Speedometer Diagnostic?

[Shalka04]

One of the last issues I need to address on my rig is that the speedometer isn't working.
Today about a mile from home I pulled over and removed my speedometer.  I figured I could slowly augger my way home while reaching in and feeling the end of the cable.  My assumption was if I felt the cable rotating then I would have a busted gauge.
Well no spinning cable.
So tomorrow I figure i'll disconnect the cable at the transfer case and see how the gear end looks and or feels.
I'm not sure what i'm looking for on that end though.  If it spins freely is it busted?  Of how do i diagnose that gear?

Thanks,
-John

[F Bill]

Yup, if it(the drive, not the cable) spins freely something isn't right as it has gear teeth that drive it, and for it to spin everything else must spin.

Look closely at your cable ends too, they have been known to wear to the point where they won't drive the cable anymore. Also check the length, malke sure the inner cable is long enough to reach both the drive gear and teh speedometer, as often a piece of the cable will break off the end.

[Carls_jeep]

If the speedo drive is not spinning in the tranny the nut on the yoke could be loose. That lets the gear on the shaft that drives the output gear where the cable goes spin. The gear is not keyed to the shaft and if the yoke nut is loose the gear can spin freely.