Ron is always right...

[myk]

I have to admit that I can JUST tolerate the 2.76 on mine; I take the freeway a lot and if I had a taller gear I'm sure the motor would've spun itself to oblivion by now.  As it is, I'm spinning at around 3K RPM at a mere 70 mph or so...

Myk,

Either your tach is off or your speedo is off. No way it should be turning 3k at 70mph with 2.76 gears and those tall tires you have on the car.  



Ron

I know it's been a while but I had to respond to Ron's post in another thread.  As usual, he's absolutely correct.  With a 2.76 gear, and a 26.68" tire @ about 3K RPM I'm going about 85mph.  Wow.  All this time I thought I was cruising at "normal" freeway speeds (70-75) but I've been CHP bait this whole time; the fact that I never got a ticket means that someone up there either loves me or the car, probably the latter.  Thanks to Ron for putting this bug in my ear and the pace car that helped me verify my speeds this evening.  Questions:  How could I go about correcting the inaccurate speedo reading?  

[fy469rtse]

Myk , there's a thread with how to calculate for which speedo gear you need to put in , takes into account rear gear tyre size etc
Different sizes are available, there usually colour coded, in the end of cable at or in transmission

[fy469rtse]

Oh and Ron is not always right, he will pipe in and tell you , like all of us would have made mistakes and learnt from them , all though I agree it seems like he is always right, John kunkel. Another one who is good also,
If I ask a question Myk, I like it when either of these two help out, good advice and then  I'm on the right track, and I'm quickly good to go

[myk]

Myk , there's a thread with how to calculate for which speedo gear you need to put in , takes into account rear gear tyre size etc
Different sizes are available, there usually colour coded, in the end of cable at or in transmission

Ah yes, the speedo gear.  That was my issue right there; I've been focusing on the handling aspect of my car so much I forgot how everything else worked.  Well this is one of the reasons why I've procrastinated replacing my speedo cable; I knew it was off anyway so I never really looked at it...

[firefighter3931]

Myk, you need a 27 tooth speedo gear which is color coded white. Chrysler pn 52068149 but that number might have been superceded ?

Trust me.....I've made my share of mistakes. I just try not to repeat them.....it gets expensive !  


Ron


Here's one on ebay ; http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-Dodge-Mopar-Speedometer-Gear-27-Tooth-Long-Shaft-Pinion-Plymouth-Chrysler-/231192242988?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35d421ab2c&vxp=mtr

[myk]

Myk, you need a 27 tooth speedo gear which is color coded white. Chrysler pn 52068149 but that number might have been superceded ?

Trust me.....I've made my share of mistakes. I just try not to repeat them.....it gets expensive ! 


Ron

27?  Oh I thought it was 28; I was using this chart: http://www.mymopar.com/speedometer.htm

Where do I get these gears anyway?  I checked ebay and some other places but color-wise they don't match up with the chart I was refering to...

[fy469rtse]

Told you he would pipe in, the best part of this site, is you get the benefit of someone else's experience and knowledge , like Rons or johns,
And I don't think I have ever seen gear coloured white ? You learn something everyday

[firefighter3931]

Myk, you need a 27 tooth speedo gear which is color coded white. Chrysler pn 52068149 but that number might have been superceded ?

Trust me.....I've made my share of mistakes. I just try not to repeat them.....it gets expensive !  


Ron

27?  Oh I thought it was 28; I was using this chart: http://www.mymopar.com/speedometer.htm

Where do I get these gears anyway?  I checked ebay and some other places but color-wise they don't match up with the chart I was refering to...

Myk, check my post above....I posted a link for that gear on ebay  


The gear I picked is based on your tire diameter & axle ratio ;

2.76 + 26" tire  = 28 tooth

2.76 + 28" tire = 26 tooth

* Myk's combo : 2.76 + 26.68" tire ( closer to 27" tall than 26" tall) should use a 27 tooth gear.....it would be the most accurate but either the 26 or 28 would be close enough  



Ron

[myk]

WOW Thanks!  Now...I know I'm leaking 'trans fluid out of...."that area;" is there a gasket/o-ring kit or something I need to buy when swapping it out?  I can't seem to get the verbage right so my searches keep turning up squat...

