Cluster Removal Tricks

[slexwild]

I am working to replace the standard cluster with one of my police units. There is absolutely no slack from the cable harness and the speedo cable. Any Tricks other than prying the thing aggressively? One youtube video showed he just pulled it out fill force, but just thinking ahead on putting it back in and the lack of cable slack.

[kishy]

With all of the surrounding trim off, and possibly the dash pad too (I think it buys a fair bit of extra space at the top for the cluster to be in, buying room for your hand below), pull firmly but smoothly on the cluster and I think you'll find you get a little bit of slack out of the cable. Not much, but enough. Then, snake a hand behind the cluster (as I recall it's usually most possible to sneak the hand in from the bottom right) and release the speedometer cable. The most you'll be able to get on it is one or two fingers so you need to be good at working blind.

The speedometer cable is by far the more difficult item so don't worry about the wiring connector until after the cable is undone.

Be sure to completely disconnect and remove the shift indicator collar from the column first, otherwise you are guaranteed to break it.

Steering wheel will need to be tilted down; if this is a non-tilt car, consider removing it.
Shifter will need to be down in probably 1, so consider wheel chocks depending on your workspace.

[Tiggie]

Sometimes you can grab the cable where it goes into the car and give a good shove and it will give you some extra slack. I do not advise you to jerk on the cluster.

[kishy]

Sometimes you can grab the cable where it goes into the car and give a good shove and it will give you some extra slack. I do not advise you to jerk on the cluster.

On reflection, yes, this is a better suggestion.
The clusters are now 40 (give or take) years old and the likelihood of straight-up breaking one grows by the day.

There generally is some slack in the cable (maybe more accurately, the sheath of the cable) and you just need to find it. Pushing it in from outside is a safer option.

[87gtVIC]

I’ve always reached in from under the dash for removing the speedometer cable from the cluster. It ain’t the easiest but I have some long arms and prefer doing it that way. I grab the collar, squeeze and push into the cluster then pull upwards and out.

I actually have more issues removing the harness. The one release clip is right up against the back of the cluster and is always a bugger.

[DerekTheGreat]

^^^This. A friend with extremely long & nimble fingers would help. Arthritus does not.