Tripmeter binding

[John F.]

I removed the nut on the end of the cable attached under the dash and found the cable pinched/binding. When I straighten out the cable, I can get it to roll forward by pushing in and turning. The rubber knob is missing. When I push in and turn, it moves my tenths and miles. I don't see how to trip to all zeros. The cable comes out of the back of the speedo and passes thru a hole in a channel behind the brake light switch and then loops back toward the driver and straight downward angle to attach the lockdown nut. Is that the way the cable should loop without binding? I did not find it in the AIM. I just may have to bite the bullet and pull the dash back a nd remove the speedo/reset, and the battery gauge for repair.

[Jeff B.]

Re: Tripmeter binding

John:
My 67 has the original trip reset cable, routed however way it was, when built. Cluster has never been removed, so everything is just as it was assembled. When I twist the cable to roll all the numbers back to zero, it turns real hard, and is "jerky". When the numbers approach all zeros, they usually jump past zero and shows all ones (111.1). I can reverse the twist, and all the ones will roll back to all zeros. If I continue to turn the cable is this same direction, the tenths wheel will "roll" up, and cable turns very easy (??). One way is real tight, and the other is real easy.

[John F.]

Re: Tripmeter binding

Thanks. I will keep trying to turn it. Since I just bought the car, I am not sure how long it has been stuck.

[Jeff B.]

Re: Tripmeter binding

It may just need to be "exercised" to loosen up. I try to reset mine every month or so, just to keep it limber.

[Jeff B.]

Re: Tripmeter binding

John:
More knowledgeable members can chime in on this, but I think on non-A/C cars, the trip cable attaches to the right of the steering column, whereas my car, being A/C, protrudes out the bottom on the left side of the column. I think the routing of the cable on the A/C cars is not as "kinked and binding" as the non A/C cars. If this is the case, perhaps you can reroute your cable same as that of an A/C car.

[John F.]

Re: Tripmeter binding

My 64 is non a/c car and the trip cable comes down thru the hole just right of center. See pic.

[Edward J.]

Re: Tripmeter binding

John, this was a poor design for the mid years for sure, I think from reading your post the cable may be routed correctly. I will have to peek under my dash and get back to you. If some reason you do remove instrument cluster I would lube everything up, the gears and cable tends to dry up and make the trip odometer hard to move. I had to have my 63 rebuilt because the trip stopped working. The gears are easy to strip so don't force the operation.

[Jeff B.]

Re: Tripmeter binding


John - Here is a pic of the location of my trip cable. This is a 67 A/C car, and the trip cable is located differently than a non A/C car. Have heard that the cable routing on air cars is not as convoluted as non-air cars. If this is so, maybe you can reposition your cable to this location.
Just a thought.