-2021, 12:30 AM | #28 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Pull the inner cable out and look at it, it should pull out easy from the speedometer end. Sounds like it might be broke. Also take the bottom end off and inspect it, if you still don't see anything wrong take the turtle off and inspect.
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04-08-2021, 12:42 AM | #29 | |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Quote:
Ron |
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04-08-2021, 09:18 AM | #30 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Try auto parts store for universal replacement inner cable ,these you cut to length you want and crimp the end on in a vice, you can make a longer one.
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04-08-2021, 01:16 PM | #31 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Just pulled the cable and it looks good. I had both ends off and to be honest I do not see how I can put a nail in the speedometer gear.
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04-08-2021, 06:00 PM | #32 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
My car is March 1928, and I have the big cable.
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04-08-2021, 06:37 PM | #33 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Can someone share how to put a nail in the speedometer gear? When I pull the lower cable off I cannot fit a small finishing nail into the center of the speedometer gear however because its on it's side I cannot see it as well. Thanks for all your help.
Ron |
04-08-2021, 07:54 PM | #34 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
There are two different gear assemblies or turtles. Yours should have a round hole with a slot, and the bottom end of your cable should have a round end with a tab. Check to see if it will go in the gear assembly properly. The other 30-31 type has a square hole, Make sure you have the correct gear assembly, a 28-29 cable will not go in a 30-31 gear assembly.
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04-08-2021, 08:18 PM | #35 | |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Quote:
Ron |
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04-08-2021, 08:25 PM | #36 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Remove your inner cable from the outer cable and put the bottom end into the gear, how far will it go in, is the tab broke off, will it go in far enough for the tab to properly enter the slot. We are not sure if you need a nail yet.
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04-08-2021, 08:40 PM | #37 | |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Quote:
Ron |
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04-08-2021, 08:44 PM | #38 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Your inner cable should stick out on the upper end about 1/8 inch, and should go past the bottom of the outer housing about 1 inch.
All reproduction cables are not the same length and some will not work with some outer housings If your inner cable is too short, the tab could have been barely touching the slot, then the small spot that was touching wore away and it stopped turning Last edited by 1930 coupe; 04-08-2021 at 08:50 PM. |
04-08-2021, 08:47 PM | #39 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
That sounds about right to what I am seeing.
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04-09-2021, 11:08 AM | #40 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Does my cable look good or bad in the photo? Thanks as I just do not know at this time.
Ron Last edited by Model A Ron; 04-09-2021 at 07:32 PM. |
04-09-2021, 11:16 AM | #41 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...1&d=1617984976
Does my cable look good or bad in the photo? Thanks as I just do not know at this time. Ron Last edited by Model A Ron; 04-09-2021 at 07:33 PM. |
04-10-2021, 10:48 AM | #42 |
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Re: Speedometer stopped working on my 29
Is the above speedometer cable good or bad?
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