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I have a 69 F-100 with a 360 V8 and a 4spd manual.
I had to replace the turn signal switch and therefore had the insturment cluster out. Prior to this I had no issues with my speedometer. After I got done with everything and putting it back together, I noticed the nut on the speedometer cable was stripped and wouldn't screw back onto the speedometer. I ended up pulling it out all the way. I was cracking and brittle. I bought a new cable, new gear(same direction and same amount of teeth as the old one), and a new clip. Put it all together and tried it out. I couldn't get the needle above 20mph even though I was going close to 70.
I bought a different cable at a junkyard from a truck with a manual transmission. It also had the gear on it. Same thing. Still not working properly. Now when I drive the truck, it won't even register on my speedometer.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Could I have somehow messed up the speedometer itself? Like I said, it was working fine prior.
How in the world did the nut on the cable get stripped? PO do it and then did something to compensate? Did you buy a Ford speedo gear? Maybe your replacement is different O.D. Starting at the tranny, pull the cable back out. Stick your finger in there and feel the speedo drive gear. Make sure it 's teeth still feel straight cut (flat) not worn out in to a valley. And make sure the cable core hasn't shifted and is inside of the driven gear.
nut probably didn't strip , the inner cable can push in and out if it is to far out you will just spin the nut and the threads won't grab . How do I know I did this putting my custom Dash cluster in my truck . drove me nuts wondering what happened , walked away and next day looked at and went duhhh . screwed right together
be sure to squirt some lube down the speedo tube keeps things moving freely