Speedometer Works (kind of), but Odometer Doesn't Work

[colnago]

I was on a road trip this weekend, cruising at 55 MPH or so. Heard a racket at the dash, noticed my speedometer needle jumping all over and my odometer not working. Figured the cable broke, or one (or both) of the cable drive gears broke. Later I noticed that at speeds over 40 or so, the needle held pretty steady, but at lower speeds it started to jump around again. The odometer never did anything more, though. So, any guesses as to what it is?

Thanks,

Joseph

[elgemcdlf]

Sounds like time to take the head apart. The odometer is driven off of the speedometer mechanism. Sounds like something in there let loose.

[rltvader]

My speedometer was jumping all over the place also. I fixed it by taking the speedo caple out and straightening it( mine was crooked) and it worked better.

[flyboy2610]

Pul th e cable out and give it a light coat of grease, reinstall.

[Ottawa71F100]

Hi, I recently ran into this issue of the speedometer needle bouncing all over the place. I have a '71 on a '78 frame. It's a 4x4, 360/C6 automatic with NP205 transfer case. The speedo cable connects into the output of the transfer case. Reading other posts, I assumed it was probably just needing grease. I disconnected it at the transfer case but it doesn't seem like the cable is designed to pull out of the cable housing like other posters seem to advise. Otherwise the cable spins freely and I don't 'feel' any binding. Does anyone know if there is something else to remove or disconnect to get the cable to pull out of the cable housing with my set up?

Thanks for any assistance.

Regards,
John

[TNIceWolf]

It will only pull out on one end or the other. Disconnect both ends and see which way it pulls out.

[basketcase0302]

John,

Look at the cable end by the speedometer closely, (after you unhook it of course). I'd seen on more than one occasion where the end of the cable there was stripped causing it to slip. I believe that NPD has them:
http://www.npdlink.com/

[Ottawa71F100]

Thanks! I'll tackle this on the weekend. I love this site. I bought my truck in 2003 and I first had an account back then but over time lost the login info and changed email addresses. I never got around to creating a new account for a few years it seems. 99% of the time I surf the forum postings and someone else has already had and solved the problem I'm having. Great people here. Thanks again for hundreds of solved problems over the years.

Regards,
John

[TNIceWolf]

One other thing I did think about John. I am not sure if ford used one or not....but some 4 wheel drive trucks used an extention cable as well.....so it might be worth tracing the cable housing to see if its a one or two piece.

[Stickbow]

Mine did the same. I pulled the gauges out to clean the lens/housing and replace bulbs this weekend, and simply reconnecting the cable seems to have seated it better and stopped the problem (as far as I can tell). I plan on replacing the speedo cable (it's ratted out under the hood) anyway, or I'd have greased it too.