Speedo/Odometer Gear question

[Me_again]

Hi there everyone. I just have a quick question about the speedometer on a '95 3.8 v6. I pulled the cluster out to check the odometer gear because it stopped working and some teeth were broken so I ordered a new one. I had been driving it with the odometer broken for about a week, and the speedometer worked fine. I pulled the gear out and threw it away, and then reinstalled the cluster so that I could drive to town to pick up the new gear. When I started the car, the speedometer needle was pointing straight down and now it's not working. I know the answer might seem pretty obvious since I pulled the odo gear out, but I just want to be sure......Does the speedometer need this gear to work (not just the odometer) or did I just mess up the wiring somehow? Thanks in advance.
p.s. Someone told me to check the fuses, but they're fine.

 

[mystic 96]

did you disasemble the head...because all you do is unbolt the odometer module and unpulg it from the bach of the speedo..so as long as thats what you did maybe check the plug and make sure it is plugged in all the way..other that that no fuses control that head,,but if you took the needels off that is probally your problem..

 

[393strokervert]

I would check to make sure the 2 main cluster plugs are in all the way. & as said above, I hope you didn't take the needles off,but if you did, good luck getting them back perfect.
all that needs to come off to change the gears are the 2 small bolts on the odo housing & the little 4wire plug that goes to the odo plug.

 

[393strokervert]

actually, I think someone did a write-up on replacing the gears, on here a while back.
yep, here it is>>>>> http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/605742-pictorial-guide-odometer-gear-replacement.html

 

[mystic 96]

if you have a gps you can reinstall the speedo needle on..just take off the face and drive the car to like 30 or 40 mph or whatever and then reinstall the needle ..i have had to do that wheni have installed white face backing a few times,,,,just be careful on dont wreck while your doing it.....

 

[Me_again]

Wow you guys are quick....

I appreciate the responses. That step by step pictorial you posted above is the exact one I followed. The only thing I did differently was put the cluster back in without the odometer gear (so I could drive to pick up the new one). I couldn't figure out the relationship of the gears to one another which is why I asked if the odometer gear is necessary for the speedometer to work. I didn't take any needles off either. The one thing I did notice, that's sort of odd, is that on pictures of other peoples' speedometers, there's a thin plastic piece stopping the needle from moving down to the 6 0'clock position. I have that piece but it's shorter (the needle goes right over it) so I'm thinking that I may have broken that when I set it down to get to the gear. That could be my problem right there.

 

[393strokervert]

The one thing I did notice, that's sort of odd, is that on pictures of other peoples' speedometers, there's a thin plastic piece stopping the needle from moving down to the 6 0'clock position. I have that piece but it's shorter (the needle goes right over it) so I'm thinking that I may have broken that when I set it down to get to the gear. That could be my problem right there.

that sounds like that could be your culprit. does the speedo move when you drive it? you could pull the broken plastic peg out & stick a toothpick or something like that in it.

 

[Me_again]

No, I didn't see the speedometer move once. It just sits at the 6 o'clock position. When I have some daylight in about 7-8 hours I'll do like you said and put a toothpick or something on it. Sadly, I had problems with the delivery of the gear so I'm going to have to wait 2-3 days to throw it in and see if that fixes it. But until then, I'll play with the wires a little and try what you suggested.