Next issue.... I had my buddy check my speed with his car and it turns out that my 65 mph was actually 45 ish... And the needle bounces quite a bit. Anyone out there have this problem and is there a quick fix? thanks Tom
You didn't say what car, but if the speedometer is cable-driven, a bouncing needle usually indicates a dry cable. You can pull the casing off the speedometer, remove the cable, and lubricate it with white grease. If the car is GM and has cruise control it will have two cables with a speed sensor in between them. You will have to lubricate both cables. As to the error, it is usually due to an incorrect speedometer drive gear (for the axle gear ratio) installed.
Sorry about that John, it is a 63 Buick Wildcat with the 2 speed turbine drive dynaflow transmission. It does not have cruise control. Still a dry cable? Thanks
Remove speedo cable from rear of speedo. Pull out inner cable. Now check the outer casing along it's entire length for any kinking, wear spots from rubbing against something or from being burned from contact with or too close to hot exhaust pipes. Remove cable at trans. end & spray inside from the top with Brakleen. Blow out with air & do AGAIN. Wipe inner cable with a clean rag. With cable hanging from your hand spray inner cable with Brakleen & wipe down. Repeat until no more grease/grit/dirt can be seen on clean rag. Now take speedo cable & roll up in your hand. Take the grease of your choice (John likes white grease, I myself prefer Kendall Super Blue Grease) while feeding cable into outer casing rub on grease. You just need a light coating on the bottom 3/4ths. of cable. Make sure AT NO TIME the cable comes into contact with ANYTHING. If it does you need to start the process over again. You DON'T want any kind of grit/dirt to come into contact with the inner cable. Continue feeding cable/greasing into outer casing twisting as needed to get to go all the way back in. Now hook the cable back to the trans. Get some oil like 3 in one or similar & put a few drops on the brass part sticking out of the back of the speedo. Turn this brass part with your finger a few turns to try & get some oil into the bushing. Repeat if you think nec. until it turns freely. This MAY take care of the problem. Other possible causes are the speedo cable is too long. I had one like this that was a 1/4" too long & still bounced. I cut the 1/4" off with a Dremel tool. The speedo gear in the trans. is starting to go bad. More than likely you have a 3.23 rear ratio & need another 19 tooth gear. GOD LUCK ON FINDING ONE!!!! If you come across a source PLEASE let us all know. If none of this solves the problem it's time for the speedo to get an overhaul. If it still does bounce leave the cable dis-connected so as to NOT cause more internal damage to the speedo head. Tom T.
Tom is more of a perfectionist then I am. I liked Lubriplate, but I don't know if it is still available. You will never go wrong doing what Tom says.
