Speedometer Gear Doesn't Mesh With TX Case Gear
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 95
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From: Near Prescott, AZ
Speedometer Gear Doesn't Mesh With TX Case Gear
Hi All, I just bought a 1981 F250 with an inoperative speedometer.
I have verified the speedometer functions, and the gear at the end of the cable (that goes into the transfer case) turns the cable nice and smooth - when I turn the gear by hand.
I pulled the cable out of the housing and verified it isn't broken.
When I insert the speedometer cable gear and housing into the transfer case, making sure it is bottomed in the transfer case and the o-ring not showing, I find that I can still turn the cable at the head end - so it appears the cable gear is not meshing with the transfer case output shaft gear.
When I insert my finger in the hole in the transfer case I do feel a gear on the output shaft.
I'm perplexed...
The original 351 motor has been (sadly) swapped to a 460 by a previous owner, I don't know if the transmission or transfer case were also swapped.
The hold down bolt for the transfer case is also missing if anyone knows the details on it.
Any ideas on how to determine why the gears don't mesh? I don't know how to proceed on this one - thx!
I have verified the speedometer functions, and the gear at the end of the cable (that goes into the transfer case) turns the cable nice and smooth - when I turn the gear by hand.
I pulled the cable out of the housing and verified it isn't broken.
When I insert the speedometer cable gear and housing into the transfer case, making sure it is bottomed in the transfer case and the o-ring not showing, I find that I can still turn the cable at the head end - so it appears the cable gear is not meshing with the transfer case output shaft gear.
When I insert my finger in the hole in the transfer case I do feel a gear on the output shaft.
I'm perplexed...
The original 351 motor has been (sadly) swapped to a 460 by a previous owner, I don't know if the transmission or transfer case were also swapped.
The hold down bolt for the transfer case is also missing if anyone knows the details on it.
Any ideas on how to determine why the gears don't mesh? I don't know how to proceed on this one - thx!
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 95
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From: Near Prescott, AZ
What I feel through the hole is a slightly concave - it's slightly lower in the middle than the front or back, output shaft gear, and I feel that the gear extends to the front and back of the hole. I didn't try to see if it would slide front or back though, I'll check tomorrow.
I got the impression that the gear at the end of the cable housing was too small to reach and mesh with the output shaft gear - if that info helps narrow it down. I wonder if there is a range of min to max teeth that would mesh, & I guess I should count the teeth on the cable gear.
Also, the hold down bolt is missing (gotta love those PO's haha) and I would really like to find out the diameter, length, thread, etc. so I can get a bolt...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 983
Likes: 49
From: Northern Kentucky
The gear in mine is straight across, not concave. If yours is worn away in the middle, it may be preventing engagement with the driven gear.
ETA: to be clear, when I say that my gear is stripped, what I really mean is that it has loss engagement with the output shaft and spins relatively freely.
ETA: to be clear, when I say that my gear is stripped, what I really mean is that it has loss engagement with the output shaft and spins relatively freely.
Last edited by whisler; Aug 14, 2017 at 11:12 PM. Reason: additional clarity
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 790
From: Simi Valley, CA
There's a number similar to this on the BW T/C tag: E1TA-7A195-DA, post what it is so I can figure out what it was swapped from.
There was no ratio of 3.00-1 used with the BW T/C, so it's been swapped in.
DRIVE gear on the output shaft; DRIVEN gear at the end of the cable.
The DRIVEN gear is probably nylon, but the DRIVE gear could be cast iron, steel or nylon and could have 6 or 7 or 8 teeth.
If the DRIVE gear is nylon, what color is it?
There was no ratio of 3.00-1 used with the BW T/C, so it's been swapped in.
DRIVE gear on the output shaft; DRIVEN gear at the end of the cable.
The DRIVEN gear is probably nylon, but the DRIVE gear could be cast iron, steel or nylon and could have 6 or 7 or 8 teeth.
If the DRIVE gear is nylon, what color is it?
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Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 95
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From: Near Prescott, AZ
There's a number similar to this on the BW T/C tag: E1TA-7A195-DA, post what it is so I can figure out what it was swapped from.
There was no ratio of 3.00-1 used with the BW T/C, so it's been swapped in.
DRIVE gear on the output shaft; DRIVEN gear at the end of the cable.
The DRIVEN gear is probably nylon, but the DRIVE gear could be cast iron, steel or nylon and could have 6 or 7 or 8 teeth.
If the DRIVE gear is nylon, what color is it?
There was no ratio of 3.00-1 used with the BW T/C, so it's been swapped in.
DRIVE gear on the output shaft; DRIVEN gear at the end of the cable.
The DRIVEN gear is probably nylon, but the DRIVE gear could be cast iron, steel or nylon and could have 6 or 7 or 8 teeth.
If the DRIVE gear is nylon, what color is it?
