C1 Speedometer Problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 786
Likes: 15
From: Emporia, pay no attention to that man behind the curtain, KS
C1 Speedometer Problem
The accuracy of the speedometer in my '60 depends on the ambient temperature. When I am driving, say 60 mph, when it is cold, the speedo may be showing in the neighborhood of 50 mph. When the interior warms up the speedo shows the correct speed. But if I am driving on a hot (100* plus) day the speedo may show 5 or so mph faster than I am going. Has anybody experienced this problem? I assume the speedo is going to need repair, so who does good speedometer repair/calibration? Thanks in advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,480
Likes: 0
From: Wa.
I had a similar problem with my 57 T-Bird. I removed the speedo and used spray tuner cleaner (available at Radio Shack) to clean the speed cup and bearings. Then lightly lubed the bearings with 3-in-1 oil. It has worked flawlessly for several years now. Sounds like yours is just getting gunked up. 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 786
Likes: 15
From: Emporia, pay no attention to that man behind the curtain, KS
Thanks for the info, very well sounds like that could be the problem.
I sent the speedo and tach to a speedometer shop in Denver about 20 years ago for repair/calibration. I was looking through some stuff last night and found the receipt from the shop when the tach and speedo came back. They had written that the speedometer and odometer were not synchronized, that if the speedometer was correct the odometer would not be correct, and that if the odometer was correct the speedometer would not be correct.
Hmmm, sounds to me (in hindsight, of course) that they didn't know what they were doing. Seems to me that "calibrating the speedometer" means that the odometer and speedometer should be in synch. I have lived with the problem since then, but I think it is time to get things corrected.
Anybody have suggestions on who does good speedometer repair/calibration? Thanks.
I sent the speedo and tach to a speedometer shop in Denver about 20 years ago for repair/calibration. I was looking through some stuff last night and found the receipt from the shop when the tach and speedo came back. They had written that the speedometer and odometer were not synchronized, that if the speedometer was correct the odometer would not be correct, and that if the odometer was correct the speedometer would not be correct.
Hmmm, sounds to me (in hindsight, of course) that they didn't know what they were doing. Seems to me that "calibrating the speedometer" means that the odometer and speedometer should be in synch. I have lived with the problem since then, but I think it is time to get things corrected.Anybody have suggestions on who does good speedometer repair/calibration? Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 868
Likes: 5
