I just purchased an '86 F150 with an in-line 6 cylinder from my boss. It had been a ranch truck for the last several years and I am cleaning it up and getting it ready to be back on the road.

He told me the speedometer hadn't been working for years, and when I went to find out why I discovered that it had been disconnected at the transmission? (under the engine).

The problem is I can't seem to figure out how it goes back in there. There is a metal cable with a metal "knot" at the end, and a second metal bit that spins inside. (This piece is square and about 1 1/4 ' inches long.)

I can find the place under the engine where this cable should go; it is a hole in the side of the transmission, I think. But it doesn't seem to want to "snap in" like it should. The cable and the hole it should go into seem to be two different sizes.

My boss also told me that the transmission has been replaced with one with different gearing, so I assume that is the reason why I can't get the cable to fit inside. But I want to make sure because it's possible there is some intermediary or "transitionary" piece that is missing that might allow the cable to fit properly.

If not, is there some kind of "aftermarket" way of getting my speedometer cable to fit ?

Could I buy another cable that will fit into the transmission, and if so, is the other end (where it attaches to the speedometer itself) "standard" ?

How "screwed up" is this situation ?

Also, even if I can get a cable to connect from the transmission to the speedometer, will the speedometer be accurate ? If not, is it possible to adjust it ?

Any help appreciated, thanks in advance.


Billy Brethren

 

Bump.

Would it help if I made a digital photo of the part & area in question ? Can you upload .jpg files here ?

 

Yes, a picture would help a lot. Post a picture in your user gallery for us to see. If you can't figure out how to put the pictures in your gallery, post in the user gallery forum (near the bottom of the main forums page), and someone will be quick to help you out.

For starters, it sounds like the speedo gear is missing off the cable, it would fit over the square end that is 1 1/4" long. And your cable won't "snap" in, it slides in, and there is a retaining collar that gets bolted to the tranny case, you should see a bolt hole very close to the speedo cable hole in the tranny.

 

Yes this is exactly what it looks like, including the clip and the bolt. I spoke tho the boss (that sold it to me) today and he said that there was in fact a missing "intermediary" piece that was "stripped". He also said I would have to buy a gear that was appropriate to the transmission in order to get the speedometer to read accurate. He sets tile for a living and is not a mechanic, nor am I.

I see no evidence of this missing piece, so I assume that since it was "stripped" he took it off and threw it away. Is there a name for this piece, so I can talk about it ?

Also there is an electronic speed cable involved as well. The truck has (factory) cruise control built into the steering wheel, and a cable is hanging loose in the area of the transmission. Does this missing part have a place for the cable to go also ?

I have to find a digital camera to use before I can post photos, but will try to do this ASAP. Thanks for the help.

 

I am having some trouble getting a FUNCTIONING dgital camera. Could someone please help with these questions while I try to find one to post some pix of the parts in question ?

 

Without knowing exactly what you are talking about it is impossible to assist you. Your description of a "nut" doesn't help at all.
There are two types of speedometer connections.
One slides in and is retained by a 7/16 bolt. This is for the long extension housing.
The other screws in. This is for the short housing.

 

This piece could be the only part you are missing. I haven't seen the speedo cable from my 87 in quite a while, I can't remember how it all went together, but it might be all you need (I'll see if I have time to crawl under the 87 this weekend). I believe it is called the Vehicle Speed Sensor or VSS for short.

 

My '83 with cruise has a VSS in the speedo cable in the area of the brake master cylinder. Hope that helps. Also, my C6 tranny speedo connector is a push-in fit with a small clip and bolt that screws into the side of the transmission.

 

FINALLY found a functioning Digital Camera. Took a LONG time to figure out how to upload the photos.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=15697

Gallery has 3 photos. #1 shows all three components; The "hole" where the speedometer cable SHOULD go, the speedometer cable itself and an electrical cable that I think should be for the cruise control, but cannot find a place to plug it in.

photo #2 shows a tight shot of the electrical cable connector, so you can see it's specific shape, color, etc...

photo #3 shows a tight "end-on" view of the speedometer "hole" (recepticle?). THis shot shows the hole is not only round (compared to the end of the speedo cable, which is square, but the hole is also much wider in diameter. I have removed the bolt and the clip around this hole, and a plastic gear comes out. This gear looks like it runs against a worm gear inside the transmission.

Can someone tell me is something is missing. If so, what is it and where can I find it ?

Any other help appreciated. Yes I know my hands and fingernails are dirty.

 

The cable fits inside the portion that is in the case. It is held in with a very thin spring clip, which is missing.
It looks as though the receptacle is broken and won't hold a clip or cable.

 

Looks the VSS is missing/broken. The speedo cable will fit into the back of the VSS, the plug will plug into the VSS as well, and the VSS will go into the hole in the tranny.

I bought a new VSS at the Ford dealer for my 87 several years ago. Can't remember for sure, but I don't think it was an outrageous amount of $$.

 

Okay thanks. I'll go up to Auto Zone tomorrow and ask about a Vehicle Speed Sensor.

 

Went to Auto Zone. The question was: "Is it a 1-cable, or a 2-cable system?" One mechanical cable for the speedometer and one electrical cable for the (factory) Cruise Control meant it was a "1-cable" system. The VSS was less than $20.00.

The photos I posted show only the lower (metal) half of the VSS mouted to the transmission. The upper (plastic) half is missing, and it is this plastic half that both the speedometer and electrical cable go into.

It was VERY difficult to remove the old VSS from the transmission. The first time I removed it (while exploring) it just fell right out, but 2 days later, when I had the new part to install, the old one just refused to come out.

I had a helper put the thing into and out of gear, push down on the clutch and even start the engine and move it forward a bit, hoping to relieve whatever pressure might be in there preventing the old VSS from coming out.

Finally, I took a flat Nail-Bar and pried the thing loose. It took A LOT of force and I was afraid that I would cause damage to the transmission or the plastic gear in there.

The gear came out with some slight damage to a couple of the teeth, but looked pretty functional.

NOTE: You have to remove the old plastic gear from the old VSS and install it on the new VSS before installing the new assembly.

I don't know what happened to this gear. I am thinking that the first time I removed it, it got some dirt on it and so when I put it back in the gear got damaged and that is why it wouldn't come loose easy the second time. So this should be a lesson for the next person to make sure to keep that gear clean when re-installing it.

Anyways, the speedometer AND the odometer both work now.

Woo-Hoo!! Now I can calculate my gas mileage and answer the question:

"Sir, do you know how fast you were driving ?"

 

Excellent! Glad you got it working.