[firefighter3931]

Yep, there is an O-ring that seals the cable housing to the transmission. Those should be available through the dealer or aftermarket 


Ron

[fy469rtse]

Myk, there's also an inner o ring to speedo gear, as well as the housing one, this is the one that commonly leaks check your factory manual

[myk]

This thing?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DODGE-CHRYSLER-MOPAR-TRANSMISSION-SPEEDO-HOUSING-SEAL-AND-O-RING-/251488030581?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a8ddacf75&vxp=mtr

or this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/69-CHARGER-71-CUDA-727-MOPAR-TRANSMISSION-SPEEDOMETER-SEALING-KIT-O-RING-SEAL-/281297945946?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item417eaa055a&vxp=mtr

[moparsr2fast]

  The 2nd one is correct Myk 

[2Luke2]

Does the small seal actually go on the speedo gear that goes behind the cover?

[jlatessa]

If you look inside the housing, you'll see a circlip holding the small seal in.
They can be multiple colors, depending on the supplier.

Joe

[2Luke2]

If you look inside the housing, you'll see a circlip holding the small seal in.
They can be multiple colors, depending on the supplier.

Joe

Well we rebuilt our transmission and we can definitely say that there was not a seal there. We just happened to see this thread and wanted to make sure we didn't miss something. We went ahead and ordered a set anyway. We will probably need a clip as well. Thank you for the info!

[myk]

If you look inside the housing, you'll see a circlip holding the small seal in.
They can be multiple colors, depending on the supplier.

Joe

Well we rebuilt our transmission and we can definitely say that there was not a seal there. We just happened to see this thread and wanted to make sure we didn't miss something. We went ahead and ordered a set anyway. We will probably need a clip as well. Thank you for the info!

Wait where'd you order your seal set from?

[jlatessa]

Got ours on E-Bay; "Americanhotrodsolutions";
new Dodge Jeep speedometer housing gear seal, o-ring and retainer,
$4.50 plus shipping, about $7.50 total....Joe

[Challenger340]

It is SOOOO nice having a guy with Ron's real world Mopar experience hanging around this Site.... it has saved so many lotsa $$

I dunno how many times I have read his stuff on here and said... "I never knew that"
Ron and THANKS !

[myk]

Got ours on E-Bay; "Americanhotrodsolutions";
new Dodge Jeep speedometer housing gear seal, o-ring and retainer,
$4.50 plus shipping, about $7.50 total....Joe

I hope that set fits.  Ordering mine now!

[jlatessa]

Looks like what we have, MYK, we'll see what our $7.50 gets us...

Mine is due Wednesday, I'll holler.

Joe

[myk]

What's the deal with "clocking" the retainer; is there a line or some other mark that indicates where the proper set of numbers should be pointing?  I'm guessing it's downwards?

[Dino]

What's the deal with "clocking" the retainer; is there a line or some other mark that indicates where the proper set of numbers should be pointing?  I'm guessing it's downwards?

There are number ranges on the housing: 26-31 and 32-38.  You need to put the gear in so that the mark falls in the range your gear belongs to.  FSW section 21-5 page 551/816 on my CD. 

[fy469rtse]

Myk, the housing is off set to cable , larger the gear the more housing is rotated around , speedo gear runs off teeth on shaft running through transmission , you will see once you take it out, it's marked for the range of gear sizes
Read your factory manual until it makes sense, then have a go ,
We will be waiting , just in case you need help , just post photos so we can see where your up to .

[2Luke2]

If you look inside the housing, you'll see a circlip holding the small seal in.
They can be multiple colors, depending on the supplier.

Joe

Well we rebuilt our transmission and we can definitely say that there was not a seal there. We just happened to see this thread and wanted to make sure we didn't miss something. We went ahead and ordered a set anyway. We will probably need a clip as well. Thank you for the info!

Wait where'd you order your seal set from?

We ordered this set:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/260930019880?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Still not 100% sure where the small seal goes haha... I guess we will figure it out when it gets here this week sometime.

[Kern Dog]

I have a few of those speedo gears, Myk. They are ones I'd never need since I run lower gears in my cars & trucks. I'd send you one FREE if you pay the shipping. Shouldn't be more than a few bucks. I'm in Northern California.
Greg

[jlatessa]

My seal kit came in from americanhotrodsolutions and was an easy
replacement, inner and outer seals went in easily.

Got my new speedo gear Friday and everything is back in the trans.

Life is good....Joe

[2Luke2]

Joe did you happen to get pictures? We are still curious where the inner seal goes.

[Dino]

Thanks for the tip Joe, I'm ordering a kit now.   

[myk]

Just got my 'speedo gear in; just waiting for the seals.  Now where the hell did I put that new 'speedo cable...

