1989 Bronco II Speedometer Stuck on Max

[Boo]

I have an '89 Bronco II with 5-speed manual transmission. All was good but while I was driving, the speedometer pegged itself and stayed there. Both the odometer and the trip odometer are still working. I pulled the cable and ran it with a drill in both directions - the speed needle did not move but both odometers worked in both directions so I assume the cable is intact and not the issue.

Is this speedometer purely mechanical or could it be a fuse issue?

Is it possible a gear broke inside the speedo?

If I have to pull the dash to replace the speedo, I might as well add an entire instrument cluster with tachometer - never understood why any manual transmission didn't come with a tach. I understand that this is absilutely doable and there are several available on ebay. If I go this route, any particular advice from those that have done it?

 

[scotts90ranger]

It's purely mechanical, fairly easy to pull, two screws for the ashtray and the rest of the speedo surround is clips if memory serves, from there just a few screws holding the cluster in then you get just a few inches of speedo cable to disconnect that but the speedo comes apart pretty easy once you get the cluster out or you might just be able to take the screen off at that point since it comes out the front but you have something in the mechanism.

 

[Boo]

when you say "something in the mechanism", is there any way for a foreign object to get in there or is something internal break? I'm guessing it's an internal failure.

 

[scotts90ranger]

There's a drum that spins and has a couple fingers around it that moves the needle if I remember right, there might be a return spring, If I even looked that close I don't remember anymore since I put the tach cluster in in like '02ish on my '90...

In short, anything's possible, if the return spring broke it might be toast but other speedos are likely available, if needed I do still have the non tach cluster from my '90 but it's at my moms...

 

[SenorNoob]

IIRC there is a spring which pulls the needle to zero and a cup/magnet arrangement that acts kinda like an electric motor to drive the needle...

If you take it apart, I bet you find a broken spring. If not it might just be dirty or dry and stuck.

 

[Boo]

thanks guys - i think i'm gonna go ahead and buy a cluster with a tach and just swap out the entire thing.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Just make sure to get one from a '89-91, '92 is a mixed year and I don't remember the color of circuit board you are wanting to see (the circuit board thing changed colors between tach or not and then again in the '92 switch year) but yeah if you get one with tach it's a bolt in...