Speedometer Cable

[Darren 72]

Hey Guys,

What is with the short piece of speedo cable going to some sort of adapter with wires on it and then the main run off the backside of that through the firewall to the tranny?

All the new cables seem to be 1 piece. This one is two pieces, a short run to this adapter thing and then on the other side the run to the tranny.

The speedometer was making a racket and bouncing all over the place when it was running. I'm pulling it off so I can paint the new engine bay and need to know whats up with that adapter. I didn't see any short runs of cable in any of the catalogs I looked at. Not sure which section was creating the problem. I did originally try to oil the cable end that goes into the gauge when it was running a few years ago but that did nothing.

Also I somehow broke the pin on the right side of the cluster that goes into the dash. Sucks...every time I touch this cluster something breaks off, It's so brittle. Has anyone had any luck with a certain type of glue?

Thanks!

 

[don29163]

The adapter is probably for cruise control, If you pull the cable from the housing, clean and lubricate it with grease (I use wheel bearing grease between two fingers and put the cable back in the housing as I feed it between the greased fingers) That should fix your problem...providing that the cable is not frayed or the housing isn't damaged.

I would not glue the part that plugs into the cluster, Midlife probably has one of those plugs and can help with that.

 

[Darren 72]

The adapter is probably for cruise control, If you pull the cable from the housing, clean and lubricate it with grease (I use wheel bearing grease between two fingers and put the cable back in the housing as I feed it between the greased fingers) That should fix your problem...providing that the cable is not frayed or the housing isn't damaged.

I would not glue the part that plugs into the cluster, Midlife probably has one of those plugs and can help with that.

The car doesn't have cruise control so I guess it could be eliminated? Not sure why it would be there w/o cruise control. It makes sense though. Thanks for the input.

Is my symptoms typical of a cable needing greasing?

The pin on my cluster is the guide that goes in the dash on both sides of the cluster. It's not a part that screws in but I think it helps keep it stable.

Thanks for the help

The adapter is probably for cruise control, If you pull the cable from the housing, clean and lubricate it with grease (I use wheel bearing grease between two fingers and put the cable back in the housing as I feed it between the greased fingers) That should fix your problem...providing that the cable is not frayed or the housing isn't damaged.

I would not glue the part that plugs into the cluster, Midlife probably has one of those plugs and can help with that.

The car doesn't have cruise control so I guess it could be eliminated? Not sure why it would be there w/o cruise control. It makes sense though. Thanks for the input.

Is my symptoms typical of a cable needing greasing?

The pin on my cluster is the guide that goes in the dash on both sides of the cluster. It's not a part that screws in but I think it helps keep it stable.

Thanks for the help

Hey Don,

You were right! Just Googled a pic of a 72 cruise control setup. Exactly what I have. It makes sense now that I think about it. Someone cloned this Stang into a Mach. They put a C6 in there with a console. The shifter must have been on the column with cruise. I think I may just pull it out and put in the extra parts bin. One less thing to trouble shoot.

Thanks

D. Rolls

 

[OMS]

That is not cruise control

That is part of the early emissions system

Usually found in 73's

You can eliminate it

There is a red / orange electronic box under the dash

I think It works with vacuum advance / retard during cold starts

Also most of the early cruise controls went by vacuum only no speed sensors

I had a 78 dodge van with column shift and cruise

Shifter got bumped into neutral while the cruise was on a couple of times

It would free rev - big time - had to stab the brake pedal real quick to kick it off.

 

[droptop73]

If you lubricate a cable... put some grease in a plastic bag and poke the cable through the bag and grease then slide the cable through. Your fingers will thank you!