Jim Kniola

I have a non-working speedo in my '50 Olds 88 dash. The cable is not broken as proven by chucking it in my drill and working it both clockwise and counter clockwise. I can't tell if the problem is the gear in the transmission or the mechanism of the speedometer. How can I test the speedometer?

lemoldsnut

Hook the cable up to the speedo and the drill and try it.

MDchanic

Sometimes there is a bit of a collar protruding from the back of the speedo, and you can just put that right in the drill chuck.

That being said, usually if you whing it around really fast with your fingers, the needle will jump a bit.

- Eric

Jim Kniola

Did that as my first step. When I did this, I heard some activity behind the – by the speedometer that I don't usually hear when I'm going down the road. So the speedometer didn't work but at least it was making some noise. This makes me think that maybe I have a two headed snake: the transmission gear and the speedometer. Does that sound right to you?

Jim Kniola

First of all, I love your pink convertible! Concerning the speedometer, I would have to take it out of the dash in order to do that, right? I'm prepared to do that but as long as I have it out, if it doesn't work where would I take it or who would I send it to?

steverw

Redline Gauge in Humbolt Tennessee

MDchanic

Thanks!


If you can reach the end and get the spinning part between your fingers, you might be able to spin it in place.

If you do that, though, and the result isn't clearly good, then I agree that it will have to come out.

- Eric