Speedo Cable

[jase386]

Does anyone have experience pulling the speedo cable on one of these older models, ive played with it all day on and off and i cant get it to budge from the back of the instrument cluster. im afraid ill break the plastic thing holding it on.

[Steve Moran]

The end of the cable is held on by a spring clip, the clip pushes back toward the cluster and the cable pulls away toward the firewall.
It is a two handed affair.

[gadget73]

Is it that, or is it one of the kind you have to squeeze the plastic to release the cable? Never done a 70s model, but the 80s models use that system.

[Steve Moran]

This is what the cable looks like on the ends.

http://partimages.genpt.com/partimages/230337.jpg

So yes, you are right about it being a squeeze connection.

[jase386]

yes, is that plastic one on the left. how in hell do you get both hands up in there, i cant even get one all the way there. and where do you squeeze the thing. and where does it come apart so ill know what im pulling at

[Dereck]

Hi Jase386

http://www.superstitiongold.com/lincoln/pictures6/70s%20Continental%20Speedo%20Cable.jpg

Regards

Dereck

[Steve Moran]

yes, is that plastic one on the left. how in hell do you get both hands up in there, i cant even get one all the way there. and where do you squeeze the thing. and where does it come apart so ill know what im pulling at

You just do what you gotta do to get it done. we have all had bloody knuckles.

You could try removing and tilting the cluster from the front, do a little reach around action and get it from the top side.

Remove the other end from the cruise control to give some slack.

[jase386]

Thanks for the diagram, thats the biggest help. the little locking pin is hte problem. one of the support bracket looking things across the top is broken. so ill work on it tomorrow with a screw driver, i was trying the wrong spot earlie.. THANKS THANKS THANKS

[gadget73]

I use a long pair of needle nose pliers to reach in there and squeeze it. Still a PITA though.

[jase386]

ironic. i just bought a set of those the other day, just because i liked the way they looked. Now, usually, if you buy a tool and dont need it, youll never need it, but this time it was different!!!

[jase386]

Ok. The needle nose pliers worked to get over that obstacle, i thought it would be smooth sailing from that. but NO.

Ive put new bulbs in the turn and high beam indicators, and they still dont work!! Where are they fused? and what else could be the problem. im going now to buy fuses because i popped the one for the interior lights, ill update if thats the problem

[jase386]

i found it, the flimsy way they connected the wire harness to the cluster is causing problems, ill work on that and get it all connected up and have turn indicators again!

[gadget73]

Does the 70s model use that big connector that sort of clips in, and makes contact directly with the copper foil traces? If so, the 80s models use that too. The copper gets funky. I've had problems with the connector itself, and the areas under the bulbs where they make contact with the foil traces. Usually a light hit with fine sandpaper, 800 or so grit will polish it up and resolve it.

[jase386]

Im going to reinforce behind the foil so it will connect better. Im going to clean all the connections and bend the copper points on the connector so they will contact better. Im still amazed that they expected that plastic to just lay there and stay connected, however im excited thats all it was.