Does Your Speedometer Do This?
Does Your Speedometer Do This?
Elder User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
From: LAT 46.55501° & LON -122
Does Your Speedometer Do This?
I asked this question about a year ago but got no replys. So I decided to take a picture to proove I am not some freak.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=9635&.jpg
It is not the best picture, so I hope you all can make it out. This spedometer is the original '70 F250. Assuming that the speedometer needle pivots somewhere between and behind the O & R in FORD; this truck has what appears to be a counter-balance for the red half of the speedometer dial that extends into the odometer area. In this picture, you can see it crossing the 7 in the 59557.2 odometer reading. (BTW that is 359,557.2 actual miles!)
I would have considered this "counter-balance" as logical and normal if it was on my '69 F250 or the '70 F350 at work, but it is not. Since you have to be moving about 15-20 MPH before it appears, it is difficult to tell standing still if any other '67-'72's have it also. I often thought it was molding flash that was not trimmed-off at the factory. (Sorta like the way glue-together models come packaged.)
And yes, the "counter-balance" disappears to the left of the first odometer digit when you reach 100 MPH.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=9635&.jpg
It is not the best picture, so I hope you all can make it out. This spedometer is the original '70 F250. Assuming that the speedometer needle pivots somewhere between and behind the O & R in FORD; this truck has what appears to be a counter-balance for the red half of the speedometer dial that extends into the odometer area. In this picture, you can see it crossing the 7 in the 59557.2 odometer reading. (BTW that is 359,557.2 actual miles!)
I would have considered this "counter-balance" as logical and normal if it was on my '69 F250 or the '70 F350 at work, but it is not. Since you have to be moving about 15-20 MPH before it appears, it is difficult to tell standing still if any other '67-'72's have it also. I often thought it was molding flash that was not trimmed-off at the factory. (Sorta like the way glue-together models come packaged.)
And yes, the "counter-balance" disappears to the left of the first odometer digit when you reach 100 MPH.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green, Ohio
Does Your Speedometer Do This?
Kris,
I am glad you posted this picture and query. My 68 F100 did not have a counter balance, but my "new" 72 F100 does. Took me about a week
of double-takes ("Is there a bug stuck in front of the odometer?
Hey, where'd the bug go? Am I going crazy?") to figure out what it
was. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one...
Ohio Bill
I am glad you posted this picture and query. My 68 F100 did not have a counter balance, but my "new" 72 F100 does. Took me about a week
of double-takes ("Is there a bug stuck in front of the odometer?
Hey, where'd the bug go? Am I going crazy?") to figure out what it
was. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one...
Ohio Bill
Elder User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
From: LAT 46.55501° & LON -122
Does Your Speedometer Do This?
Thanks for the replys, guys.
The speedometer on this truck is a little more steady at speeds less than 20 MPH compared to the other trucks I drive that don't have the counter-balance; but I personally would prefer a bouncing needle at 10 MPH over an odometer that is partially blocked when driving. Either way, no big deal; it was just something that has been nagging on me for a while.
None of the roads around here are smooth enough to dake a picture while driving, so I jacked a rear tire up and put her in gear.
The speedometer on this truck is a little more steady at speeds less than 20 MPH compared to the other trucks I drive that don't have the counter-balance; but I personally would prefer a bouncing needle at 10 MPH over an odometer that is partially blocked when driving. Either way, no big deal; it was just something that has been nagging on me for a while.
None of the roads around here are smooth enough to dake a picture while driving, so I jacked a rear tire up and put her in gear.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
From: Watauga TEXAS
Does Your Speedometer Do This?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Oct-02 AT 11:03 PM (EST)]"...I personally would prefer a bouncing needle at 10 MPH over an odometer that is partially blocked when driving."
You're scaring me, dude.
What in the wide world of sports are you doing staring at your speedometer/odometer when running your missile down the road? You probably won't give a damn about it any more when you run your truck into the grill of a Peterbilt. Or how about through a bunch of kids crossing the street.
I hope I don't find you in my neighborhood- I'll take you out before you take someone else out.
We gotta be a little more careful out there, people. We're not the only ones out there when we climb into our rides.
Joe
You're scaring me, dude.
What in the wide world of sports are you doing staring at your speedometer/odometer when running your missile down the road? You probably won't give a damn about it any more when you run your truck into the grill of a Peterbilt. Or how about through a bunch of kids crossing the street.
I hope I don't find you in my neighborhood- I'll take you out before you take someone else out.
We gotta be a little more careful out there, people. We're not the only ones out there when we climb into our rides.
Joe
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
From: LAT 46.55501° & LON -122
Does Your Speedometer Do This?
Well, I guess as long as I am in my own lane then the Peterbilt will be okay, and as long as I am not in your neighborhood, then I will be okay.
I have hit three deer (two in one whack), two porcupine, an elk (he hit me actually), a grouse, an owl, a few bats, some frogs & snakes, and about a dozen cats. Not once was it from staring at my speedometer/odometer... I take that back, I may have hit a butterfly once while checking my speed.
I have hit three deer (two in one whack), two porcupine, an elk (he hit me actually), a grouse, an owl, a few bats, some frogs & snakes, and about a dozen cats. Not once was it from staring at my speedometer/odometer... I take that back, I may have hit a butterfly once while checking my speed.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: La Canada, CA
Does Your Speedometer Do This?
>Thanks for the replys, guys.
>
>The speedometer on this truck is a little more steady at
>speeds less than 20 MPH compared to the other trucks I drive
>that don't have the counter-balance; but I personally would
>prefer a bouncing needle at 10 MPH over an odometer that is
>partially blocked when driving. Either way, no big deal; it
>was just something that has been nagging on me for a while.
>
>None of the roads around here are smooth enough to dake a
>picture while driving, so I jacked a rear tire up and put
>her in gear.
>
>The speedometer on this truck is a little more steady at
>speeds less than 20 MPH compared to the other trucks I drive
>that don't have the counter-balance; but I personally would
>prefer a bouncing needle at 10 MPH over an odometer that is
>partially blocked when driving. Either way, no big deal; it
>was just something that has been nagging on me for a while.
>
>None of the roads around here are smooth enough to dake a
>picture while driving, so I jacked a rear tire up and put
>her in gear.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: La Canada, CA
Does Your Speedometer Do This?
Hmmm. Your message got me thinking. Recently my speedometer indicator on my 67 F100 started bouncing between 50-65 mph when accelerating. Once I would let off the gas and maintain cruising at those speeds the bouncing would stop. Thinking a cable problem, I installed a new cable. Now the speedometer needle bounces like crazy between 5 - 25 mph before settling. I was going to live with it. But it sounds like some of you are very familiar with speedometers. Could it be a counterweight problem?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post