What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Speedo cable breaks every year at this time

Kain

Kain

3/4 ton status
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Posts
5,725
Reaction score
2,141
Location
Lubbock Texas
every year at this time since i have had the truck the darn thing breaks.
anyone else's rig eat speedo cables? im going to get one from napa thats 112 inchs long maybe it will help
 
My speedo cable is barely hanging on to the t case. The threads are stripped and some of the casing on the outside of the cable is melted to the exhaust pipe. But I duck taped it to the t case so it's still working just fine.
 
Mine broke around this time 5 years ago... never fixed it, still would be off until I change the gear anyway . It broke off inside the TC, I'm guessing it was never lubed. Where is yours breaking?
 
it breaks where i have to turn to plug into the tcase right by the exhaust
 
ill take a pic in the morning on how i have it routed and post it.

I got a new cable and i cant get the old one loose from the spedometer, i have had a hard time before but not like this.
if i have tto ill cut the cable and pull the cluster to get it out
 
76k5blazerr said:
My speedo cable is barely hanging on to the t case. The threads are stripped and some of the casing on the outside of the cable is melted to the exhaust pipe. But I duck taped it to the t case so it's still working just fine.
Click to expand...
Do you have the peice thaat is a wierd box before the tcase?
 
Weird boxes inline with the cable sound like aftermarket speed adjustment devices. I don't think GM used such (excepting mechanically-controlled cruise control boxes).

That would set your truck apart from most of the ones on here. :dunno:
 
Lube it. Might be cold wearing it out prematurely. (Or crappy routing, or phase of the moon, or ...)

-- A
 
this is the box and right where it turns is where it breaks. Do i have to have that box? and what is it called?

CAM01000.jpg

CAM01001.jpg
 
That "box" is a "ratio adapter" and GM did put them on many vehicles.not just 4x4's...Stewart-Warner had gears available for calibrating the speedometer for different rear axle ratios and tire sizes..

My speedometer cable or the speedometer itself in my pickup starts making some disturbing noises and the needle gets twitchy till the cab warms up,this time of year when it gets below 40 degrees,but so far the cable hasn't broken...

I would replace the whole cable,I have not had much luck with those cheap "cut to fit" universal ones,and 90% of the time it is the cable housing that chafes over time,and causes the inner cable to fray and break...
I had a hard time finding a new complete cable 20 years ago,last time I needed one--found some NOS ones at a swap meet ,parts stores listings were incorrect length when I needed one for my '72 K5..
 
well i got one from orielys and its already to go, maybe ill rout it differant this time

76k5blazer:it does look good
 
diesel4me said:
That "box" is a "ratio adapter" and GM did put them on many vehicles.not just 4x4's...Stewart-Warner had gears available for calibrating the speedometer for different rear axle ratios and tire sizes..
Click to expand...

I stand corrected. Why would GM scab on a ratio adapter instead of simply correcting the tooth count inside the T-case? :dunno:
 
Mostly because this way,they could use the same transmissions in many vehicles, with widely variable tire sizes and rear axle ratios...its a lot easier to take a few screws off that ratio adapter box,open it up,and drop in a couple of gears,compared to having to change the speedo drive gear on the transmission tailshaft or t-case,and the one on the cable drive end,just to get an accurate speed reading..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom