tranny leaking through speedo cable??

Howdy,has anyone ever had tranny fluid leaking from their speedo cable. The outside of the cable, close to the trans TH350, is wet and leaving a puddle. have any good fixes?? Thanks

not an expert... haven't done it before, but I think it needs a new o-ring. simple to do.

Hey Donivan , its 109 today in Tucson, when will you be visiting?
Just kiddin, San Diego is the place to be...!!!

Geeeeeeez!!!!!! lol
B.W.

wow guess i shouldnt complain about 90 degrees down here in tampa

Love the search function. Resurrecting an old post here, but have a question about a drip from the speedo cable. If i unscrew the speedo cable from the trans to replace an o-ring, is tranny fluid gonna drain when disconnected? I have a small drip i'd like to fix, but wanna be prepared.

THANKS!

IF,,,,,,we are talking about a 3 speed,,,,,the cable is is in dry land,,,,,,,the housing has an O ring ON it,,,,,the gear has no seal,,,,,,some transmissions do have a small seal in the housing to stop the oil leaking past the gear,,,,,,,,but jack the rear wheel up,,,,,,and stick a rag in there to stop the leaking,,,,,I dont think there is much in a 3 speed,,,,,but be fast  with the rag with an automatic.....

Must of the older manual tranys don't have a seal for the gear just an "o"ring around the outside of the speedo gear bullet, like donivan65 said. There is a replacement for it that has a seal in it. They are about 10 bucks. I would think a trany shop in your area would have one. I think they are also still avalible from a GM dealer. Ask for a steal one that fits a T-350, they are the same size but have a seal for the gear.

Here is the one that the TH350 uses,,,,,it is drilled out for a seal,,,,but if your leak is from the outside of the housing, then you need an O ring,,,,,if it is from the inside of the housing , then you need a new plastic gear,,,,,or get the TH350 set up,,,,,

Thank you much for the replies. Donivan - Yes its a manual 3 speed, but not sure on the trans. I know the engine was swapped for a 6 from a 66 malibu, but the previous owner never mentioned the trans so guessing its the original. I'm assuming/hoping patching this fluid leak will remedy the bouncing speedometer readings when i'm on the highway? Mechanically challenged over here, but this seems doable even for me. Thank You Gentlemen!

The odds are the O ring on the housing is bad,,,,,,but the bouncing could be a dry cable,,,,,so you reach up behind the dash, unscrew the cable housing from the back of speedometer,,,pull it down,,,,,pull the long cable out of the inside of the housing,,,clean and wipe some oil on it,,,put it back together,,,,,OR,,,the plastic gear that the lower end of the cable goes into is worn out and the cable is slipping in there,,,,,,OR,,,,,the speedometer is worn out or needs some lubing,,,,,so step by step,,,see what you find,,,,,,you don't need to be a mechanic to fix your van,,,,,you just need to want to fix it and do each thing we tell you, one step at a time.....

These are the official transmissions for our vans,,,,,,,they HANG from the van floor,,,,,car transmissions sit on a crossmember UNDER them,,,,,you got something like this??

Un-related to the discussion, but I have the lower type trans and cover plate in my '64, except the rear shift lever attaches like the one in the top picture with a keyhole and retaining bolt into the shaft, not a clamp style collar like the lower one. Its stamped GM and has the 4-bolt cover plate, what do you make of that? different models/makers? I guess I am lucky, the speedo cable does not leak and the needle is rock steady at all speeds!

The 64 has different levers,,,,,,but I think they would snap off when the engine and trans moved a little, so they went the other type,,,,which usually stripped out after time.....

Definitely the trans on the top w/ 7 bolts. Thanks for the vote of confidence on fixing the van. Oddly enough my dad was a tank/diesel mechanic in the Army for 20+ years then did another 20+ as a civilian. Unfortunately the knack for turning wrenches didn't pass on to me.   

[quote="donivan65"]These are the official transmissions for our vans,,,,,,,they HANG from the van floor,,,,,car transmissions sit on a crossmember UNDER them,,,,,you got something like this??

,,,,,you ain't missing much if you did not turn out to be a mechanic,,,,,hot, dirty work,,,,,,being blamed for every problem that comes after you fix one for someone,,,,,,,,,surely not the profession that people admire,,,,,,after they get their bill and they still have problems,,,,,,In my book, they rate right up there with Dentists and the DMV........but thats the good transmission,,,,,it has an oil seal and synchronized gears which the 64 and 65 did not have,,,,,,I put one in my 65.....we got lots of types of transmissions that fit into our vans,,,,,,,,

,,,,just for the record,,,,,,,,I am a retired auto mechanic,,,,,,,,,,I have never let one touch my van in all the years I have owned it.......