Help on a speedo issue

4speedBench · June 19th, 2009, 12:16 PM

My speedo cable gave up the ghost last week. When I pulled the old one, I noticed that it broke right in the speedometer. Obviously, can't put the new one in. Any ideas on how to get the remaining bit of cable out of the speedo housing??? I've tried magnets and some dental tools to try to get in there. Really do not want to have to take the speedo out.

Appreciate the help!

wmachine · June 19th, 2009, 12:27 PM

Take 'er up to 125 miles per hour, then slam on the brakes!!

wmachine · June 19th, 2009, 12:30 PM

Of course, I know the problem with that.
Without a speedo, how do you know when you hit 125......

joe_padavano · June 19th, 2009, 02:40 PM

With the housing disconnected from the speedo, crawl under the car and also unscrew it from the trans. Push on the end of the cable at the trans end and it will come out the speedo end.

wmachine · June 19th, 2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

With the housing disconnected from the speedo, crawl under the car and also unscrew it from the trans. Push on the end of the cable at the trans end and it will come out the speedo end.

Joe, he said a piece is stuck in the speedo, so he can't put a new (or old) cable into the speedo without first removing the piece that is broke off in the speedo.

Sorry, 4speedBench, we're old and not *always* helpful.....

z11375ss · June 19th, 2009, 07:12 PM

Yeah Joe, sheesh! JK You are going to have to remove that speed o my friend. then take a speaker magnet and tap the speedo lightly on top of it until the piece comes out. Good luck. Man, what a pain!

joe_padavano · June 19th, 2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmachine

Joe, he said a piece is stuck in the speedo, so he can't put a new (or old) cable into the speedo without first removing the piece that is broke off in the speedo.

Sorry, 4speedBench, we're old and not *always* helpful.....

OOPS.

Once again, I should not write a post when I'm supposed to be paying attention in a meeting. Sorry for the confusion.

If you can access the back of the speedo, try making a small loop in the end of some fine wire. Push the loop into the end of the speedo drive and "lasso" the remainder of the cable, pulling it out. Conversely get a "sneaky pete" tool used for installing the rear main seal. This is similar to the old Chinese finger trap and should similarly be able to fit into the end of the speedo drive and snag the stump of the cable.

4speedBench · June 19th, 2009, 08:11 PM

Thanks guys!

Joe, you redeemed yourself w/ the "sneaky Pete" suggestion. I was just thinking (over a cold one), I may try grinding down a set of tweezers to see if I can get a grip on the sucker! It is maddening.

4speedBench · June 20th, 2009, 08:01 PM

Another question for you guys. I noticed when pulling out the old cable that it was routed up over the bellhousing and then into the cabin department on the driver's side. It looked correct, with factory heat tubing around that portion of the cable...just had never seen that before. Is that correct for 4 speed car?

Olds64 · June 22nd, 2009, 07:28 AM

Do you have a set of forceps? These are generally much smaller than needlenose pliers, plus they have the latching handles so they don't slide very easily. You can get them in the pharmacy at Wal Mart.

Yellowstatue · June 23rd, 2009, 04:17 AM

Our '68 four speeds go up and over the bell housing, through a clip on the toe pan and up to a hole beside the steering column; seems to me that the assembly manual had a clip on the upper left trans mounting bolt too.

4speedBench · June 23rd, 2009, 12:51 PM

Thanks guys. I'm still at it...

Have not found some forceps, but that may do the trick. And yes Yellow, I saw the loop "snap" on the driver's side, I'll check passenger again.

4speedBench · July 16th, 2009, 05:33 PM

Well guys FINALLY got the speedo issue fixed. I ultimately did have to remove the heater control assembly to get my arm in there to undo the speedo and pull it from the car. Once on my bench, it took all of two minutes to get the $%#&* broken tip out. My arm still looks like I spent time in some SouthEast POW camp, but the 442 is back on the road!! Now I just need to find the plastic swivel piece on top the heater control assembly (defrost/floor selector) which broke off in my above efforts.

Thanks for the insight & help.

z11375ss · July 16th, 2009, 08:35 PM

I have a new in the plastic speedo cable from OPG for a 4 speed. You want it?

