Problem Solved.   Turns out that tailpiece of trans is from 57 so I had to get different cable that has gear held in place by a retainer,  good now , happy days are here again.....Whipper Bill

I have finally found reason for speedometer not working.  The gear on end of cable inside trans will not stay connected to cable,      when going forward it works fine. As soon as you go reverse the gear falls off end of cable.  There is nothing to stop gear from coming off when you back up.  I need a speedo cable that has a lock-on gear so it won`t come off when you back up.  Does anybody have idea of  what part no. or cable I need for 1954 Ford-o-Matic tans.   I am not sure if it is a 54 trans.  Number I found on housing is MS5X7.   Any help here greatly appreciated. WHIPPER.

Yes my gear looks just like the one you show.  Trying to get ambition up to crawl under car to check housing for  casting number to see where that leads.   WHIPPER

Are you sure you have the right driven gear?  Should look like this.  Number of teeth may be different but shape should be the same.

Ben HessTulsa,OK

I have a similar issue with my speedo gear, I have a T85 with a 16 spline tail shaft and don't know what year that trans is.  Very hard to find the correct 16 spline yoke.

tom in iowa

54 Merc wagon

54 sunvalley

OK thanks Paul I`ll see if I can find number on that housing.

Check the tailhousing for a casting number.  That may be a clue as to the year of the trans, whether a 54-56 or 57-58


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Well thanks very much for all the info.  I have checked speedometer by turning with finger and thumb, it moves needle so I am pretty sure its ok.  The cable and gear are new and lubed with graphite oil so that is good.   I stuck my index finger in trans speedo hole and could feel  what feels like gear toward top of trans.  This might be the gear that I previously  thought  was missing so I am  mystified why it does not turn cable, unless like Ted said it may be a different year tailpiece and gear could be different one.  I hope some day to get to bottom of this.  Whipper Bill

Depends on your definition of a ‘big job’.  The tail housing comes off of the transmission relatively easy once the drive shaft is removed.  You may get by with simply raising the transmission enough to unbolt the transmission mount so that the tailhousing can be slipped off.  A more drastic scenario is where you’d have to remove the transmission mount to get the tail housing free of the transmission. Be prepared to replace the tail housing gasket.  If the rear bushing and/or seal is worn, then this is a good time to replace those.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

The gear is on the cable and installed in transmission but the cable does not turn when driving,  I am suspecting that gear on trans shaft is missing and I was asking if that is a big job to open up trans to install new gear, Whipper