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Has anyone repaired the speedo cable? I have three M37s and all three were broken. Is there a source for new? Also looking for 4.89s.

sunsetoutpost2 wrote:Has anyone repaired the speedo cable? I have three M37s and all three were broken. Is there a source for new? Also looking for 4.89s.

NSI, (Nichols Speedometer & Instrument, INC.), Greensboro, NC. They custom build all our cables, just give Terry a call with your specs. You may also have local sources.

I'm glad this topic came up because it reminded me I needed to post a related question: My speedo cable is new and I got it from AB Linn so I know it's the correct cable. The problem I'm having is that it chatters like crazy even though it seems well-lubed and with no severe bends in it. My last short ride ended early because it chattered so bad I thought my tranny/transfer case were going down (thankfully they were not).

Any suggestions or thoughts would be most appreciated!
Gary

Gary,
I had something similar happen to me and I hate to admit it but the dang forward drive shaft flange bolts where the drive shaft bolts to the transfer flange were real, real loose. I thought my transfer was gone and it must have been jumping around something terrible. I had new replacement shock mounts so I replaced them and tightened the flang bolts, ran like a caddy then. lol.

FWIW
Mark

Cal_Gary wrote:I'm glad this topic came up because it reminded me I needed to post a related question: My speedo cable is new and I got it from AB Linn so I know it's the correct cable. The problem I'm having is that it chatters like crazy even though it seems well-lubed and with no severe bends in it. My last short ride ended early because it chattered so bad I thought my tranny/transfer case were going down (thankfully they were not).

Any suggestions or thoughts would be most appreciated!
Gary

If you have isolated this noise to a cable issue, you need to pull out the core wire & be sure no issues exist, re-lube it & replace. If this doesn't correct the problem, my guess is you have got a bad cable assy. Examine well, this sure sounds like the noise may be from another source other than the speedo cable.

I'm going to pull the cable back out this weekend. I have a spray can of white lithium grease that should do the job. Thanks for the replies-more to follow.
Gary

I have a good, used speedo cable I wont be using if anyone wants it. Outer jacket isnt perfect, but it turns free, no serious damage. can supply pics for anyone interested. I dont want to toss it out if someone can use it. no idea what they gofor, so make me an offer.

Big trouble-last evening I pulled the speedo cable, gutted it, lubed it, then reinstalled it and took a short drive around the complex-the cable is fine, but the chatter still exists. I topped off the tranny and transfer case just to be sure, then took another lap. It now appears to be, in fact, the transmission. The only other test I need to run to be absolutely sure is to drop off the bottom access pan and shield just to ensure nothing is rubbing (which I doubt, but I still need to know before tearing into the transmission). I got a replacement tranny gear set from AB Linn but I've never tackled a tranny rebuild. Has anyone tried this? If so, any guidance would be appreciated, as I've got enough saved for the LU-4 winch that will go right down the crapper if I have to buy a tranny instead
Thanks,
Gary

Gary,
Do you think the chatter is the bearings? Usually there are other signs of tranny trouble, at least in my limited experience. Does it shift correctly between all the gears? (1st to 2nd double clutch, 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th no double clutch required) I rebuilt my early model about three years ago. Is yours early or late? The syncro for the early model is hard to come by if you need one. The early model is prone to the shaft breaking at a snap ring groove and unless you fix it right then, the syncro will pretty much self destruct. I got the bearings from a guy in Oregon.... I forget his name but can come up with it if you need it. I got my snap ring kit from Sid Beck but I think someone else bought all he had. On the older model the snap rings in the kit have differing thicknesses so that you can get the gear set clearance to a certain tollerance. I had the AB lin gear set, bearings from the guy in Oregon Syncro from a fellow forum member, snap ring kit from Sid and rebuilt it in an afternoon. As I mentioned in my earlier post, after my rebuild I had a similar occurance and it ended up being the drive shaft bolts being loose where they attach to the transfer case. Charles Talbert very gracefully answered the many, many questions I had during my transmission rebuild. I used the CD manual and it has a lot of good pics.

HTH
Mark

Thanks Mark as always for all the information. Mine is a 54 and as far as I know it's the original tranny so it must be the early type. I know it isn't driveshaft-related. I've rebuilt the front diff, have lockouts on it, have replaced all the universal joints A to Z, new clutch set, etc. The tranny shifts through all of the gears just fine-I also went through all of them with the transfer case in neutral and didn't notice the chatter, but I feel that is due to the "no load" condition when going through the gears with the transfer in neutral. I'm considering putting the truck on 4 jack stands and idling it through the gears so I can investigate further. (I know-be careful!) I've worked for 5 years now on this beast so I'm not giving up, but we know how tiring this can be-fix one thing, then something else craps out. I might also pull the top cover and have a look-see since I've never had it off.
I'll post again once I have more to share (probably after the weekend).
Gary

Hi Gary,
Are you sure your driveshafts are phased correctly?
Tim

Thanks Tim,
Yep, all are correctly aligned-there is no clicking-as I keep mulling this over I keep coming up with other things to check-looks like Saturday will be an all-day inspection day-I'll root it out one way or the other and let you know.
Gary

Hi Gary,
When I did the V8 conversion in my Power Wagon, the first test drive was a disaster. There was a nasty growl coming out of the transmission, an NP540. I had pulled the top cover to check the insides and it all looked great. I replaced the seals and sleeved the pinion and called it good. With that growl, I just knew it was tranny bearings. I ordered a bearing kit, pulled the tranny, replaced all of the bearings and put it back in. Took it for a test drive, ready to hear it purr. Nope, that same growl coming from the tranny. The NP540 is a lot longer than the 420 or 435 and the intermediate driveshaft was very short, and very steep. I knew others that were running them like that, but it just didnt seem good. A friend had an NP 435 with drivers side PTO, (very rare) that was brand spanking new. I bought it, pulled the 540 out, put in the 435 and a stock intermediate driveshaft. Took it for the next test drive, EXACTLY the same as the previous times! Getting just a bit frustrated by this point, a definate low. Another friend suggested checking the driveline angles. I did, and they were all over the place. I didnt worry with the front shaft as with lockouts it wont be spinning. In 4 wheel it wont be spinning fast enough to bother me. I ended up dropping the rear of the engine, and tilting the transfer case to bring everything into complimentary angles. Took it for another drive, and finaaly no more growling. Moral of the story, I would have bet the farm that the growling was coming from the transmission, but the noise was telegraphing through the driveshaft into the tranny.
Good luck this weekend.
Tim

Thanks Tim,
Good info in your post-I will explore all options and I still suspect the tranny-it was very low on oil when I topped it off the other day, perhaps too late....
Gary