VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 mple answer!

There must be a simple answer! Odometer jammed on my 27 chev but speedo and trip meter still worked. I took it out intending to have it inspected and repaired. I tried two other speedometers pending inspection and repair to the jammed one. Took for a test run but nothing at all worked on either speedo, one I had been told was overhauled and fine. I then checked the speedo cable took it from sheath gave it a light grease and all ok. I then removed and checked speedo gear from gear box all looked ok. Re tested but nothing worked. Replaced speedo drive gear and re checked, nothing on speedo worked. Disconnected speedo drive from speedometer and drove short distance and cable turned, so it seemed the cable was getting drive from the gear.

I then checked both speedos with a speedo square drive attached to a battery drill, running the drill clockwise there was no movement at all on odometer, speedo or trip meter.

When I put the drill in reverse , the speedo reading and the trip meters both worked in each speedometer.

Pulled some of my hair out but before I go bald, I welcome any suggestions or advice, I am not a mechanic and may have missed the obvious.

thanks

Bob

Having drill in reverse is correct ( at least foe a '28 ) Check the speedo is coming out the correct side of the gear box. I know in the 1928 chev you can reverse the drive. On '28 it comes out the Right side of the gearbox.
Hope this helps,
Neil

Neil,

thanks for your response, it comes out from the right side of the gearbox on the 27, I am puzzled given what I have done to check everything, why the drill seems to operate the speedos ok but when they are in the car nothing works.

Bob

Hi Bob,

If you have drive from the gearbox, visable at the speedo end of the cable, and you are able to run the speedo with a power drill, have you made sure that when you fit the cable into the bottom of the speedo that you are picking up the square drive at the bottom of the speedo.

As you are probably aware, the cable has a female fitting that fits over the male fitting in the bottom of the speedo.

Quite akward to fit under the dash, you need to have the cable in the exact spot to slip onto the square drive.

Thats all I can think it could be. I am local to you, The Basin, so if you need help, ring me on 9762 5341

Cheers

Ray

Ray,

I have carefully fitted both ends of the cable and tried to pay particular attention to the square drive into the speedometer and have felt it has fitted on fully. I have done this about 5 times in all You are right it is fiddly and you need to be a bit of a contortionist to complete it.

It looks it might be operator error on my part as there does not seem to be any other answer once everything checks out.

I appreciate your response and generous offer of assistance.

I will have another go at it and see if I can get it right I might just have to be persistent and patient.

Bob

hi Bobc4,
All instruments that fail to work can be very tricky to fix.
I have similar probs with mine at the moment.
Have you considered removing the speedo from the dash and reconnecting the drive. Get a helper to hold the speedo whilst you go for a short drive, maybe the route of the cable is not smooth enough for it to engage properly?
Just a thought..

Peter

Peter

Thanks for the input mate, but in the end no real surprise operator error on my part! I have changed the speedo several times previously when the odometer jammed and had no problems so I thought I had it covered.

I am not quite sure what I did but suspect when I put the square drive into the speedo and then secured it, I might have been dislodging the drive or when connecting the cable at the box could have inadvertently pulled the cable and thus dislodged it from the speedo.

This morning got the hands greasy again and I was pretty focussed when fitting the cable up with the aforementioned in mind plus advice received as there seemed no other answer.

Test drove vehicle and everything worked fine!

A good lesson how even something quite simple which you have done before can catch you out.

A little bit embarrassing but at least this speedo doesn't need repair and the "mystery" is solved. All working good again.

Bob

Thanks Ray, whilst I was wrestling with my speedo cable for the 27 chev I noticed the number 7227 stamped on the brass square drive.

The number 7289 was stamped on the brass square drive of the spare cable end I was using to test the speedometers with the drill.

This cable and housing is identical to the one for my 1927 chev but maybe 6" longer.

I gather it is for chev but possibly a 28/29.

Am I right, could it also be used for the 27? (at the moment the cable is broken but if replaced would make a good speedo drive)

Bob

Hi Bob,

To the best of my knowledge 27 and 28 are identical, 29 is longer.

Cheers

Ray