 stevelegel
Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 107
Loc: Detroit MI
Reg: 09-27-09
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10-10-18 05:05 PM - Post#2748371
My speedometer registers just fine up to about 20 MPH, then it spins wildly. I looked up on forum a thread and video for 55-57 speedometer service and lubrication. Today I was able to loosen, mark the wires and lights, and disconnect the speedo cable from the housing and remove housing. I sprayed starting fluid into the drive gear hole on back of unit, and generously sprayed WD 40 into the hole,and it seems to spin pretty free by hand and the needle moves. I also was able to pull the flexible drive shaft out part way and cleaned it and sprayed the alcohol fluid and lots of graphite gunk came out and I sprayed into the cable housing WD40 without pulling the cable out all the way. I did not remove the cable all the way, but I am able to position it and get it to seat down at the transmission drive gear.
Tomorrow I want to pull the flexible drive gear cable out and grease it, and also use my drill driver at very low RPM to see if the speedometer will hold steady speed at steady revolution
I think the lubrication should be adequate without disassembling the speedometer bezel and removing the whole mechanism
I am open to guidance
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DonSSDD
Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 6944
Loc: Nova Scotia, Canada
Reg: 08-21-01
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10-11-18 12:14 AM - Post#2748397
In response to stevelegel
Pull the cable out and clean all the old grease off with say brake cleaner, then reinstall and remove agin, that may pull some more old grease out? After cleaning, I soaked my cable in 89/90 gear oil, maybe use a synthetic which is more liquid when cold?
A new speedo cable is not that expensive.
Don
63 Pontiac Parisienne Sport Coupe(CDN Chev mechanically (409, 4 speed),62 Bel Air SC (sold), 59 El Camino (sold), 62 Bel Air SC(sold), 63 SWC Vette (sold),
Member #2194
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stevelegel
Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 107
Loc: Detroit MI
Reg: 09-27-09
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10-11-18 03:56 AM - Post#2748409
In response to DonSSDD
I have gear oil, Lubriplate, lithium spray and axle grease. I'm thinking a wipe down with Lubriplate
Thoughts?
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 japete92
"4th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 1096
Loc: No. Virginia
Reg: 01-18-13
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10-11-18 05:10 AM - Post#2748417
In response to stevelegel
The one and only time I 'lubed' my speedometer cable, it was at least 50 years ago. The guy at the parts counter of the Chevy dealer sold me a graphite lube that he said was for the speedometer. It works great.
Pete
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Tri5man
Valued Contributor
Posts: 3694
Loc: Possums Crotch, KY
Reg: 06-26-07
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10-11-18 05:57 AM - Post#2748420
In response to japete92
Graphite has been used to lubricate speedo cables for many years.
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55 Shaker
Member
Posts: 1465
Age: 69
Loc: north central IL.
Reg: 03-13-06
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10-11-18 07:22 AM - Post#2748428
In response to stevelegel
Here's what you need for your speedometer cable.
https://www.amazon.com/Dorman-03344-Graphite -Cable...
| The older I get, the more dangerous, I am !!!! |
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stevelegel
Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 107
Loc: Detroit MI
Reg: 09-27-09
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10-12-18 03:38 AM - Post#2748490
In response to 55 Shaker
Graphite oil it is...and that makes sense based on the gray colored gunk that came out of the cable housing.
Thanks
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 wings59
"10th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 2324
Loc: Bakersfield Ca
Reg: 01-30-05
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10-12-18 09:53 PM - Post#2748547
In response to stevelegel
It's been awhile but pretty sure I had to run my drill in reverse.
Larry
59 Impala Sport Coupe
36 Dodge Street rod..........owned 27 years
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japete92
"4th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 1096
Loc: No. Virginia
Reg: 01-18-13
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10-13-18 06:54 AM - Post#2748559
In response to stevelegel
Graphite oil it is...and that makes sense based on the gray colored gunk that came out of the cable housing.
Thanks
It's not 'oil'; it's a dry powder.
Pete
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stevelegel
Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 107
Loc: Detroit MI
Reg: 09-27-09
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10-13-18 10:53 AM - Post#2748576
In response to japete92
the photo of package says "graphite oil" I've used graphite power in delicate locks and such. I agree graphite usually comes as a powder, I bet this product is a graphite infused lubricant, eh?
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stanski
Poster
Posts: 69
Reg: 05-05-16
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10-15-18 03:30 PM - Post#2748768
In response to stevelegel
Don't even think of lubricating the speedo head assembly. Nothing there to lube, it needs to be absolutely dry. If you narrow down your jumpy needle to the head and not the cable, you can take it apart, and the usual culprit is rust from condensation in the cup which causes the needle to not be smooth as the magnet inside the cup is rotated by the cable. Clean it with emery cloth, blow everything dry and clean and should work fine.
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stevelegel
Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 107
Loc: Detroit MI
Reg: 09-27-09
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10-15-18 05:32 PM - Post#2748777
In response to stanski
I cleaned things up and everything feel smooth in operation. I used my drill driver at low RPM and the needle registered its way up and down the dial smoothly and held fast at any given speed.
True test will be in the car. Flexible cable housing is flushed through top to bottom, disconnected from Trans and WD 40 runs clear through. Flexible shaft has no burs or cut threads, heavily lubed and spins nice by hand in the sheath, unless set into notch in drive gear at trans.
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