Speedo Issue
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Speedo Issue
Took time today to sort our my speedo Issue (no not wearing trunks).
Cable attached to tranny is spinning so connected to speedo and no response. Oh Gee, I hate pulling the instrument cluster as it is a cluster to remove but want all gauges etc working so may tackle this tomorrow.
Tom
Cable attached to tranny is spinning so connected to speedo and no response. Oh Gee, I hate pulling the instrument cluster as it is a cluster to remove but want all gauges etc working so may tackle this tomorrow.
Tom
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,599
Likes: 34
From: Rockingham, VA
The magnet inside which makes the needle move as it spins around the "armature" had lost its magnetism. I pulled apart the guts and tried to re-magnetize that part. I was partly successful, but it won't calibrate. So I use my GPS to track speed and the odometer for my mileage.
If you can get that magnet to work again, you can test/calibrate the speedo by hooking a short piece of speedo cable in a variable speed drill motor and running the thing at 60mph for one minute. The odometer should advance one mile exactly. The calibration is done by moving the lever in there one way or the other to speed it up or slow it down.
Good luck. I believe there are places to refurbish these old speedos too, but as I recall, the charge was excessive.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,970
Likes: 9,782
From: Rio Rancho, NM
You might check to see if the speedo cable is sticking going into the speedo head all the way. Just because the cable housing clips into place doesn;'t necessarily mean the cable is engaging in the head.
Bobby
Bobby
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Update on speedo
I pulled a 1988 F150 speedo from parts yard and it works nicely while temporarily connected. Pulled the instrument cluster on Sat. and will tackle getting the "new" speedo into the cluster panel (cut, fit, shim, curse....)
It was refreshing to have the speedo working, while temporarily connected; then comes the whole issue of getting gauges to match up with senders...
Did look at aftermarket gauges, but will try one last time to use "recycled parts, as I like the look of them over the 3 1/2" new speedo. The hole in the dash makes it seem like I'm going backwards, but now I get to clean up the wiring and personalize the instrument panel.
Tom
It was refreshing to have the speedo working, while temporarily connected; then comes the whole issue of getting gauges to match up with senders...
Did look at aftermarket gauges, but will try one last time to use "recycled parts, as I like the look of them over the 3 1/2" new speedo. The hole in the dash makes it seem like I'm going backwards, but now I get to clean up the wiring and personalize the instrument panel.
Tom
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Progress on speedo
Worked on the instrument cluster today; installed speedo, and gauges, re-painted the instrument panel, all assembled. Ready to put back in dash; now the cable quit working, not spinning so I'll need to checked that connection at the transmission before I put the cluster back in the dash. Getting close..
Tom
Tom
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Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,970
Likes: 9,782
From: Rio Rancho, NM
....2 steps forward, 1 step back....
Yup, you're making normal progress...lol
It sounds like you're really getting close to be able to drive the beast....woohooo
Yup, you're making normal progress...lol
It sounds like you're really getting close to be able to drive the beast....woohooo
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Counting poles
Bobby;
I've been driving it this spring but have to count posts going by to judge speed, LOL. The cluster looks good, applied voltage to the gauges and all work. Played around with different resistors and have the range pretty much worked out, around 75 ohms to get 1/4 scale deflection. I used the resistor device from the donor, connected in series to the gauge inputs and was surprised with the output voltage. My gauges see 0.4 volts DC, I thought it would be 12 volts but the lower voltage really reduces the power each meter sees. I'm in the process of cleaning up my wiring under the dash. Hope to have cluster in soon. Next need to tackle the speedo cable.
Stay tuned.....
Tom
I've been driving it this spring but have to count posts going by to judge speed, LOL. The cluster looks good, applied voltage to the gauges and all work. Played around with different resistors and have the range pretty much worked out, around 75 ohms to get 1/4 scale deflection. I used the resistor device from the donor, connected in series to the gauge inputs and was surprised with the output voltage. My gauges see 0.4 volts DC, I thought it would be 12 volts but the lower voltage really reduces the power each meter sees. I'm in the process of cleaning up my wiring under the dash. Hope to have cluster in soon. Next need to tackle the speedo cable.
Stay tuned.....
Tom
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,970
Likes: 9,782
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Tom,
Very good. Sometimes cleaning up those little things can sure be a real pain.
I havent done a darn thing to my truck besides driving the tar out of it. I've been too busy with house chores and repairing my father-in-laws tractor. Oh well, the truck will wait, no biggie.
Bobby
Very good. Sometimes cleaning up those little things can sure be a real pain.
I havent done a darn thing to my truck besides driving the tar out of it. I've been too busy with house chores and repairing my father-in-laws tractor. Oh well, the truck will wait, no biggie.
Bobby
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Rainy day workout
Spent all day in garage with my head under the dash. It rained all day so I worked on removing the windshield wiper motor (12 V) and linkage; it quit working over the winter. Had to reposition the linkage and it is working again, for now.
Also cleaned up all the wiring under the dash, while I have the instrument cluster and wiper motor out. Removed "extra" circuits from the donor fuse panel, and re-soldered some of the connections. Hope to tackle the speedo cable tomorrow; hope to be able to install the cluster after that, as I "built" another from donor vehicles.
Will post pics; if all goes well.
Tom
Also cleaned up all the wiring under the dash, while I have the instrument cluster and wiper motor out. Removed "extra" circuits from the donor fuse panel, and re-soldered some of the connections. Hope to tackle the speedo cable tomorrow; hope to be able to install the cluster after that, as I "built" another from donor vehicles.
Will post pics; if all goes well.
Tom
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Speedo cable replaced !
Spent part of day replacing speedo cable, removed inspection cover on transmission and fished the cable under my rug to under dash. Reassembled and did test run, cable works, so now I need to re-install the instrument cluster. Got to buy a couple of resistors to get the gauges ranged properly, then mount in in dash.
Stay tuned !
Tom
Stay tuned !
Tom
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