Speedo still wont work?

[shaff64]

Okay, I have replaced the speedo cable, driven gear in trans, drive gear at the end of the cable, Still inop:

Here is one thing I'm not really sure about, the speedo cable when we put the plastic gear on the end of it with that small clip, you can feel it bind up a little, It is almost the cable should be a 1/4 of an inch shorter. So I tried taking a 1/4 inch off the cable ( Mistake)

You can take a drill and put it in reverse and the speedo works just fine. As soon as I put it back together it binds up and I'm sure now I need to replace the driven gear, drive gear and cable Again! I say again because I went thru this once already before with no luck.

What else can I check for? before I'm disappointed for the third time?

One Question is why would the cable seem to be too long? Aren't they all the same size?
Why would that drive gear bind up when we push it back in to place before we secure the clip?

If you have been there done that..... Can you shed some light on this for me Please.

[banjopicker66]

Do you have the correct handed driven gear?

[shaff64]

Well, The original one I took out was a 6 tooth and thats what I put back in it, However, it didn't show that it was for a 1963, but it did fit right up in the tail piece, and it did look the same. So I guess I'm not for sure for sure it's the same. But it looks right?

[banjopicker66]

Download (and save) Dennis Carpenter's catalog for our trucks. (Don't search it online, it takes too long.)
Find the speedometer gears section for a description of the left and right handed gears, and for the correct Ford part numbers.
It sounds to me that you have the wrong-handed gear slant.
Be sure to check your local Ford dealership for the gears, as they probably have them in stock and possibly cheaper.

[banjopicker66]

By the way, it may be helpful check the speedometer cable's direction of rotation by jacking the rear wheels off the ground with the truck running and in gear. Check it from the speedometer end while sitting in the cab.
If it turns the same direction as with the drill to make it work, then there is something else wrong - possibly too short of an inner core maybe?

[shaff64]

Thanks for the input here fellows...... But I dont see anything in the Dennis Carpenter catalog as far as a 1963 speedo gear?

Really not sure what do from here?

[rickairmedic]

Shaff where you located and what tranny do you have in your truck . I ask due to the fact I just pulled the speedo cable out of my 62 Uni thith a 3 speed and wont be reusing it since I am doing the crownvic swap soooooooooooo if you want it your welcome to it .


Rick

[banjopicker66]

Shaff, look on page 83 of Carpenter's 57-66 Ford Truck catalog. There are no speedometer gears specific to a '63, as Ford used the same ones for several decades, either left or right handed, with different numbers of teeth depending on the rear axle ratios and the transmission.

The pictures in the catalog will help explain the possible problem, and give you the correct Ford part numbers to get the one you need - and you may need to experiment with some. I have some spare gears, but I think they are all right-handed, if you want one.

[shaff64]

Well, first of all Rick from your post I'm located in Grand Rapids, Mi.

The second post, here... when I took out the driven gear inside my trans it was a 6 tooth, the only thing I didn't pay attention too is if it was a left hand or a right hand. But the one I got from Mac's lined right up and I thought I was okay. But as I say, when I went to put the little gear on and it seemed to bind up. When I checked the little plastic gears they were crimped so I reorder another one thinking that they just didn't line up properly. But, I replaced them again and it did the same thing.... So now I need to start all over again. The only thing I do know, when I tried to get the speedo head to work from below the truck I had to put the drill in the reverse position to have it operate. So, would that mean I have a left hand drive gear?

[shaff64]

I need to understand this prior to ordering this again. so it's the drive gear at the end of my cable that could be a right or left?

The 6 tooth driven gear inside trans are only one direction correct?

[shaff64]

Oh, one more question...... I had 15 " tires on originally, Now I have 16" tires the drive gear was a 17 tooth, the driven gear was a 6 tooth ( inside the trans) would I want to step up to a 19-22 drive gear to balance out the speed ratio with 16 " tires v/s 15" ?
Not sure how I would calculate that?

[Toyz]

Wow, lots of variables, here!
Without knowing what transmission you have, and original tire height versus the 16's, I can't give you specifics as to correct speedo gear application.
The most common cable length problem is that the cable is not fully seated at the speedo end.
There are on-line tire height calculators where you can compare your old tire height to your new. There may be little difference despite differing rim diameter. I think you will find the drive gear (on the tailshaft) has fewer teeth than the driven. As far as direction of rotation, the determinant factor is the location of the driven gear to the shaft. Some transmissions have the mounting on the driver's side, some the opposite. The driver's side application "should" utilize a "right angle" driven gear.
You should be able to match the new gear to the old as to direction of pitch regardless of the number of teeth. If you look at the driven gear from the small end, the teeth will angle from left toward right on a right angle gear, the most common. A seventeen tooth original right angle driven gear is color-coded green. Your cable rotation direction is correct. Once you determine the difference in tire height, if any; there are charts available to determine proper gear combination. A speedometer shop can also correct this for you with an external adapter if needed.
Paul
Paul

[ICEMAN6166]

15" or 16" wheel means nothing, its the outer circumference of the tire that affects the speedometer-odometer.

if you or the rebuilder put the drive gear inside the trans on backwards you have a problem.

im guessing this may be the case and you need to flip it over to stop chewing the nylon driven gears up.

[shaff64]

The gear on the inside of the trans will only go on one way, There is a small notch in the gear that lines up with a small bearing. so, there is no way it can be backwards.

This is a three speeds manual trans with the cable in the left side of the trans.

[bruceandersson]

Have you checked to see if the cable is turning? Disconnect at the speedo and have someone watch it while you drive. I did have an issue with a 3 spd years ago on in a '55. There was a spacer missing in the transmission tailshaft so the plastic gear on the cable would bind. I installed the spacer and everythign worked. I was able to do this with the transmission in the truck.

[rickairmedic]

shaff I still have that fulll speedo cable with gear out of my truck with 3 speed tranny and 3:70 gears in the rear end if ya want it .



Rick

[shaff64]

Sure, I will take it.... Let me know how much and where to send the check. Thanks

[shaff64]

Well, here we go again...... Now I have replaced the inner driven gear three times the outer small gear on the speedo and the speedo cable. I put the truck in reverse and the speed will register I put in into gear and it rips up the plastic gears? Man, this thing has really got me scratching more things than just my head!

I put the drill on the end of the cable and I need to run it in reverse to get the speedo head to register. I have put left gears then right gears in the trans and I still end up with the gears ripping up the each other. I am really now out of ideas...... has anyone been there done that out there?

[R Pope]

If the speedo registers in reverse, you have a mismatch of parts. The cable is turning backwards. Mechanical speedos don't register in reverse like electronic ones do. The drive gear must be the wrong one.

[bobenhotep]

Any pictures?