Speedo Cable for Cluster Removal

[deadhead7]

Trying to remove the gauge cluster and I'm to the point that I have all screws removed and the cluster is loose but not able to pull it out far enough to disconnect the wiring connectors on the back of it.

Reading threads about this, I'm seeing consistent guidance that you need to detach the speedometer cable in the drivers footwell in order to get the slack required to pull the cluster out further and have enough space to reach around back and disconnect things. I found a picture of the cable and bracket in another thread but my truck does not seem to have this cable passing through the footwell.

My truck is a 1992 PZJ75 Troopy LHD. I thought perhaps the threads I've been reading were specific to RHD and it's in the drivers footwell for RHD and the passengers footwell for LHD so I've checked the passengers footwell but also not seeing it. My truck does have an idle knob which has a cable in the drivers footwell with a bracket, but that's a different cable.

Can anyone point me in the right direction on where to look or what to look for?

Including a couple photos although they're not great.

 

[Dprio34]

@deadhead7, I've never removed a PZJ75 "Cluster" But I have had my 1989 LHD LJ70 Instrument / Speedo Cluster out at least 5 times. Mine was pretty straightforward. IIRC, don't pull straight out, but maybe pull slightly upward at a 45 degree angle on the cluster to remove it from dash. There is about 6-8" of play where you have to unplug everything. It's pretty tight, but doable. No harder than a 4 on a scale of 1 - 10. You posted pics of the floor. The cable for the speedo on mine, is directly in back of the speedometer on the cluster. Nothing on the floor. Hope that helps.

Edit: ON mine anyway, after you get all the cluster screws out from cluster to dash (and cluster lose from the dash)... the Speedo Cable is the MOST rigid of all the cables. Grab that one, and pull it from the firewall. Don't go crazy... But the Speedo Cable should pull out about 3-5 inches from the firewall. It will be tight / snug, but not impossible. It is a press & pull straight out for the speedo cable, then you should have more room to play to get the other fittings disconnected from the cluster.

 

[jblueridge]

Get someone with small arms/hands.
The cable’s clip on the back of the speedo is easy to disengage once you get your hand back there.

 

[coldtaco]

You have to rotate the cable locking mechanism on the back of the instrument cluster. I think you need to rotate 1/4 turn or so. Kind of a pain in the hand

 

[WarDamnEagle]

If you open the hood you should be able to see the speedometer cable. On my FZJ75 it comes through relatively high just to the inside of the brake booster (more or less even with the middle of the instrument cluster). As others have said, you need to lift the instrument cluster off the clips and not pull straight out.

 

[Sethro60]

I just went through this not too bad. Undo the two electrical connections on the left side, then you should be able to access the speed cable. clip is on the bottom. harder to put back together. Patience is key.

 

[AirheadNut]

Does the speedo cable run down the inside or outside of the firewall? On my LJ78 it runs down the inside of the firewall and out through a hole on top of the transmission tunnel, on a 1989 LJ73 I saw it exits through the firewall and runs down the outside through the engine bay. I never paid enough attention to remember how it’s routed on HD models.

 

[deadhead7]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I’ll forget the unhooking of the cable from a bracket and just try to get my hand back in there or maybe enlist the help of my wife for smaller hands…

Just need to find some time to mess with it and I’ll report back…

 

[jblueridge]

Long sleeves minimize arm gouging.

 

[FJ73Texas]

Just my personal experience but I had way less room to get my hand back there (to disconnect the cable) on the HZJ77 compared to the previous 70 series that I owned.

 

[deadhead7]

Tried again today and it was a bit tricky but success! I understand what people mean by pull out at a 45 degree angle now to be able to reach behind… not looking forward to trying to re-install it.

 

[joekatana]

A bit to late but sometimes the speedo cable is secured in a clip near the brake booster and also along the way from the t case untill it reaches the firewall . Unhooking it a long the way gives you extra clearance and some of these are very stubborn