• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Speedo - anyone see this?

67SniperHockey

67SniperHockey

Well-Known Member
Local time
6:44 PM
Joined
Apr 16, 2020
Messages
299
Reaction score
488
Location
Minnesota
Randomly - my speedometer is going crazy. It literally will tick and swing to random mph and go back to zero and then swing again constantly. Haven’t changed anything in the dash except for a new led turn signal fuse....any ideas? Thanks!
 
Mine is doing the same, tried oiling it, didn't help. It's shot.

I'm going to do a post mortem autopsy this winter.
 
The cable needs lubed also. Pull the cable out of the housing from the top, wipe it down with solvent on a lint free rag. It will have black goo on it. Then put some grease on it and put it back in the housing. Put a little grease on the end of the speedo where it turns.

Should make it work smoother. Sometimes they make noise also. I bought a car that was sitting for,10-15 years, the speedo cable made plenty of noise
, this fixed it.
 
Last edited:
Over 20 years ago a speedo shop told me to use Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to lube after cleaning the cable. Also apply some with your finger at the back of the speedo head. You will find a brass bushing there that goes dry after years of service.Petroleum Jelly coagulates but never gets dry and stays on the cable.
I do this with every old car and even motorcycles that I've bought. Works for me.
 
For sticking and bouncing problems that are cable related I use this after cleaning the cable and it's housing completely. Hillman's Powdered Graphite. It is not affected by heat and cold or lubricants getting old and dry.
Of course the internals of the speedometer do wear out, especially the long sweep type.
 
03607278-665D-4A83-8541-809876598C9A.jpeg
Got the cable removed to clean and lube it....to me this looks broke on the end that goes into the brass fitting behind the gauge cluster. Thoughts?

Don’t want to waste my time with this cable if it is broke - or is that how the end typically looks? The other end that goes into the tranny doesn’t look like a necessarily “clean” cut either on the cable....
 
They can also get broken strands in the cable.
An old mechanic showed me how to check the cable:
hold an end in each hand
make a u-shape towards the ground
make an O with one hand and let the cable end float inside your O or circle
Twist the other end with your fingers
if the cable jumps in your O hand it needs to be replaced
 
My experience is the speedometer head itself is worn inside to the extent the rotating part, driven by the cable, is randomly hitting the shell that is attached to the needle. If your hearing is still good, mine isn't, you may notice a little ding sound that keeps time with the needle jumping. My dad and I had this problem on both our 66 and 67 Belvederes over 35 years ago. We just put different head units in, I'm sure somebody can rebuild these now.
 
Well guys I lubed the cable liberally and especially at the end that goes into the back of the cluster - took it down the street and still Speedo is going wacky and making a ticking noise.....

So actual cluster is shot? Or do I try a brand new cable and start small...
 
I think its time to have a look at the speedo. They're not too complicated. Maybe one of the gears is getting hung up.
 
Correct cable lube will have graphite in it.
 
I think I will take apart and look at the actual speedo gear and see what that looks like and go from there. Thanks guys.
 
67SniperHockey said:
I think I will take apart and look at the actual speedo gear and see what that looks like and go from there. Thanks guys.
Click to expand...
Had a similar problem with my '66 'net. Needle suddenly swung wildly & I noticed the odometer stopped between digits, also loud clicking noise. Decided to take it apart & found that the odometer drive gears had jammed somehow. freed them up & it worked ok - tested with a drill and a piece of nylon tie to drive the speedo. These nylon gears and shaft are held loosely in metal brackets - I tightened them up by lightly bending the brackets so the gears and shafts weren't so loose and used a bit of white grease to lube them. Been working ok since then for a couple of years. Oh yeah, also pulled the cable inner, cleaned it & lubed.
 
moose1 said:
Had a similar problem with my '66 'net. Needle suddenly swung wildly & I noticed the odometer stopped between digits, also loud clicking noise. Decided to take it apart & found that the odometer drive gears had jammed somehow. freed them up & it worked ok - tested with a drill and a piece of nylon tie to drive the speedo. These nylon gears and shaft are held loosely in metal brackets - I tightened them up by lightly bending the brackets so the gears and shafts weren't so loose and used a bit of white grease to lube them. Been working ok since then for a couple of years. Oh yeah, also pulled the cable inner, cleaned it & lubed.
Click to expand...

That sums up my issues exactly - thanks!
 
moose1 said:
Had a similar problem with my '66 'net. Needle suddenly swung wildly & I noticed the odometer stopped between digits, also loud clicking noise. Decided to take it apart & found that the odometer drive gears had jammed somehow. freed them up & it worked ok - tested with a drill and a piece of nylon tie to drive the speedo. These nylon gears and shaft are held loosely in metal brackets - I tightened them up by lightly bending the brackets so the gears and shafts weren't so loose and used a bit of white grease to lube them. Been working ok since then for a couple of years. Oh yeah, also pulled the cable inner, cleaned it & lubed.
Click to expand...


Exactly. There is a pinion and spline gear that meet. The nylon spline end seizes up when the lube dries up.

I'm working on creating a cad file so I can 3D print them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
63 Plymouth Fury - Poly 318 smoking issue from the steering column area
Replies
11
Views
863
edwardalane
E
Newkidonthebloc
Car dies when using indicators or when brake light turns on.
Replies
13
Views
934
Newkidonthebloc
Newkidonthebloc
71RR4406
LED Halo Ring Headlights with Parking and Flashers
2
Replies
35
Views
4K
gkent
gkent
Richard Cranium
911 by Jeff Fellmeth -- Retired American Airlines Pilot
Replies
11
Views
3K
1967coronet
1967coronet
66ChargerHI-PO
My Stepdads New Dream Car Came Today, A 1969 T5 Copper Charger 383
2 3 4
Replies
62
Views
8K
66ChargerHI-PO
66ChargerHI-PO
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top