Speedometer refuses to work. Any help is appreciated

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

projectmidnight74

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2023
Posts
115
Reaction score
65
Location
Mississippi
First Name
Eddie
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
V8
So at this point, the original th350 has been rebuilt, I have put a new speedo cable in as well as a speedo bullet because it was leaking. I still have 0 mph when driving. Any help is appreciated otherwise, Im just going digital everything soon lol.
 

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,854
Reaction score
5,646
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,76,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, k30, k20, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350, 350
So at this point, the original th350 has been rebuilt, I have put a new speedo cable in as well as a speedo bullet because it was leaking. I still have 0 mph when driving. Any help is appreciated otherwise, Im just going digital everything soon lol.
Either something wrong with the mechanism in the gauge or the input is slopped out on the gauge. Did you look at the drive gear on the transmission output?
 

projectmidnight74

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2023
Posts
115
Reaction score
65
Location
Mississippi
First Name
Eddie
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
V8
Yes. It looked to be fine. But again I'm a novice at this lol. I have a yellow one I bought new. But didn't out it in. May have to just got digital.
 

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,854
Reaction score
5,646
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,76,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, k30, k20, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350, 350
Yes. It looked to be fine. But again I'm a novice at this lol. I have a yellow one I bought new. But didn't out it in. May have to just got digital.
Have you checked if the cable spin at the gauge end?
 

75gmck25

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Posts
2,266
Reaction score
2,210
Location
Northern Virginia
First Name
Bruce
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K25 Camper Special TH350 NP203
Engine Size
5.7
You should be able use a drill to spin the transmission end, and it will make the speedometer read. If that works, then it’s the transmission connection you need to work on.
 

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,854
Reaction score
5,646
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,76,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, k30, k20, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350, 350
Its brand new. No way its bad right. I guess I need to check.
Even if brand new, doesn't mean it's good. But it also means you could have not got everything together just right.
 

Matt69olds

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2018
Posts
2,451
Reaction score
3,819
Location
Central Indiana
First Name
Matt
Truck Year
81
Truck Model
GMC 1/2 ton
Engine Size
455 Olds
Is the drive gear in the output shaft?

Raise and properly support the rear of the truck so the termites are free to turn. Disconnect the speedo cable, put the shifter on neutral. Spin the driveshaft by had, make sure the driven speedo gear turns.

If not, you need to figure out why.

There are different speedo housings depending on gear. As the speedo gear count goes up, the gear gets bigger, the housing has the hole offset to accommodate the larger diameter.
 

Rusty Nail

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2015
Posts
10,041
Reaction score
10,134
Location
the other side of the internet
First Name
Rusty
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350sbc
You should be able use a drill to spin the transmission end, and it will make the speedometer read.
That's all the good help I had ...chuck it in a drill. :rockit:bet that mother humper gon spin now aint it??
Dontcha know!
 

projectmidnight74

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2023
Posts
115
Reaction score
65
Location
Mississippi
First Name
Eddie
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
V8
all I have are impact drills lol. any plan b to turn this sum gunn lol. Recap.
New speedo cable
new bullet
same gear with a new yellow one on standby.
 

Don Ainsworth

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Posts
5
Reaction score
12
Location
Gulfport, MS
First Name
Don
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
1500
Engine Size
350
Under the hood locate the speedo cable and push it into the cab. You may just get lucky.
 

borrelemily7

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2023
Posts
3
Reaction score
0
Location
Marksville, Louisiana
First Name
Emily
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
C10 custom deluxe
Engine Size
250ci
inside the transmission is the speedometer gear drive. it is a plastic pieces with teeth. different transmissions call for different number of teeth. it is pretty simple to remove. check it. mine was a mechanic shop and while there it disappeared??????? I am just having trouble finding the correct number of teeth that my 78 C10 requires.
 

projectmidnight74

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2023
Posts
115
Reaction score
65
Location
Mississippi
First Name
Eddie
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
V8
A followup.
After intalling my 3rd speed bullet because of leaks, I figured I would ask the parts guy for help. The gear is brand new. When removing the bullet this time, I spun the cable end and guess what, IT FRICKIN WORKED, but, when installed with the new bullet, same results. I was told to point my camera in the hole and look for a spiral gear around the shaft. I am attaching pics, I didn't see the gear that I think is supposed to be there and I believe that is my problem. Any help would be great.
 

projectmidnight74

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2023
Posts
115
Reaction score
65
Location
Mississippi
First Name
Eddie
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
V8
Pics
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0887.jpeg
    IMG_0887.jpeg
    134.6 KB · Views: 13
  • IMG_0888.jpeg
    IMG_0888.jpeg
    96.2 KB · Views: 14
  • IMG_0889.jpeg
    IMG_0889.jpeg
    79.9 KB · Views: 15
  • IMG_0890.jpeg
    IMG_0890.jpeg
    100.6 KB · Views: 17

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,173
Posts
950,865
Members
36,288
Latest member
brentjo
Top