First of all, my sincerest thanks to my buddy Phil for posting this! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Secondly, I want to give props to the most valuable tool I own: my Victrionix pocket knife, which I use just about every day of the week. Being without proper tools, it was all I needed to completely remove and disassemble the speedo gauge... again in the parking lot of a hotel. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />


Now for what I've discovered...

1) There's practically no way the reed switch will fail. For all intesive purposes, it is completely isolated from everything else anywhere (pic to follow). I now suspect that the code I got from the computer was stored in memory just after my rear end rebuild. I was so excited to finish up that project that I pulled out of the garage and zoomed over to a friends house forgetting to plug in the speedo cable. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Quickly noticing that I was blazing a trail at 0mph, I pulled over at the next gas station and reconnected it. However, no spinning speedo cable = no reed swtich input. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />

2) Contrary to my previous maintenance philosophy, lubing the speedo cable might not be the best thing in the world to do. I'd taken to dipping mine in ATF after every water crossing because I had a speedo cable die last year after not looking after it. However, ANY oily substance that finds its way onto the cable WILL MIGRATE UP INTO THE GAUGE CLUSTER. McV can tell you all about this! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Lube it and then wipe it clean!

3) Oil migrating up the speedo cable should not interfere with the reed switch. The way the speedo gauge is designed, any displaced oil will drip off before entering the internals of the speedo guage. Bill - no worries; false alarm! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cyclops.gif" alt="" />

4) Yesterday, my odometer locked up as did my trip ticker. I think this might have something to do with the electrnics parts cleaner I used to clean off parts of the speedo that had ATF on it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> HOWEVER, I noticed that the one that was the most stuck was the number "7" in 176,211. The point where the truck turned 170,000mi is about the same mileage where my speedo needle started bouncing. Coincidence??? Hmmm... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

5) My poor fuel mileage may be accounted for by wind and a malfunctioning odometer. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

6) I still have no idea what's making my speedo needle bounce, but it has become apparent that I will be needing a new speedo gauge.

7) I need a new speedo gauge!!! Anyone have a spare in good working order? I don't care about the mileage:D
(BTW, $200 new <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />)


-DougB <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />


EDIT:
8) A malfunctioning reed switch should have little if any bearing on fuel mileage. I discovered this as I had to zoom around town last night without my main gauge cluster in place - the Raider will run fine without it, no problems. And that's why I call this truck the Millenium Falcon of automobiles. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />