Speedo Drive

[The Moog]

Hello

Yesterday I fitted the speedo cable to my '65 850 by removing the plastic drive housing, fitting the cable and then refitting the drive housing. But the speedo did not work.

I removed it again and to test the cable used a reverse drill to drive the gearbox end of the cable, the speedometer works and the miles turn.

I've tried rocking the car two and fro whilst holding onto the pinion spindle, but i couldn't feel it moving, but would I?
Any ideas what could be wrong? The car drives fine.

Also should there be a gasket on the drive housing?

This was done sticking my arm down the back of the engine, so need the skin to grow back on my forearms before i can tackle it again.

Thanks for looking
Ed

[rich@minispares.com]

worth checking that the plastic cog isn't turning on its shaft, its a real pain when they do that as its not always apparent that its faulty

[The Moog]

Thanks Rich
I couldn't turn the shaft at all, and couldn't feel it moving when i rocked the car.

[cheleker]

Rocking the car in gear might not be enough for you to see if the output gear is turning.

Do check that the female/male connection between the gear and the speedometer inner cable match up. I've had brand new parts fit so loosely that even if the gear turned, it didn't fit the cable tight enough to turn it.

Yes, there is a gasket.

Some people find it easier to pull the radiator than to suffer the scrapes. And there is always the excuse that the radiator needed flushing anyway!

[Spider]

Thanks Rich
I couldn't turn the shaft at all, and couldn't feel it moving when i rocked the car.

As cheleker has suggested, rocking the car really isn't enough.

Jack one front wheel in the air and turn it by hand should be enough.

[smithyrc30]

Thanks Rich
I couldn't turn the shaft at all, and couldn't feel it moving when i rocked the car.

As cheleker has suggested, rocking the car really isn't enough.

Jack one front wheel in the air and turn it by hand should be enough.

If you leave one wheel on the ground, won't the differential just differentiate without turning the transmission?

I would think you need to turn both wheels in the same direction to get the transmission to turn.

For that you will need a helper.

[Spider]

Thanks Rich
I couldn't turn the shaft at all, and couldn't feel it moving when i rocked the car.

As cheleker has suggested, rocking the car really isn't enough.

Jack one front wheel in the air and turn it by hand should be enough.

If you leave one wheel on the ground, won't the differential just differentiate without turning the transmission?

I would think you need to turn both wheels in the same direction to get the transmission to turn.

For that you will need a helper.

Nope. It will spin the crown wheel, which in turn will spin the main shaft.

If both wheels are in the air, then it may or may not differentiate. Try it next time you have the car on the jack.

Caveat: Don't try this with an LSD!

[The Moog]

Thanks everyone.

I've tried turning both the the wheels at the same time whilst jacked up and holding the speedo pinion and it doesn't turn. I can't turn it with my hand.

Is it possible to take the speedo drive pinion out with the engine in the car?

[rich@minispares.com]

Easy....


Lol


It's better if you take the lh drive shaft out, even easier if you take the rad out....

You can do it without removing anything, but you need tiny hands and wrists that bend the wrong way, so by the time you have done it if you are a normal sized person, you will find that iit's easier just to either whip the shaft or the rad out.......

[ianh1968]

<SNIP>but you need tiny hands and wrists that bend the wrong way,

... the solution that I use is to "go in" left-handed... I've found this to be much easier.
A 1/4" drive 7/16" socket on a short extension usually does the trick.

Ian

[rich@minispares.com]

<SNIP>but you need tiny hands and wrists that bend the wrong way,

... the solution that I use is to "go in" left-handed... I've found this to be much easier.
A 1/4" drive 7/16" socket on a short extension usually does the trick.

Ian

ian

you must have ladies hands

my shovels just wont get in

[ianh1968]

ian
you must have ladies hands

... they have their benefits...

Ian