June 19th, 2009, 12:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
4speedBench Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 73	Help on a speedo issue My speedo cable gave up the ghost last week. When I pulled the old one, I noticed that it broke right in the speedometer. Obviously, can't put the new one in. Any ideas on how to get the remaining bit of cable out of the speedo housing??? I've tried magnets and some dental tools to try to get in there. Really do not want to have to take the speedo out. Appreciate the help! __________________ '68 442 Sport Coupe,455 4 speed(M20)& Bench 3:42 Posi. Force Air Induction Added.

June 19th, 2009, 12:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
wmachine Trying to remember member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,466	Take 'er up to 125 miles per hour, then slam on the brakes!! __________________ Kurt http://wmachines.shubes.net

June 19th, 2009, 12:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
wmachine Trying to remember member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,466	Of course, I know the problem with that. Without a speedo, how do you know when you hit 125...... __________________ Kurt http://wmachines.shubes.net

June 19th, 2009, 02:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
joe_padavano Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,399	With the housing disconnected from the speedo, crawl under the car and also unscrew it from the trans. Push on the end of the cable at the trans end and it will come out the speedo end. __________________ Joe Padavano 64 Jetstar 88 Conv 66 442 L-69 Conv 68 W-30 69 H/O 69 442 70 W-30 72 442 84 Custom Cruiser 86 Caprice wagon (w/307 Olds)

June 19th, 2009, 07:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
z11375ss Senior Moment Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 398	Yeah Joe, sheesh! JK You are going to have to remove that speed o my friend. then take a speaker magnet and tap the speedo lightly on top of it until the piece comes out. Good luck. Man, what a pain! __________________

June 19th, 2009, 08:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
4speedBench Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 73	Thanks guys! Joe, you redeemed yourself w/ the "sneaky Pete" suggestion. I was just thinking (over a cold one), I may try grinding down a set of tweezers to see if I can get a grip on the sucker! It is maddening. __________________ '68 442 Sport Coupe,455 4 speed(M20)& Bench 3:42 Posi. Force Air Induction Added.

June 20th, 2009, 08:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
4speedBench Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 73	Another question for you guys. I noticed when pulling out the old cable that it was routed up over the bellhousing and then into the cabin department on the driver's side. It looked correct, with factory heat tubing around that portion of the cable...just had never seen that before. Is that correct for 4 speed car? __________________ '68 442 Sport Coupe,455 4 speed(M20)& Bench 3:42 Posi. Force Air Induction Added.

June 22nd, 2009, 07:28 AM	#10 (permalink)
Olds64 Landyacht Club President Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lawton, OK Posts: 4,286	Do you have a set of forceps? These are generally much smaller than needlenose pliers, plus they have the latching handles so they don't slide very easily. You can get them in the pharmacy at Wal Mart. __________________ Ferris, my father loves this car more than life itself... Apparently, you don't understand! Ferris, he never drives it! He just rubs it with a diaper! Cameron Frye Ferris Bueller's Day Off 1986

June 23rd, 2009, 04:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
Yellowstatue Certified Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Too close to Toronto!! Posts: 567	High road Our '68 four speeds go up and over the bell housing, through a clip on the toe pan and up to a hole beside the steering column; seems to me that the assembly manual had a clip on the upper left trans mounting bolt too. __________________ '57 S88 HC et al; '68 442 M20; '68 442 M21; '68 W30; '68 Vista et al; '80 -'84 Regency et al; '96,'98.'99 Aurora..Ignition ON

June 23rd, 2009, 12:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
4speedBench Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 73	Thanks guys. I'm still at it... Have not found some forceps, but that may do the trick. And yes Yellow, I saw the loop "snap" on the driver's side, I'll check passenger again. __________________ '68 442 Sport Coupe,455 4 speed(M20)& Bench 3:42 Posi. Force Air Induction Added.

July 16th, 2009, 05:33 PM	#13 (permalink)
4speedBench Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 73	Well guys FINALLY got the speedo issue fixed. I ultimately did have to remove the heater control assembly to get my arm in there to undo the speedo and pull it from the car. Once on my bench, it took all of two minutes to get the $%#&* broken tip out. My arm still looks like I spent time in some SouthEast POW camp, but the 442 is back on the road!! Now I just need to find the plastic swivel piece on top the heater control assembly (defrost/floor selector) which broke off in my above efforts. Thanks for the insight & help. __________________ '68 442 Sport Coupe,455 4 speed(M20)& Bench 3:42 Posi. Force Air Induction Added.

July 16th, 2009, 08:35 PM	#14 (permalink)
z11375ss Senior Moment Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 398	I have a new in the plastic speedo cable from OPG for a 4 speed. You want it? __________________

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