Speedometer Drive

albjerryg

Senior Member
I have a 1941 Ford with a 350 engine and suppose to be the original 3 speed transmission. The speedometer is not working so I removed the cable and turned it with a power drill and it worked fine. The speedometer cable hooks up at the tail of the transmission(picture included ) I look and poked inside and did not see a gear to drive the TX. cable. Am I missing something. Also I noticed a wire coming out of the standard gear box(picture included) is that normal. Tanks for any input Jerry
 

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I thnk you for your help but I don't understand who it could be for the orn it goes into the gear box and I don't see it comming outanywhere else?thanks jerry
 
The wire coming out of the gear box attaches to a spring which is attached to the shifter column. It provides the slight pull you feel when shifting from 1-R to 2-3 in the neutral area.
 
The wire coming out of the gear box attaches to a spring which is attached to the shifter column. It provides the slight pull you feel when shifting from 1-R to 2-3 in the neutral area. I think you may be missing a small piece that looks like a sewing thimble.
 
As far as your speedo cable goes. If you poked inside the drive at the transmission there may be no guts inside the Drive ( known as the speedo "turtle" because of its shape). When I got my 48 the gear was sitting in there but there was no shaft to connect it to. Unbolt the turtle from the torque tube and have a look. The gear in the turtle should mesh with a fixture in the tube and it should run on a shaft to which the cable connects. If memory serves me correct you may be able to remove it ( 2 bolts) without removing the floorboard.

GB
 
if there is no gear to connect to the speedometer cable can one be bought and inserted? I put a crew driver in the tube father then the square cable would reach? Thanks Jerry
 
The speedo drives off of a spiral gear on the drive shaft. The turtle housing holds the driven gear. There will always be a number on the outside of the housing indicating the number of teeth on the driven gear. The old 28 to 48 green bible chassis parts catalog has a chart for the different gears and ratio applications that were available. If it needs a different ratio due to larger diameter tires or rear axle ratio change, you have to find the compatible turtle housing and gear to make the change. The housing will only work with the number of teeth that are cast into it. If you try a gear with a different number, the gear won't mesh correctly with the drive gear on the drive shaft. New gears are available from resto parts vendors. Usable housings can be found on flea-pay now and then.
 
OK I got the housing off and it had 19 written on it. I have enclosed a picture of what was in it. It was just the housing and a gear it obvious something is missing, Thanks for your help Jerry
 

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OK I got the housing off and it had 19 written on it. I have enclosed a picture of what was in it. It was just the housing and a gear it obvious something is missing, Thanks for your help Jerry

OK Jerry, here are a couple of pics better describing what should be in there. DD

92278


92279


92291
 
DD's pictures sums it up spot on Jerry. How yours was, was exactly how mine was when I opened it up...same bits missing. One of the old boys who used to post on the barn before he was banned ( Ken CT) kindly sent me a replacement one with the right ratio ( note the number cast on the "turtle should be compatible with the diff ratio. I think 19 was for the standard ratio if my memory serves me correct). You seem to be on the right track sorting your problem

GB
 
You can purchase all the speedo parts from Snider's. Its listings are for Model A but are the same from 28-48.
Also the # 19 on your turtle housing would be used with 3:78 rear gear ratio.
 
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