1345-12 116219 EDEITA-DA
There is unfortunately no way for me to see into the cable hole - while the TX Case is in the truck - unless maybe with a mirror - I'll try to find my mirror.
I'm fearing the TX Case is from a newer truck and look forward to any info you can find on that tag info.
By the way, which TX Case was used in the 1981 F250 with 3.00 gears?
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Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Near Prescott, AZ
The gear in mine is straight across, not concave. If yours is worn away in the middle, it may be preventing engagement with the driven gear.
ETA: to be clear, when I say that my gear is stripped, what I really mean is that it has loss engagement with the output shaft and spins relatively freely.
ETA: to be clear, when I say that my gear is stripped, what I really mean is that it has loss engagement with the output shaft and spins relatively freely.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,027
Likes: 2,763
From: Virginia
Thanks - this is everything on the TX Case tag:
1345-12 116219 EDEITA-DA
There is unfortunately no way for me to see into the cable hole - while the TX Case is in the truck - unless maybe with a mirror - I'll try to find my mirror.
I'm fearing the TX Case is from a newer truck and look forward to any info you can find on that tag info.
By the way, which TX Case was used in the 1981 F250 with 3.00 gears?
1345-12 116219 EDEITA-DA
There is unfortunately no way for me to see into the cable hole - while the TX Case is in the truck - unless maybe with a mirror - I'll try to find my mirror.
I'm fearing the TX Case is from a newer truck and look forward to any info you can find on that tag info.
By the way, which TX Case was used in the 1981 F250 with 3.00 gears?
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 790
From: Simi Valley, CA
E1TZ-17285-A .. 8T Nylon Speedometer DRIVE Gear-Yellow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
3.00; 3.50 & 3.54 ratios: New Process T/C
EOTZ-17285-C .. 7T Nylon Speedometer DRIVE Gear-Blue.
Both: Teeth run this-away: \\\\
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 95
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From: Near Prescott, AZ
ED E1TA-DA = E1TA-7A195-D .. BW 1345 Transfer Case with 3.54 & 4.10 ratios: 1981/82 F250/350.
E1TZ-17285-A .. 8T Nylon Speedometer DRIVE Gear-Yellow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
3.00; 3.50 & 3.54 ratios: New Process T/C
EOTZ-17285-C .. 7T Nylon Speedometer DRIVE Gear-Blue.
Both: Teeth run this-away: \\\\
E1TZ-17285-A .. 8T Nylon Speedometer DRIVE Gear-Yellow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
3.00; 3.50 & 3.54 ratios: New Process T/C
EOTZ-17285-C .. 7T Nylon Speedometer DRIVE Gear-Blue.
Both: Teeth run this-away: \\\\
Wish I had the 3.54 gears or even 4.10's instead of the 3.00.
I think T/C swap explains why the gears aren't meshing - I also just noticed the cable hold down bracket on the T/C is for a much larger diameter housing end. My cable has a rectangular hold down bracket attached but the T/C case has a large U shaped hold down that is too big to contact the end of the cable housing - so won't hold it in the T/C.
I wonder if I need to get the cable housing for that T/C and then start figuring which gear I would need?
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,027
Likes: 2,763
From: Virginia
Reading between the lines, if your transfer case was never offered in a truck with a 3.00 rearend, they may not make the proper gear. Or possibly Dodge or Chevy did use this transfer case with a 3.00 gear, not sure on that.
I guess you could get a 3.54 gear and then have your speedo recalibrated.
I guess you could get a 3.54 gear and then have your speedo recalibrated.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Near Prescott, AZ
Reading between the lines, if your transfer case was never offered in a truck with a 3.00 rearend, they may not make the proper gear. Or possibly Dodge or Chevy did use this transfer case with a 3.00 gear, not sure on that.
I guess you could get a 3.54 gear and then have your speedo recalibrated.
I guess you could get a 3.54 gear and then have your speedo recalibrated.
So now the big question is what cable housing will work with this T/C as it appears I do not have the correct cable housing for this T/C - did the BW 1345 that I have now use a different speedo cable housing & gear (excluding number of teeth) than my original NP T/C? If so I will hunt the correct housing down...
BTW my wheelbase is 133" (the same as a single cab long bed?) - for matching housing and cable length.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 983
Likes: 49
From: Northern Kentucky
On my swap (see sig.) I pulled an '89 EFI 5.0/M5OD/BW1345 and put in a carbed '84 351/C6/NP208. I just pulled the speedo. cable from the BW1345, changed the Driven gear and re-installed in the NP208. Hold-down worked just fine.
Given this I don't understand why yours is different. My BW1345 was an '89 but can't see them making major case casting changes. I'm confused.
Given this I don't understand why yours is different. My BW1345 was an '89 but can't see them making major case casting changes. I'm confused.