cable problems

[tenn.jerry]

hi all.i went to put my speedo in today and when i got to the cable i found the end that goes on the back of the speedo seems to be short. i mean the nut wont go far enough up to enguage the threads on the speedo. theres a brass fittting crimped onto the back where the cable goes in if that was gone it would fit it holds it off about a quarter of an inch. ive been searching through the treads but no help. could i have the wronghousing for my cable? this is on a b2c truck

[Don Coatney]

Both ends of your flexable cable are square and fit into a cooresponding square hole in the back of your speedometer and into the transmission tail stock. If it is not lined up correctly and does not go all the way into the square hole the retaining nut will not screw all the way in. That may be your problem.

[tenn.jerry]

i appreciate your info, but ive tried it without the cable and it still wont screw on. the nut on the guage end appears to be to short to start on toe threads. hou long should that nut be? looks like mine is one half to five eights long.

[Don Coatney]

Pictured is the new cable I bought. The small end (near the 2 foot mark on the tape) goes to the speedometer.

[stevenelle]

I've had the same problem. Speedometer problems can be frustrating with these trucks. I have had 3 different speedo's that look basically the same, but as you noted, they don't all match up to the cable housing nut. You will either have to get a speedo that matches your cable or vice versa. I have gone so far as to rob parts from one speedo to fix another, but that is tedious and delicate work that can result in busted parts. Can usually find these speedo's on ebay from time to time and not that expensive.

[Jerry Roberts]

There are some different depths of nuts out there . The one that I am using now only grabs by one thread .

[Young Ed]

I just noticed this when working on my p15 speedometer. There are two different methods used in assembling the speedometer. One style requires a deeper nut to thread on properly.

[Reg Evans]

Maybe you are trying to use the wrong year of speedo in your truck.

The one on the left is black faced and for the years 48-50 and the one on the right is for 51-53 and has a gray face.

[tenn.jerry]

thanks to all for the input. reg my speedo is like the one on the right but the face is black as a chunk of coal. its just my luck to get an oddball. i think ill try to rig it up for now. im looking at a new set of guages at performance parts. maby santa will come early ha ha.