Help with Speedo cable lube

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machattack

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 27, 2019
Messages
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Location
Idaho
My Car
1971 mustang mach 1 351c 4v auto fmx
1968 mustang gt 302 4v 4 speed
Hi everyone,
Im on my 3rd new speedo cable. Heres what Ive done in the past.
I removed the cable from its sheath to lubricate the cable. I made a mixture of wht lithium grease and graphite then put it into the palm of my hand and ran the cable through it. I put 3 cc of the grease into the sheath with a syringe at the speedometer end. I installed it making sure there wasn't any sharp curves or kinks and away from all heat sources. I put this cable on 3 days ago and it made it 30 miles before it started jumping ( jumps are 10 miles hour).
Is there another lube I could use? something better than what ive been using? What about this stuff?
1720156308771.png
Thanks for your help
Rod
 
Last edited:
We used to use axle grease, but I don't know if that is correct for this speedo cable.
 
Not sure what you mean by jumping. However, I had an issue once with the speedometer needle being erratic while driving after I had removed the gage cluster and reinstalled. Turned out the speedo cable was not fully snapped onto the back of the speedo. Snapping it in position was not easy, very hard to get a good grip on the cable and push it hard enough to snap it onto the speedo, very tight clearance for my hand. Getting the gage cluster wiring connector snapped in also tricky making sure the printed circuit tabs on the back of the cluster stays folded into the rectangular hole where the wiring snaps in.

Originally, I thought the cable was either broken or in need of lubrication. It was neither, just not fully snapped into position, but just enough for the cable to contact the back of the speedo and drive it intermittently via friction.
 
Doug's 73 Mach1 said:
Not sure what you mean by jumping. However, I had an issue once with the speedometer needle being erratic while driving after I had removed the gage cluster and reinstalled. Turned out the speedo cable was not fully snapped onto the back of the speedo. Snapping it in position was not easy, very hard to get a good grip on the cable and push it hard enough to snap it onto the speedo, very tight clearance for my hand. Getting the gage cluster wiring connector snapped in also tricky making sure the printed circuit tabs on the back of the cluster stays folded into the rectangular hole where the wiring snaps in.

Originally, I thought the cable was either broken or in need of lubrication. It was neither, just not fully snapped into position, but just enough for the cable to contact the back of the speedo and drive it intermittently via friction.
Click to expand...
The speedometer needle jumps erratically ( as if the cable in a bind) . The needle is fine and doesnt jump for a while say 30 miles or so.
 
This post has good timing my speedo started acting up the other day the odometer seems to be fine but the needle sometimes has a mind of its own. It buried its self one time and it wildly fluctuate while holding a steady speed.
I tried reaching up under the dash to make sure it fully snapped in place. It seems like it but as Doug mentioned it is very hard to tell and it was really hard to snap in when I had the cluster out and the pad off and trim plate off. 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
An update to the speedo needle jump.
I finally got ahold of the manufacturer of the new cable. They actually told me to NOT use a paste or liquid type lubricant. I used dry graphite. Put on a latex glove and put the powder in my palm. I run the cable through that several times working it in good. Then I put the remainder of the bottle into the casing of the cable from both ends. Ive run it about 100 miles and not a single tick on the needle. Runs VERY smooth.
 
When rebuilding my dash board, I found it was very very hard to clip in a brand new speedo cable in the back of the speedometer because of limited space and my very big hands. As the car was already raised on axle stands, I removed the speedo cable from the gearbox. This gave me a lot more access to the back of the dash board because I could pull it out further and clip the speedo cable in the back of the speedometer properly and with ease. I then replaced the dash board back into its fixture and then checked whether the speedometer worked correctly. I pulled off the drive gear from the cable and connected a cordless drill to it and got my son to operate the drill whilst I checked the speedometer. The speedometer needle was erratic and was jumping around, so it was clear that the end that slides inside the speedometer was not fully inserted, yet the cable rotated very smoothly inside its sheath. I pulled the speedo drive cable wire out of its sheath and reinserted it back in, rotating it slowly until it went fully home and retested it. The speedometer now works perfectly. My advise is if you have to replace a speedometer cable, remove one end from the gearbox first and it will save you a lot of grief.
 
mrgmhale said:
Good to know. I learn so much year to year. I appreciate your sharing that tip. It does make sense.
Click to expand...
I don't post often, but I do spend a ton of time searching and reading through past posts on this forum. Multiple hours almost daily. It's amazing that you could still be learning things, you're an amazing wealth of knowledge already.

Also just wanted to say thanks, you often show up in threads with links, PDFs, or videos you made that show and explain exactly what people are looking for. You've been awesomely helpful to me already and I've barely even gotten into my car.
 
Spaceman said:
I don't post often, but I do spend a ton of time searching and reading through past posts on this forum. Multiple hours almost daily. It's amazing that you could still be learning things, you're an amazing wealth of knowledge already.

Also just wanted to say thanks, you often show up in threads with links, PDFs, or videos you made that show and explain exactly what people are looking for. You've been awesomely helpful to me already and I've barely even gotten into my car.
Click to expand...
Agreed. @mrgmhale is an asset to this community.
 
The Heff said:
When rebuilding my dash board, I found it was very very hard to clip in a brand new speedo cable in the back of the speedometer because of limited space and my very big hands. As the car was already raised on axle stands, I removed the speedo cable from the gearbox. This gave me a lot more access to the back of the dash board because I could pull it out further and clip the speedo cable in the back of the speedometer properly and with ease. I then replaced the dash board back into its fixture and then checked whether the speedometer worked correctly. I pulled off the drive gear from the cable and connected a cordless drill to it and got my son to operate the drill whilst I checked the speedometer. The speedometer needle was erratic and was jumping around, so it was clear that the end that slides inside the speedometer was not fully inserted, yet the cable rotated very smoothly inside its sheath. I pulled the speedo drive cable wire out of its sheath and reinserted it back in, rotating it slowly until it went fully home and retested it. The speedometer now works perfectly. My advise is if you have to replace a speedometer cable, remove one end from the gearbox first and it will save you a lot of grief.
Click to expand...
Good tip!! Be sure to buy the cable that has the white nylon clip that locks it into the cluster fitting. It wont lock into place until its fully seated.
 

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