84 Grand Wagoneer Revival

[devildog80]

Mind you this was just to fix the rear switch, so still chasing wiring to get the window switches to work.

Probably the ground off the front switch, but will be chasing that tonight.

[tgreese]

Adding the banding looks tidy to me.

[devildog80]

Try to get it to look good.....if even an unorthodox repair :/

Thanks

[devildog80]

Dug into the ground wire off front switch for tailgate window, and found connection tight, but pulled off and cleaned.

Then bypassed putting it back on the body mount, and added another ground wire to connect directly to grounding strip I installed months ago down on the floor connected direct to battery ground.

That was it. Both front and rear switches working again

20230615_183301 by Scott Weckerly, on Flickr

20230615_191042 by Scott Weckerly, on Flickr

20221127_142915 by Scott Weckerly, on Flickr

[runuover86gw]

Glad to see it ended up being an easy fix and you got it back going again.

[devildog80]

Ok.....back to Instrument Cluster

Brainstormed this long enough so pulled it out of the box and went at it.

Used saved handles from some used foam paint brushes I had.

Sized and cut dowels to fit where and as needed, then fit gauges in place, glued in place, marked for holes to drill, then drilled and mounted.

Gauges are mounted and holding but.......recommend using hardwood dowels and not the soft foam paint brush handles I did.

Pieces were glued in place good, but most did split slightly when screws installed, and are holding.

Once mounted in dash, they should survive.

20230617_170809 by Scott Weckerly, on Flickr

[devildog80]

So.....put cluster back in but speedo does not work now.

It was when I took it out, but found this piece inserted in back where cabel connects, and partially broken.

Put it back in, but is it really needed?

I'm guessing yes, so I probably need to find a new one to fix the problem.

20230618_113720 by Scott Weckerly, on Flickr

20230618_113705 by Scott Weckerly, on Flickr

[devildog80]

After a short spin around the block all working except speedo and right blinker bulb in cluster.

At idle in driveway

20230618_121045 by Scott Weckerly, on Flickr

[tgreese]

It's not a service part that I can see. The speedometer is a single unit that the cable screws on to. Might be a kludge from a PO to make the speedometer cable long enough? Shape does not look right for that though. Suggest you take the cluster out and show us the back of it.

Have you downloaded the 81J parts manual from the Tom Collins site? Look at 8A-3100 there.

I see a replacement speedometer in your future.

[devildog80]

Here is back of speedo, and as said, it worked prior to removing, and that part fell out when I tilted cluster back.

I have TSM so will look at it to see what it shows.

20221112_133659 by Scott Weckerly, on Flickr

20221112_133748 by Scott Weckerly, on Flickr

[tgreese]

Certain the TSM won't show you anything helpful. If any book could the parts book would. '81-86 Jeep parts manual here: https://oljeep.com/edge_parts_man.html

[devildog80]

Yep....not finding that part anywhere, so will look at it closer.
Perhaps that was pressed into the stem of the head unit,where the cable connects, but with it broken like it is became a loose part.
Might be able to get it working.....if I tinker with it long enough, something will come to mind!

Here is where I did not find it

Tom Collins site
81j.pdf
Figure 8A-3100

[devildog80]

Ok....pulled the cluster, pulled the speedo cable, and found the top end of cable is gone.

Never had anything fall out except the plastic piece, so looks like I just need a new short speedo cable from speedo down to sensor on back of DS fender skirt. About 24 inch cable.

bottom end at sensor-
20230618_163605 by Scott Weckerly, on Flickr

top end at speedo
20230618_163539 by Scott Weckerly, on Flickr

[tgreese]

Is the shaft of the plastic piece round or square?

[devildog80]

Square, just like the end of the cable.

And the square part missing off the cable would fit into the broken part of the plastic, which is also square on inside.

Like a small extension for a ratchet wrench would be used.

[runuover86gw]

I have seen the speedo cables with and without that plastic piece on them. I have pulled off a lot of instrument clusters from parts vehicles and if I were going to guess from the vehicles I have seen with them. I would say it came with the plastic piece on the end from the factory, but I could be wrong since it isn't sold separately. I know on some of the replacements ones I have bought, they didn't have the plastic piece. The cable length was adjusted to where it was all metal. That may be to help strengthen it, but not being the one that designed replacements, I couldn't tell you. I don't normally like to be the one that says a lot of shoulds and woulds in a response, but I have researched this plastic piece on the end of the speedometer cable pretty far in depth and couldn't find a direct answer in parts manuals, service manuals or anywhere that I have searched.

[devildog80]

Agreed, and finding that response from others too.

So, going to order the upper cable, and see what I have to work with when it arrives.....just need to find it as BJ's and Rock Auto so far do not sell them.

Thanks for feedback.

[runuover86gw]

BJ's should sell them. That's where I got my replacement from. If you have cruise, which it sounds like you do from your comments, here is the link. https://bjsoffroad.com/cruise-control-t ... 1980-1991/

[devildog80]

Ok, will use the link to find it.

Thanks

[devildog80]

Done....ordered and on its way from BJ's.

Thanks