The speedo in my '61 F100 doesn't work, and never has since I've owned it. I took the cable out of the 3 speed manual box and there was no gear on the end of it. Thinking I'd got to the bottom of the issue, I ordered a gear from Dennis Carpenter, this one:
Speedometer Driven Gear | Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts
It didn't have a clip or anything to secure it on the cable, and I couldn't see where one could be secured, so I put it on the cable, bolted it back into the trans and took it for a drive. Still no speedo.
I am wondering whether I have the correct gear for the box, and am not sure if the box is the original one for the truck, or from a later (or earlier) model. Looks right to me, but here's some pics:




I have since removed the gear from the end of the speedo cable, as it just didn't seem right to have it just sitting on the end of the cable with no retaining clip..

My questions are:
1. Is the gearbox factory correct (three speed, column shift)
2. Is the speedo gear I bought correct for the gearbox?
3. Should there be a clip retaining the gear to the cable, and if so, where do I get one from? I note the gear seems different to some of the others on the Dennis Carpenter website that have a retaining circlip.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
Cam

 

What is the rear axle ratio? If you don't know, the AXLE code is stamped on the 2nd line-far right of the Warranty Plate, riveted to the inside of the glove box door.

TWO different 3 speeds were offered. Ford 3 speed manual or Borg-Warner 3 speed manual with Overdrive.

TRANS code listed before the AXLE code, post what it is.

The nylon DRIVEN gear you bought from Carpenter may or may not be correct, because there were two different types.

Carpenters catalog applications are flawed, why you need to find out first which type of nylon gear you need. It depends on the axle ratio, original bias ply tire size and the wheelbase.

Plus, there are two different types of retaining clips.

 

Thanks Bill, I'll check out the axle code tomorrow and post it up. I don't think there's any overdrive on my transmission as it is just a standard 3 on the tree. My wheels are stock steel outies (15 x 6 from memory Being outies, they are obviously from a later model unfortunately), with 6.70 x 15 bias ply tires. I am wondering if the gear I got is just plain wrong (irrespective of tooth count). DC looked to only have one type of retaining clip.



I'm not overly concerned if the speedo doesn't read exact, I'd just like it to work!

Cam

 

Where is your trans support?

 

Here's a simple way to test the speedometer itself so you know everything North of the transmission is or isn't working. Remember to run a drill counterclockwise and keep the cable fully inserted into the jacket/housing so it's making good contact with the speedometer head.


Chad

 

Notice how the trans is mounted on 1961/64's. 7505 is the bell housing.

The flange on the extension housing (shown in pic in post #1, but not in parts catalog pic) was only used w/a single rear mount on cars.

 

Thanks for clarifying re the trans support Bill. I didn't think it needed one given the mounting of it (and absence of bolt holes for a support in the frame), and you have confirmed this to be the case! Don't s'pose you have the part numbers for the two retaining clips for the gear drive? There's this one on Dennis Carpenter:
Speedometer Driven Gear Retainer Clip | Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts
.. however I don't think it is correct for the gear that I have (happy to be proven wrong!)

Thanks for the tip Chad. I have been meaning to test the speedo in the truck itself and I do have a spare that came with the truck if it turns out the issue is at the speedo (although I suspect the issue is in the gear drive),
Cam

 

O BOY, your right Bill.. I should have remembered that.
With all this Stormy Denials stuff going on,,, I am just SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO mixed up...

 

C1DZ-17292-A .. DRIVEN Gear Retainer Clip used with TYPE 1 - 2 - 2A Nylon Gears - see pic:

However the gear might be one of the metal types: TYPE 3 - 4 - 5

 

Thanks Bill, that's a great reference page; I really appreciate your input. The gear I bought looks like none of them! I might have to buy a bunch of different one's and go with trial and error....but I will check the speedo is working before doing that.

I didn't get to my truck to check the axle code yesterday. Will try tonight.
Cam

 

The axle code is "12" and the trans is "B".
Cam

 

Still trying to sort this out! Based on the trans and axle codes, it is a 3 speed overdrive (pardon my ignorance but it just has three speeds), and the trans ratio is 3.89.
I checked the speedo (thanks Chad), and the speedo and cable are fine, so the issue is with the speedo cable gear.

Here's a picture of the end of the cable. It looks like it has a bend in it, and I'm not sure how the gear could actually be clipped onto the cable, so....does the cable look right?


Cam

 

The cable should not be bent like that so that is possibly a part of the problem. The clip goes through the gear and that step on the o-ring end of the spiral cut bit keeps it from pulling off.
Get a new cable. An assortment of oem gears is usually available on eBay for very reasonable pricing, like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-SPEEDO...UAAOSwcQlZt2fD get those and a clip or two so you have one when the first is lost. From there, start with a gear in the middle of the range and put it on, use GPS to see how the speedo compares, swap gears until you find the right one. If the speedo is fast, swap in a gear with more teeth. If it is slow, swap in a gear with fewer teeth. Be aware, if the axle ratio or tires have been changed to something other than stock, it may not be possible to get the speedo to read correctly if that change is significant,

The gear will probably be one of the type 2 variants, not sure which, but very common.

 

Thanks Charlie, I'll try and straighten the cable, but failing that I'll buy a new one and another gear (and clip) just to be sure. I'll post back here how that goes.
Cam

 

An update. I ordered a new speedometer cable and a new gear from LMC. The cable now works...but the speedo only works when I'm driving in reverse. Does this mean:
1. the speedometer drive gear in the transmission is installed incorrectly;
2. the speedometer drive gear in the transmission is incorrect; or
3. the speedometer cable gear is incorrect.
Here's a pic of the cable:


I installed the black gear, not the white one. I ordered the three speed manual gear which I thought was correct, however perhaps I should have ordered the 4 speed gear as the teeth go in the opposite direction.

Any thoughts/comments appreciated? I'm hoping its simply a matter of (yet) another speedometer cable gear!
Cam