Speedo Gears Stripped/Melted Solved {:)}
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,518
Likes: 1,304
From: Windermere FL
Speedo Gears Stripped/Melted Solved {:)}
For all of those that were following my saga, after my rebuilt tranny was installed the speedo gears were being stripped/melted after about 40 miles. I replaced them twice and was getting very aggrevated.
The Helms service manual clearly states that the speedo gears should be installed on the rear most hole in the tranny output shaft - the one towards the yolk. Only Vettes are supposed to use this hole. The other hole, closer to the front of the tranny is for all other applications.
The original tranny used the rear most hole, and the gears worked well in there for 14 years. On the rebuilt tranny, two sets of gears got eaten up in 40 miles when using the rear most hole. The Helms manual says that the rear most hole is the proper ones for vettes. I still had the original tranny and could see the marks where the gear was installed on the rear hole.
So I towed the car to Mad Dog Lou, who rebuilt the tranny but did not install it. He told me that he never uses the rear most hole, even for vettes. Even had a tranny out of a vette waiting to be rebuilt that had the gear in the forward hole. So I supplied him with a third set of gears and he installed it on the front most hole. Seems to be working ok, and I hope it always will.
So for anyone that has problems with tearing up speedo gears, I would try using the front most hole instead.
With the vette tail shaft, the rear most hold makes the gears mesh exactly on top of each other. Using the front hole, the gears are off-set a hair, but they still seem to work.
Mad Dog Lou was very nice about it - I must admit. He did not install the tranny for me originally but spent 4 hours replacing the gears for me - and did not charge me a dime :D That is what you call backing up your product! I do not think I could have done the job again and I hope I never have to!
The Helms service manual clearly states that the speedo gears should be installed on the rear most hole in the tranny output shaft - the one towards the yolk. Only Vettes are supposed to use this hole. The other hole, closer to the front of the tranny is for all other applications.
The original tranny used the rear most hole, and the gears worked well in there for 14 years. On the rebuilt tranny, two sets of gears got eaten up in 40 miles when using the rear most hole. The Helms manual says that the rear most hole is the proper ones for vettes. I still had the original tranny and could see the marks where the gear was installed on the rear hole.
So I towed the car to Mad Dog Lou, who rebuilt the tranny but did not install it. He told me that he never uses the rear most hole, even for vettes. Even had a tranny out of a vette waiting to be rebuilt that had the gear in the forward hole. So I supplied him with a third set of gears and he installed it on the front most hole. Seems to be working ok, and I hope it always will.
So for anyone that has problems with tearing up speedo gears, I would try using the front most hole instead.
With the vette tail shaft, the rear most hold makes the gears mesh exactly on top of each other. Using the front hole, the gears are off-set a hair, but they still seem to work.
Mad Dog Lou was very nice about it - I must admit. He did not install the tranny for me originally but spent 4 hours replacing the gears for me - and did not charge me a dime :D That is what you call backing up your product! I do not think I could have done the job again and I hope I never have to!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: Speedo Gears Stripped/Melted Solved {:)} (Flame Red)
AMAZING !!! I am glad you got the problem solved, and thanks for the report. I couldn't imagine what the problem could be. That's strange. Three cheers for Mad Dog. Both for knowing, and for how he treated you. Thanks, and...
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
