Speedometer Cable

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Oct 8, 2008 | 08:09 AM

ucc2ic65

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 357

Likes: 3

From: SW Suburbs of Chicago Illinois

Speedometer Cable

I have my instrument cluster out and thought I would clean / lubricate the speedometer cable. Any suggestions on the best way to do this?

Thanks,
ucc2ic65

Oct 8, 2008 | 02:25 PM

1Sweet66

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2006

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From: North Carolina "life is good"

2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

No replies all day? Everyone must be watching their stocks!

The way I did it was to clamp the spedo cable it a upright position and put a couple of drops of machinest gear lubricating oil on the drive cable every once in awhile thinking that it would work it's way down the cable sleeve. If you disconnect the other end at the trans you can spin the inner cable to help the oil work it's way down.
I think John Z has a sugestion of a GM cable lube but I just went with what I had on the bench. I didn't add a lot thinking that it may work it's way up the cable while rotating and ooze out into the gauge.

Anybody else?

Oct 9, 2008 | 08:55 AM

62RDSTR

Racer

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 357

Likes: 28

From: Northern AL

Didn't know the answer to this myself so I checked with a good friend. As the above post mentioned, you can go to a Chevy dealer and buy specific lube that does not harden (synthetic). The lube is red and designed for these type of applications.

Jim

Oct 9, 2008 | 02:16 PM

JohnZ

Team Owner

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 38,897

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From: Washington Michigan

You can disconnect the cable at the trans end, then pull the flex shaft completely out of the casing from the cluster end, clean it, lube it (I like "Kable-Ease" from Corvette Central, but any graphite-based cable lube will work fine), re-insert the flex shaft into the casing and re-connect at the trans and you're done.

Oct 9, 2008 | 10:44 PM

RoadVettes

Drifting

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 1,879

Likes: 21

From: Bradenton Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnZ

John, does the dash have to come out to do this or can the cluster end of the cable be removed from under the dash? Thanks.

Charlie

Oct 10, 2008 | 08:02 AM

65 vette dude

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 3,461

Likes: 18

From: cooper city florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadVettes

John, does the dash have to come out to do this or can the cluster end of the cable be removed from under the dash? Thanks.

Charlie

You can remove the cable without removing the cluster. I removed the 5 cluster mounting screws and replaced them with 6 inch long screws and slid the cluster back about 3 or 4 inch's. Then you can reach the speedo going down from the top of the cluster. Don't forget to disconnect oil pressure line at distributor. The speedo shop that made me a new cable said they use a light coat of wheel bearing grease to lube all their cables. He warned me not to use lithium grease. Do not lube the last 3 or 4 inch's of the cable where it goes into the speedo. If you have trouble getting the knurled nut started again(I did),try long needle nose pliers. Some members say they can reach up under the dash and remove and replace the cable. They must be midgets.

Oct 10, 2008 | 11:27 AM

abe g

Racer

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 461

Likes: 0

speedometer cable lubrication

I am 6ft 2 inches (and old) and no problem getting under dash with hands to unscrew nut at speedometer.(behind cluster) Cleaning cable doesnt clean cable housing! (waste of time). Just put some drops of engine oil into casing at speedometer head. This has lasted over 70,000 miles and (40 years) and still fine. Most problems come from kinking of speedo cable housing going down to trans. I have used twine to smooth out the radius of the housing curve. Just my 2 cents. Abe G