The speedometer stopped working a couple of weeks ago - worked fine one day, dead the next. (The speedo needle sometimes "kicks" when I am cranking the engine for a cold start, but that's all.) I have done some voltmeter testing - there's 12v to the transducer and 12v to the speedo itself. So I thought OK, I should take the transducer out & check if it's dead. (The previous owner replaced it about 4 years ago.) As the picture shows, there's a big hex bolt thing to screw it in, I got a 27mm spanner on this & started turning. It was a bit stiff but started turning without much difficulty. But after turning for a while I noticed... this thing is not coming out of the transmission! On closer inspection, it seems to be screwed into a kind of circular base plate (arrowed in the picture), and the whole base plate is turning with the transducer itself! This does not seem good... anyone have any idea what's happening here?
Erich - 1982 Daimler Double Six

 

No cause for concern in the grand scheme of things

The 'base' (sometimes called a "speedo gear adapter') is clamped to the the transmission case by that small bolt and clamp, and can itself can be easily removed from the transmission.... and the whole shebang taken to your workbench, if needed. It just wiggles out.

Or, tighten the clamping bolt a bit so the base doesn't turn along with the transducer.

The base holds the speedometer driven gear, which will come out with the base.

If you do remove the base a new O-ring wouldn't be a bad idea. Perhaps a necessity, as the rotating might have injured the existing one.

Cheers
DD

 

Ah, thanks Doug, very good to know I haven't broken anything!
Erich

 

OK so I have a follow-up question... I got the clamp unbolted & yes, the whole assembly (transducer and base plate etc.) wiggles out. But as I started to pull it out, ATF started to pour out (over me - but that's part of the fun, isn't it?). So I shoved it back in, in haste. So my question is, can I expect a LOT of ATF to come out, or only a little? The front of the car is raised a bit... Yes I realize that experimentation will answer this question too!
Erich

 

OOPS

With the car raised as it will be to allow you to get at that adaptor, I would expect 1 to 2 ltrs, maybe more.

The system is about 14ltrs DRY, and the pan is 5ltrs when you service the unit, then add to that some "normal" drain back into the pan from the system, and the tail will be flooded somewhat.

Wiggle it, with a pan under it, and let it drain. Do what you need to do, and when lowered, measure what came out, and refill that amount until you can drive it 25kms or so and get the trans fluid HOT, so a proper level can be set.

 

Thanks Grant - makes sense - much appreciated!