Speedo MPH testing???

I put my variable speed cordless drill to the back of my speedo cluster to see if I could "test" it and see if the MPH would move with the speed increas in my drill. nothing happened! Does the speedometer cable have to be present for the internal workings of the speedometer needle to work?

 

No but you have to be going the right direction. speedo will only move but can't remember CW or CCW.

 

I know that the cj2a/3a/e3b speedo spins CW and I can just spin it with my fingers and get it up to 40 or so

 

Well I went and bought a speedometer cable for it and put it on and turned it with the drill....the odometer works but the speed needle does not, now what? Is this something that I can fix?

 

There's a little hole in the top of the input shaft sleeve that takes machine oil. If it's froze put a little PB Blaster or other penetrant in it and spin it till it starts to raise the needle, then blow it out and drop in some machine oil. From the back it's CCW.:v6:

 

HEre is a search for speedo rebuild

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/search.php?searchid=923950

They are fairly simple to take apart and rebuild. It takes a bit of time but its nothing you cant' do.

 

Guys I took it apart and oiled it and oiled the little spot on top. It still spins freely as it did before,the speedometer needed just doesn't move off of 0. I took it apart again to look as I spun it from the back but I don't know what is suppose to do what inside there..I guess I'm stuck at this point!
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The speed cup is attached to a shaft that the needle is connected to. If you gently move the speed cup and bring the pointer up to about fifty or so and let go of the cup, a spring (coil) will return the pointer to zero. If you have too much resistance and it won't return, then you have to get some oil under the pointer and onto the shaft and work the speed cup back and fourth until the pointer returns to zero every time. The drive cup (outside) is coupled to the speed cup (inside) by magnetic coupling. Has no physical connection. When you rotate the speedo cable with drill motor, make sure the odometer is going forward and not back. It is gear driven and will move both ways. Walt

 

When I move the needle to about 50 the needle just stays at 50. Just oil it and it will work? Is my needle suppose to be seated level with. The face where the numbers are(0-9)? It seems like my needle is just floppying around by that small coil of wire and is not actually up flush with the face plate. Thanks guys!!
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OK, take a look at the posts I linked to. All the information is there.

I have taken mine apart and fully rebuilt my speedo. The needle does not physically connect to the shaft. If the bearings that the needle shaft goes through are dirty, the needle will have too much resistance to turn. You need to lubricate the shaft the needle is attached to.

 

Ok thanks for the replies! Ill lube those needle bearings. Is my needle supose to be sitting flush with the face plate or wobbling around by the coil of wire slightly pushed below the surface of the face plate? If it is suppose to be flush how can I get it back flush again? Just pull it back up to that point?
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The needle (pointer) is supposed to ride about 1/8" to 3/16" above the face plate and is not supposed to be flopping around.

 

I didnt think so....how do I fix it? I called some speedometer repair shops and they said just send it to them and they would evaluate it and tell me a price and then i could either accept their deal or they would ship it back. Has anyone ever gone this route and is this going to cost me 2 arms and a leg or so?? Thanks

 

dead link

 

Yeah...I also tried the link and it didnt work for me either.

 

I just recieved an email from autoinstruments.com and they said the speedo could cost me anywhere from $275-375 to fix and re-calibrate! I thought that was a lil steep!