Over Torqued Speedo Cable Screw

[Prafeston]

I was trying to put my speedo cable on at the tranny and I don't think I had it in good enough before I started tightening the screw because there was still a small gap between that tab that sticks on of the cable part and the tranny...I figured as I tightened it down it would get rid of the gap. Sure enough it was working until I guess it wasn't wanting to go down any farther and I torqued the screw past its limits and I heard it snap. Now I can't tighten it anymore and I drove the car around the block and the speedo gauge is working a little bit when I go up hills but not at all when level or going down hill. How the heck am I supposed to get that broken screw out of there...it's hard enough working my crescent back there to tighten the screw!

[Ford Fester]

There will be a small gap between the gear and trans. It should stay in place anyway even though it's broken. I've seen multiple that last a long time broken.

[Bert]

That is not good news my friend. The speedo drive typically is a snug fit (thanks to the O ring) and the tab and bolt is mostly only there for insurance. Transmission oil can be lost through a bad seal. At present you may not have achieved the proper mesh with the tranny gear and the speedo gear. Practice pulling it out and pushing it back in until you're satisfied it bottoms out and then maybe smear some silicone or other semi-adhesive around the top of the gear and under the tab to make up for the now-missing bolt.
Some day when you're redoing the clutch and/or the tranny is out of the car then you can try re-drilling and tapping the bolt hole or trying to get the broken bolt out with an E-Z-Out. Getting at the bolt (if you can get this fixed) is relatively easy if you use multiple extensions on a ratchet/socket set from up above. Same goes for getting your hands in to grab the gear: reach down from above.

[htchbck]

I've actually never seen a bolt strip/break on one without first breaking the tab that the bolt goes through... weird.

[scitzz]

Pull the speedo gear out, grab a hold of the screw with vice grips, and turn it out.

[Prafeston]

Thanks for the tips guys...yeah I've had trouble getting the speedo gear in there properly. So I just tried tightening it down to force it into place. That was apparently a bad idea!

[Prafeston]

Pull the speedo gear out, grab a hold of the screw with vice grips, and turn it out.

Was just thinking this too...as long as it broke at the head of the bolt. Which I think it did cause it was spinning freely.

[WmWatt]

First law of engineering: never force anything

[Prafeston]

Lesson Learned!

[Christ]

And stop using a crescent wrench in confined spaces. Extensions for a 1/4 drive are only a couple bucks, and they'll stop you from rounding fasteners and/or breaking them.

[zoom zoom]

You gotta twist the gear while pushing down, then twist the tab back in place. Hopefully it was the speedo diven gear that's busted bad and not the one on the differential! They're both made of plastic!

[Prafeston]

Uh oh! I sure hope it is the Speedo cable and not the differential. The Speedo does appear to be working but it is bouncing around a lot. Do you think leaving it in there will do more damage?

Good news is after further inspection it appeares it was the snapping of the tab I heard and not the screw!