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Speedometer replace/repair

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by peter, Nov 12, 2010.

  1. Nov 12, 2010
    peter

    peter Member

    Roseville, CA.
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    Aug 26, 2008
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    161
    Well at just over 70k miles my speedometer made some strange noise, the needle went back and forth and ultimately round and round and broke. I disconnected the cable behind the speedo and now what? The guages are working. Is it an easy replacement? Feels like a new one but i want to maintain the odometer reading for accuracy. It is a 1967 with v6.
    Any advise would be helpful.

    Thank you,

    Peter
     
  2. Nov 13, 2010
    Hawkes

    Hawkes Member

    Nova scotia
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    Jun 18, 2003
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    490
    Disconnect the cable from the transfer case and slide the inner out of the sleeve, if it's in 2 pieces you need a new one. Both ends of the inner cable are supposed to be square.
     
  3. Nov 13, 2010
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    Keep an eye out-I bought a brand new NOS (NOT a reproduction) speedo on ebay not too long ago for a reasonable price.
     
  4. Nov 13, 2010
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    If you do need a new speedo assy, the trip meter portion is not a complex mechanical piece. Close observance during take-apart then resetting your mileage and re-assy. Check your cable core first as mentioned above. If the needle went around past the stop pin at "0" then the speed head is toast. The counter spring (hair spring) is no longer good.
     
  5. Nov 14, 2010
    peter

    peter Member

    Roseville, CA.
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    Aug 26, 2008
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    161
    Thank you. Sounds like the speedo is done. I had replaced the cable last year as part of my T18 4speed upgrade. I will try to keep the working guages and find a replacement. If there are any tricks to swap please let me know. I would like to set the odometer to where it is now for accuracy. Sounds like that can be done.

    thank you for all the great information.

    Peter
     
  6. Nov 15, 2010
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    What to watch out for when install a new speedo cable assy.
    1 = Make sure the driven gear insert is clear of hard packed grease/dirt (the square part that the cable core inserts into).
    2 = Put plenty of grease on the cable core (I use petroleum jelly) as the new cable assemblies have a lite oil coating for rust prevention like U joint and require grease before use.
    3 = Core length. Install the cable to the speedo head firmly with fingers. Make sure the cable housing does not wiggle. Spin the cable core at lower end with fingers (one way or the other) and observe the speedo needle jumping. The core should spin freely. Insert a piece of wire into the square driven gear for depth check and match this against the cable core stick-out. The cable core should be about 1/4" less than the depth of the driven gear square receiver. The lower cable cap should be firmly tightened with pliers.
     
    HellaSlow likes this.
  7. Nov 17, 2010
    Rondog

    Rondog just hangin' out

    Parker, CO
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  8. Nov 17, 2010
    kaiser krawler

    kaiser krawler kaiser krawler

    naples florida
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    Apr 19, 2007
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    113
    theres a guy on ebay, who has a warehouse full of Vietnam war era surplus jeep parts. i bought a speedometer from him $99.00. it made it to florida in 12 days. n.o.s sealed in its original package. he's in Vietnam but has great feedback. he has a speedometer face up for auction right now , starting bid of $40.00
    i'll try to post a link , if it dosen't work the name of his store is blue moon scooter
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2010
  9. Nov 18, 2010
    supertrooper

    supertrooper Member

    moreno valley, ca
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    Nov 12, 2007
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    742
    if you go with a new gauge take it to a speedometer repair shop. i swaped the cluster on my tacoma awhile back and the shop charged around $40-50 to change the odometer on the new gauge cluster.
    Posted via Mobile Device
     
  10. Nov 18, 2010
    lynn

    lynn Time machine / Early CJ5 HR Rep Staff Member

    Huntingdon PA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    3,437
    Old speedos make nice clocks. :D

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  11. Nov 18, 2010
    Rondog

    Rondog just hangin' out

    Parker, CO
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    You need to put one o' those on a chain and wear it around like Flava Flav! :rofl:
     
  12. Nov 20, 2010
    peter

    peter Member

    Roseville, CA.
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    Aug 26, 2008
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    161
    I have located a used speedo for $50 that appears to be in good working order. What I would like to do is use the guages for fuel and temp from my speedo as I know they were working. The lights look to be a straight forward connect. How do I change the miles on the odometer or is it easy to use the odometer from my old one? Where can I find a diagram or instructions on how to swap guages and possibly the odometer? Or reset the new odometer so my miles stay the same.

    Thank you fo such good information here.

    Peter
     
  13. Nov 20, 2010
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    [q
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2012
  14. Nov 20, 2010
    54cj3b

    54cj3b Member

    evergreen colorado
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    peter did you ever see your pm box
     
  15. Nov 26, 2010
    peter

    peter Member

    Roseville, CA.
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    Aug 26, 2008
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    I dont want to commit a felony. Only maintain accuracy for a replacement speedo. Has anyone adjusted the odometer before and are you able to tell me how? And what is the best way to swap the guages and lights? While it is in under the dash?
    Please advise. And if I really have to go to a sppedo shop I understand. There is no deception attempted here. Just want to keep it accurate.

    Thank you,

    Peter
     
  16. Nov 27, 2010
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    Open the case on your old speedo. Couple a screws and the speedo head comes out of the housing. Leave the temp and fuel gauges in the old housing and use the old housing if it is still in good shape. Practice on the old speedo odometer for re-setting the odometer untill your confident you can do it with ease. Really nothing to it.
     
  17. Nov 27, 2010
    peter

    peter Member

    Roseville, CA.
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    Aug 26, 2008
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    Does that mean taking the glass off and going into it from the front? I have not yet taken out the one in the dash until I know what to do. It sounds like I could leave the wires and guages attached and just swap the actual speedo and needle assemble??? Leaving the odometer alone? Or is it all connected? The NOS one I have would need to have the odometer changed and at least one of the guages does not work.

    Thank you for your advice.

    Peter
     
  18. Nov 28, 2010
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    No way you could do it in the dash. Just take it out & do it on the bench. Label all the wires first so you can reconnect everything easily.
     
  19. Nov 28, 2010
    peter

    peter Member

    Roseville, CA.
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    OK. thank you for the responses and I just need to pull the speedo and start getting into it to make the swap.

    I looked for a scematic with no luck.

    Peter
     
  20. Jan 26, 2012
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Western North...
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    I saw Kaiser Krawler's post on Page 1 of this thread about his speedometer a few weeks ago, and just bought an NOS speedometer from the same guy in Vietnam (I think) that he did.

    Given that it came from Vietnam....the speedometer I bought may have been intended as a replacement for military M38A1 jeeps. If so, those jeeps most likely had 24 volt systems. Does anyone know if the gauges on a speedo for those jeeps also work correctly on a 12 volt system? - or do I need to change them out? If I need to swap them out for gauges designed for a 12-volt system, I'd sure like to do it before I install the speedometer this weekend!
     
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