Speedometer on 1985 345 broke recently

[LM782]

My wife and I recently purchased a 1985 345. The speedometer broke not long ago, but the cruise control still works. Best of my understanding that means the problem is in the upper cable, the cable/speedo connection or the Teleflex speedometer itself.



I called a speedometer shop and was told the speedometer is likely seized (rotates one million times every thousand miles). I'm considering rebuilding the speedometer as a winter project. (I've worked on simple mechanical watches in my past - hopefully a speedometer is less complicated.)



Does anyone have a similar vintage Teleflex speedometer they are willing to part with? I'd rather not learn how to rebuild a speedometer on one I hope to use. Also, I may also need it for parts...



Thanks,

Luis

[davejay]

Hey.
Id say its the speedo. Street rod guys do speedo work . A ace that comes to my mind is recline. He does custom dash for old rides . I think he also does speedo work if the cruise works then the speedo is working. Maybe the needle no the arm you see has gotten itself off the shift. Does the odometer work. If so then your cable is turning. Dj

[davejay]

its redline.

[davejay]

recline..
Whats with the spell check. Maybe the arm has come off the pin. That pin is very small. It could have sheered off right at its bushing. The neddle will stay put. But the spinning part behind the shift isn t connected. I had that happen once. Dj

[LM782]

So many possibilities where the exact problem is.


The odometer stopped working as well. I hear slight clicking or whirring when driving, so I presume the upper cable is spinning. I also presume that means something had to give and is stripped or otherwise broken.


From reading previous posts, my understanding is if cruise control works – it indicates the lower cable is working as expected.


Did you mean Redline Gauge Works in California? Their webpage lists speedometer repairs as one of their services.

[ROBERT CROSS]

A common cause, bad magnet in the speedo head.
Most units are rebuildable.👍
Ck with a shop in your area to see if parts are still available.
Just like a mechanical watch...clean & lubricate. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the lubricants aren't exactly the same.

Bob
🇺🇸

[fwjumper]

These guys can fix it or tell you what you need to know. I've been very pleased with their work, reliability pricing.

http://dandmrestoration.com/

[LM782]

Thank you. Sounds like I have some options in saving the existing unit.

[bobmiller1]

Having done a lot of dashboard work on both my 325LE and the 370LE, if you saw the crappy installation job that Airstream used to assemble the cable to the Teleflex speedometer you might get lucky. Seems like Airstream ground down the end of the cable to make it fit on the speedo. There isn’t much holding it onto the gauge so it may have just popped off. There is a pressure clip that holds the cable onto the speedo and because Airstream ground the end down it doesn’t fit right. Another quality job screwed up by Airstream. Regards, Bob

[LM782]

Incremental progress report - I disconnected the cable from the speedometer and found the end still in the speedo (now on my desk). I attempted to spin the speedo by hand and nothin'. Far as I can tell, the speedometer is seized and it took out the cable when it froze.



Underneath the dash is tight. I presume the dashboard needs to come out (remove screws on the front) to remove the speedo? If so, I'll pull the windshield wiper switch and hope for some electrical contact cleaner magic while I'm in there.



Luis

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by LM782

Incremental progress report - I disconnected the cable from the speedometer and found the end still in the speedo (now on my desk). I attempted to spin the speedo by hand and nothin'. Far as I can tell, the speedometer is seized and it took out the cable when it froze.

Underneath the dash is tight. I presume the dashboard needs to come out (remove screws on the front) to remove the speedo? If so, I'll pull the windshield wiper switch and hope for some electrical contact cleaner magic while I'm in there.

Luis

If you are going to remove the dash to get access behind it be VERY careful with the temperature control panel in the dash. Airstream didn't leave any slack in the pull cable.

What happens is the cable from the control out to the valve has NO give in it so when you pull the dash away to look behind it you can very easily break the control panel where it attaches to the dash.

Brad

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by LM782

Incremental progress report - I disconnected the cable from the speedometer and found the end still in the speedo (now on my desk). I attempted to spin the speedo by hand and nothin'. Far as I can tell, the speedometer is seized and it took out the cable when it froze.

Underneath the dash is tight. I presume the dashboard needs to come out (remove screws on the front) to remove the speedo? If so, I'll pull the windshield wiper switch and hope for some electrical contact cleaner magic while I'm in there.

Luis

If you are going to remove the dash to get access behind it be VERY careful with the temperature control panel in the dash. Airstream didn't leave any slack in the pull cable.

What happens is the cable from the control panel out to the valve has NO give in it so when you pull the dash away to look behind it you can very easily break the control panel where it attaches to the dash.

Brad

[LM782]

Thanks for the insight. Is it best to remove the speedometer with the dashboard in place and work from underneath?

[bobmiller1]

All the more reason to get rid of the cable set up and install an electric heater control valve that positively shuts off the antifreeze to the heater core so the AC works the way it should. Regards, Bob

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by LM782

Thanks for the insight. Is it best to remove the speedometer with the dashboard in place and work from underneath?

I'm not sure you would be able to remove the speedometer without first pulling the instrument panel away from the dash. It's really tight up in that area.

It's been a number of years since I've worked on a Classic instrument panel. I would suggest disconnecting the cable to the heater control valve at the valve which would allow the cable to move outward with the dash.

And like Bob suggested, replace the valve with an electric one and the problem goes away.

Brad

[LM782]

Thank you. Sounds like good advice, particularly since our cab A/C doesn't work. Can someone point me to a thread on the electric heater control valve upgrade, please?



I just came back to the surface with a wealth of newly acquired knowledge having read a bunch of pages in the Classic Sticky post plus numerous tangential discussions (e.g. mounting Kohler genset on rails, Banks Power Pack, dropping the fuel tank to replace lines and reduce the smell of gasoline in the bedroom, manuals, manuals, manuals...) and didn't come across anything on the heater valve upgrade.



And, I'm starting to think about winterizing...



Luis

[LM782]

Rookie mistake; not doing enough research I thought you had to replace the outer cable (sheathing) when replacing the (inner) speedometer cable. Clearly it is far easier "simply" to replace the inner cable. If only I knew than, what I know now. In short, I cut the cable (inner and outer) to make removal easier.



Problem is, a standard P30 cable does not fit because of the Dana cruise control signal generator. Does anyone know what the correct replacement speedometer cable is and potentially where to find one? Ugh...


Luis

[OTRA15]

Are you aware of the following sub-forum for Classic Motorhomes like yours . . . there are lots of knowledgeable folks over there, some of whom have already posted in this thread:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f311/

For instance this "Replacement OEM Teleflex Speedometer" thread:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f31...er-115742.html

FYI
FWIW

[jhenry]

I think I have an extra I'll look. Jonathan

[Magnet18]

After fighting multiple gauges and having half of them break, i replaced all of them and used a GPS speedometer. Super easy, works great.