Engine drop defeated by speedometer cable, help!
 

So I am there. It's 99.9% done. I have all four engine/tranny mount bolts out. But I lower it all down a couple inches, take a look around everything and see this:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1312860462.jpg
I have a 74 tranny with the speedo cable that's connected right at the back of it. None of the books, write-ups, or tech articles I've read go over this type of connection.<p> To the experts: How do I disconnect this cable? Do I unscrew the big nut that the cable is apparently going into? Is tranny fluid going to come pouring out when I do? This is the only thing keeping me from being able to lower the engine to the ground, any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

Well, if no one replies, just loosen it to see if will start to leak. Fab a plug just in case.

If it is like my 190E, it should not leak when nut is removed. my 2 cents.

Haven't made the drop out of my 71 (911 tranny) in a while, but I remember just removing that big nut your referring to. First time I did the drop, I played knuckle gymnast trying to remove the entire speedo angle drive on the side of the tranny only to find that I simply needed to get the cable off. Don't know if a 915 is the same.

Curt

CAUTION !

there is corrosion build up on the threads between the nut and the magnesium housing of the transmission. Its real easy to ruin the nose cone if this binds up while trying to unfasten it

i suggest you get some pb blaster, or equivalent, thread penetrant. Soak it liberally and wait the recommended amount of time. Do this a couple times, then GENTLY try to unfasten it. If it starts to stick, tighten it back up just a lil, more pb blaster, and work it back and forth. Be patient or you have some $$ you will be spending.

if its really stuck, support the transmission well, remove the mounting x member for access, and cut off the aluminum nut at an angle. Go slowly till you can put a chisel in the groove and split it open. A speedo cable is far cheaper than a nose cone.

there should be no oil coming out after removing the speedo cable connection

good luck
Dave

Stated by an Expert! ;)