1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kxnomore · 04-08-2010, 09:07 PM

My speedometer on a 1986 K10 has never had any troubles until just today, when at 65 mph it just went to zero and won't budge. I looked up the part for the cable and it looks reasonable at just $20. But there was also a speed sensor shown for this year, so I'm curious if maybe the cable could be good and the speed sensor bad? does anyone know where the speed sensor is, or if it serves some other function? Also, how hard is it to replace the cable?
Thanks in advance for any advice, as I'm new to these years trucks.

msgross · 04-08-2010, 09:12 PM

pull the cable, probably see some frayed wires on one end or another... I am assuming it has a basic cable...

kxnomore · 04-08-2010, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgross

pull the cable, probably see some frayed wires on one end or another... I am assuming it has a basic cable...

Okay, this is going to sound really stupid, but how do you get the cable off the dash cluster? I'm used to the 67-72 trucks that screw on both ends...

msgross · 04-08-2010, 09:27 PM

Looks like it just shoves on, I haven't pulled one so I can't say... I'd check the tranny/transfer case end and then pull the dash cluster... They are cheap as you stated,,,,

willett · 04-08-2010, 09:38 PM

there should be a little clip doodad and the back of your cluster. it should be pretty self explanitory. just lift the tabs and pull it out

James McClure · 04-08-2010, 10:16 PM

Trans end unscrews as you know. The dash end as stated above has a clip, BUT, you push the clip in (toward the cluster or speedo) you'll feel it give, DON'T pull it, you'll bust it off. If you have AC, pull the cluster, it's easier than removing all the AC stuff under the dash. If no AC, just slide you hand up the cable till you get to the back of the cluster. You'll feel the clip (the end you have to push in is on the bottom) push it in and pull the cable at the same time with the same hand. There is like NO room back there for 2 hands. Be patient and work it a bit, it'll come off. From here on you know the drill. Jim

kxnomore · 04-08-2010, 10:37 PM

Okay, thanks guys for the info. I decided to pull the cable from the transfer case first, and when I put a drill on that side of the cable the speedo worked!! So that must mean something isn't quite right in the transfer case speedometer gears. it got dark, so i'm going to see about pulling the little plastic gear in the morning. Anybody ever seen those little teeth inside the transfer case strip out??
Thanks again for the advice.

willett · 04-09-2010, 12:17 AM

i have never seen it, but i have heard of it happening

msgross · 04-09-2010, 06:59 AM

Is there a small ratio box between the cable and the transfer case?

kxnomore · 04-09-2010, 04:50 PM

No, there's no ratio box. The cable just goes straight into the transfer case. I tried to pull the round like thing that the cable goes into out of the transfer case, but it is stuck something fierce, and there's not much to grab onto. Then I put a small screwdriver into the square drive gear that the cable slides into, and it seems tight, won't turn either way. So now I'm confused again

. The local transmission shop wants $200 bucks to "pull the case and see what's wrong". But there must be some way to get the 1 1/2" round piece that the cable slide into out, right?? Any ideas?

msgross · 04-09-2010, 06:43 PM

Is there a bolt beside that area? you're gonna need to research a parts diagram for that Transfer case, is it a 203 or 208?

James McClure · 04-09-2010, 06:44 PM

What I have done in the past is to use a wood dowl like you would use a chisel and drive the adapter in a bit, then try to rotate it a little by tapping on the bolsters for the retainer clip. Then grab it as close to the case as possible with water pump pliers and start jiggleing it until it pulls out. A little WD 40 will help. Jim

msgross · 04-09-2010, 06:51 PM

does it look like this?

04-08-2010, 09:07 PM	#1
kxnomore Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CA Posts: 331	1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working My speedometer on a 1986 K10 has never had any troubles until just today, when at 65 mph it just went to zero and won't budge. I looked up the part for the cable and it looks reasonable at just $20. But there was also a speed sensor shown for this year, so I'm curious if maybe the cable could be good and the speed sensor bad? does anyone know where the speed sensor is, or if it serves some other function? Also, how hard is it to replace the cable? Thanks in advance for any advice, as I'm new to these years trucks.

04-08-2010, 09:12 PM	#2
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: 1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working pull the cable, probably see some frayed wires on one end or another... I am assuming it has a basic cable... __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer"

04-08-2010, 09:27 PM	#4
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: 1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working Looks like it just shoves on, I haven't pulled one so I can't say... I'd check the tranny/transfer case end and then pull the dash cluster... They are cheap as you stated,,,, __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer"

04-08-2010, 09:38 PM	#5
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: 1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working there should be a little clip doodad and the back of your cluster. it should be pretty self explanitory. just lift the tabs and pull it out __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

04-08-2010, 10:16 PM	#6
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: 1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working Trans end unscrews as you know. The dash end as stated above has a clip, BUT, you push the clip in (toward the cluster or speedo) you'll feel it give, DON'T pull it, you'll bust it off. If you have AC, pull the cluster, it's easier than removing all the AC stuff under the dash. If no AC, just slide you hand up the cable till you get to the back of the cluster. You'll feel the clip (the end you have to push in is on the bottom) push it in and pull the cable at the same time with the same hand. There is like NO room back there for 2 hands. Be patient and work it a bit, it'll come off. From here on you know the drill. Jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.

04-08-2010, 10:37 PM	#7
kxnomore Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CA Posts: 331	Re: 1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working Okay, thanks guys for the info. I decided to pull the cable from the transfer case first, and when I put a drill on that side of the cable the speedo worked!! So that must mean something isn't quite right in the transfer case speedometer gears. it got dark, so i'm going to see about pulling the little plastic gear in the morning. Anybody ever seen those little teeth inside the transfer case strip out?? Thanks again for the advice.

04-09-2010, 12:17 AM	#8
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: 1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working i have never seen it, but i have heard of it happening __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

04-09-2010, 06:59 AM	#9
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: 1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working Is there a small ratio box between the cable and the transfer case? __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer"

04-09-2010, 04:50 PM	#10
kxnomore Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CA Posts: 331	Re: 1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working No, there's no ratio box. The cable just goes straight into the transfer case. I tried to pull the round like thing that the cable goes into out of the transfer case, but it is stuck something fierce, and there's not much to grab onto. Then I put a small screwdriver into the square drive gear that the cable slides into, and it seems tight, won't turn either way. So now I'm confused again . The local transmission shop wants $200 bucks to "pull the case and see what's wrong". But there must be some way to get the 1 1/2" round piece that the cable slide into out, right?? Any ideas?

04-09-2010, 06:43 PM	#11
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: 1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working Is there a bolt beside that area? you're gonna need to research a parts diagram for that Transfer case, is it a 203 or 208? __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer" Last edited by msgross; 04-09-2010 at 06:45 PM.

04-09-2010, 06:44 PM	#12
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: 1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working What I have done in the past is to use a wood dowl like you would use a chisel and drive the adapter in a bit, then try to rotate it a little by tapping on the bolsters for the retainer clip. Then grab it as close to the case as possible with water pump pliers and start jiggleing it until it pulls out. A little WD 40 will help. Jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.

04-09-2010, 06:51 PM	#13
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: 1986 K10 speedometer just stopped working does it look like this? __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer"



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