[2Luke2]

We got our new seals in, but we were kind of concerned... When we put the clip back in it didn't seem to have a place to snap into. It was just kind of held in by the tension. Is that correct or should it slide down enough to snap in somewhere?

[jlatessa]

There is a recess for the clip and seal, it prevents the seal from climbing the shaft.

I removed the inner seal with a thin wooden dowel, left the original clip in
and was able to work the new seal into the recess below the clip,
the seal is pretty flexible, just be careful and make sure the seal seats in the recess.

Also the seal goes in one way only, look at how the old one is in first.

Joe

PS. go to MOPARTS Tech Archive, Auto Trans, Speedo gear, there are pics there of seals
and orientation of housing for different gears

[myk]

 

So, I go through all of the effort of buying a 27 tooth speedo gear and have it shipped pronto, only to find that the Charger already HAS a 27 tooth speedo gear that's in better shape than the one I just bought.  The retainer was "clocked" wrong so I adjusted that, but I'm curious: is the retainer supposed to be flush with the transmission case?  Because I could not get the thing to seat all of the way.  I tried to tap it in with a soft hammer but it wouldn't budge; not that I could get enough room to take a proper swing at it anyway.  Also, I expected to find a shredded o-ring in the pinion housing but it looks fine-I don't understand why it's leaking.  Could the leak be coming from the speedo gear itself?  I'm assuming no, because the speedometer cable seals that part of the retainer?  

Well, here's to hoping I installed the speedometer cable correctly.

Edit:  I just got back from the local cruise night and I'm disappointed because the speedometer doesn't work at all. Someone told me I have to guide the speedometer cable into the speedometer gear.
Is it possible to install these things wrong?

[myk]

[2Luke2]

I would do the following:
- Check to make sure the pinion selector on the on the outside of the housing is set to the 27 tooth range
- Check the end of the speedo cable and make sure it's not rounded or broke off and it's sticking out enough
- Jack up the rear of the car and take the pinion out and make sure it's still in good shape

Other than that you might be dropping the steering column out of the way to check the other end of the cable to make sure it didn't come off the gauge. You can probably put the transmission side of cable in a drill and drill really slowly while someone looks at the gauge to see if it's working as well.

[firefighter3931]

Myk, i'm starting to suspect your speedometer is out of calibration and the most recent issue could be the speedo or the speedo cable itself. 

Ron

[myk]

I hope it's a simple matter of the speedometer cable not being inside of the pinion gear all the way.  Thanks guys...

[Kern Dog]

If you insert the end of the speedo in a drill and spin the drill backwards[/i, the speedo should move if everything is fine with the cable and the guage.
The speedo housing is designed to accomodate a range of pinion sizes. The pinion is inserted in the hole which is cast off center. This allows you to rotate the housing until the pinion makes contact with the output shaft of the transmission.
What I do: Make sure that when you insert the pinion housing into the trans case, make sure that the pinion is NOT against the output shaft. This will help you tap the housing into the case to sit FLUSH. Using a thin chisel or drift, tap the housing to clock its location using the thin groove in the housing as a stop for the chisel.

[myk]

Alright, I'll climb under there again ASAP and give it another go.  By the way; is it possible to damage the speedometer cable by bending it TOO far?  I may have bent it too far while shoving it into the dash and the engine compartment...

[Dino]

Myk also be aware that you can lock the speedometer if you put too much pressure on the cable.  When the speedometer is out you can see a big disc on the back that needs to be pulled back to release it.  Guess how I found this out.      

[myk]

Myk also be aware that you can lock the speedometer if you put too much pressure on the cable.  When the speedometer is out you can see a big disc on the back that needs to be pulled back to release it.  Guess how I found this out.    

Thanks for the advice.  

Well, I pulled the 'trans end of the cable and spun it with a drill; the speedometer moved and held steady depending on how fast the drill was running.  Now I know the cable and 'speedo work.  Next is a test drive to see if the speedomter will work now, although I don't think I did anything differently this time other than absolutly making sure the 'trans end of the cable went into the pinion gear.  By the way-why is the pinion gear adapter so hard to get back into the transmission?  I had to line up a socket and about three feet of extensions so I could whack it into place with a mallet...

EDIT:  IT WORKS IT WORKS IT WORKS!  My speedometer works again!  What I like is how smooth the speedometer is also; before the original cable broke, it bumped and jerked it's way up the speed range, and even when I settled on a speed the needle continued to go back and forth as if it was scolding my attempts to drive faster.  Now here's something I've never seen before, how does THIS happen?