Hi

..........recently purchased a 50 f1 and the speedometer does not work............anyone know if it can be rebuilt and where ? are there ones for sale used or reconditioned ?

as you can sense, I need some help/direction

thanks

 

Most common failure is with the cable. Pull the cable lose from the speedometer head. The inner cable comes out from the speedometer head end. Inner cable replacements are available at about any parts store. Make sure the cable housing is good. Very common for them to get damaged by the unknowing and by rust.

 

Make sure you cut the new cable to the right length. It comes with a little tool to help
press or hammer the drive end on. And lube it. But don't over lube it. Everyone seems to
use a different lube for this. I use White Lithium. It may do ya well to buy
two cable kits as ya will prolly mess up the first one. If not ya can take the
unused one back.

 

I currently have the instrument cluster out of my truck. Is there a way to bench test the speedometer, before I look at replacing the cable?

 

Yeah, you can move your finger along the rotor of the speedometer and move it enough to get the needle to move a bit. Try twisting the cable end where you pulled it out of the speedometer head. If you can rotate the cable, it is probably bad. If you have the speedometer out, grab your pliers and pull the inner cable out. If both ends are not squared off, the cable is probably bad. Usuall it is obvious when the cable goes bad, the end you pull out last is shredded.

 

Thanks. Looks like my speedometer was in severe need of some lubrication, as the rotor didn't want to turn very easy. After a little 3in1, it's moving much easier now. I tried turning the inner cable and it really didn't want to move. I'll try hooking it back up tomorrow and go for a test run.

 

you can spin the cable with a power drill. go slow.

Doug

 

How about the original question....where can you get one rebuilt if the cable is not the problem?
Has anyone sent one to someone and had good luck and at a decent price?

Tom

 

Hemmings Motor News had guys listed that would recondition your speedo head.

 

I think I still have a complete working cluster from my 49 F1 somewhere in my stash. Let me check tonight.

 

thanks for checking your "stash"..........

 

I just used a small battery powered drill with a square bit to test mine. That proved that it was the cable. The end was broken off so the cable was too short and would not stay in the head.

 

Sorry for the false alarm, bu I can't seem to find that cluster. I either sold it already at a swap meet or stashed it really well. My filing system is great, but my retrieval system sucks. In my defense, I have moved 5 times since I took that dash out . I did find a 69 chevelle cluster that I had been looking for, so all is not lost. I'll keep my eye out just in case it shows up again.

 

thanks for trying

 

My speedo had been sitting for about 30 years. The original lube used on the worm gear was solidified. I had to disassemble the speedo very carefully (it's easily reverse-engineered), clean everything up with wd-40 and then re-lube with bearing grease or white lithium grease then reassemble. If your original lube is solidified and you just install a new cable, the stuck speedo will just ruin your new cable. You can do it, just take your time...