Another "removing speedo cable" thread
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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From: Ky
Another "removing speedo cable" thread
Hi Guys! I had the cluster out to have odo repaired. The guy (his name has left me for the moment but he did the rebuild in the Suzy Q book on the 63) who did the repair said to lube the cable, its as simple as removing it on the "engine" side of the firewall, unscrewing, pulling it out, lubing, putting it back in, making sure that little square thingy seats into position, then screw it back in.
Ok, I found it, unscrewed it, but was afraid to pull on it thinking it wouldn't be that easy....
I have run a search and read about every thread I can get my hands on here and they all involve disconnections of the cable under the dash...
Were the instructions given to me incorrect? I know I need to clean and lube because I've got noise.
Thanks in advance.
Ok, I found it, unscrewed it, but was afraid to pull on it thinking it wouldn't be that easy....
I have run a search and read about every thread I can get my hands on here and they all involve disconnections of the cable under the dash...
Were the instructions given to me incorrect? I know I need to clean and lube because I've got noise.
Thanks in advance.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,596
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From: Grosse Ile MI
Disconnect the cable at the transmission, pull the cable out from the instrument panel end, inspect for any damage to the cable, lube with a light graphite lubricant, push the cable completely back into the housing, connect the cable to the trans making sure the square end of the cable seats in the end of the speedo gear (aka, "square thingy"), connect the cable to the speedometer head (same "square thingy" procedure also applies here), and hopefully you're good to go.
Thread Starter
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From: Ky
Disconnect the cable at the transmission, pull the cable out from the instrument panel end, inspect for any damage to the cable, lube with a light graphite lubricant, push the cable completely back into the housing, connect the cable to the trans making sure the square end of the cable seats in the end of the speedo gear (aka, "square thingy"), connect the cable to the speedometer head (same "square thingy" procedure also applies here), and hopefully you're good to go.
Le Mans Master
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From: "You may all go to Hell- and I will go to Texas- Davy Crockett
St. Jude Donor '12
Has anyone ever tried the adaptor that screws on the transmission end of the cable that (allegedly) you can use a grease gun and force lube in with the speedometer end still attached to the cluster?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Grosse Ile MI
When the cable is seated in the speedo gear, you will no longer be able to turn the cable. The instrument panel end of the cable has a collar on it which should be seated against the cable housing if the cable if properly installed. Try it this way and if you can't get the cable seated properly, then use the method I described in the previous post. Oh, and don't over lubricate the cable, just lightly will be enough.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Grosse Ile MI
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Thread Starter
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From: Ky
Well, it can be done without disconnecting from the transmission, but you will have to finesse the cable from the instrument panel end to make sure the end of the cable is properly seats in the speedo gear. Buy "finesse", I mean push the cable into the housing as far as possible, then twisting it slowly until you feel the cable drop into the speedo gear ("square thingy").
When the cable is seated in the speedo gear, you will no longer be able to turn the cable. The instrument panel end of the cable has a collar on it which should be seated against the cable housing if the cable if properly installed. Try it this way and if you can't get the cable seated properly, then use the method I described in the previous post. Oh, and don't over lubricate the cable, just lightly will be enough.
When the cable is seated in the speedo gear, you will no longer be able to turn the cable. The instrument panel end of the cable has a collar on it which should be seated against the cable housing if the cable if properly installed. Try it this way and if you can't get the cable seated properly, then use the method I described in the previous post. Oh, and don't over lubricate the cable, just lightly will be enough.
Thread Starter
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From: Ky
It sounds like a loud "spinning" noise from the tach. The tach jumps when it is making the noise. It coincides with the cluster being removed for about 2 months while the odo was being repaired. i.e. never heard the noise before.
The noise will disappear or significantly decrease when I let off the gas which of course I don't like to do
The noise will disappear or significantly decrease when I let off the gas which of course I don't like to do
Last edited by tha sista; Jun 8, 2011 at 03:43 PM.
Burning Brakes
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From: delco pa
It sounds like a loud "spinning" noise from the tach. The tach jumps when it is making the noise. It coincides with the cluster being removed for about 2 months while the odo was being repaired. i.e. never heard the noise before.
The noise will disappear of significantly decrease when I let off the gas which of course I don't like to do
The noise will disappear of significantly decrease when I let off the gas which of course I don't like to do
Last edited by knockbill; Jun 8, 2011 at 03:32 PM.
Melting Slicks
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From: Strongsville, OH
2016 C2 of the Year Finalist
It sounds like a loud "spinning" noise from the tach. The tach jumps when it is making the noise. It coincides with the cluster being removed for about 2 months while the odo was being repaired. i.e. never heard the noise before.
The noise will disappear of significantly decrease when I let off the gas which of course I don't like to do
The noise will disappear of significantly decrease when I let off the gas which of course I don't like to do
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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From: Ky
I had it unscrewed but was afraid I'd mess something up until I checked here first so I screwed the cap back and put the chrome piece back on and the air filter back on.
Thread Starter
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From: Ky
I'm confused. Are you wanting to lube the speedo or the tach cable?? If your tach is jumping it could need grease inside on the gear in the distributor connection or the cable can be disconnected behind the tach at the cluster. Speedo connects to the transmission but not the tach.
Burning Brakes
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From: delco pa
Uh, I guess I am calling it a speedo cable, but I am referring to the tach cable? It is on the engine side of the firewall. I located it by taking off the air filter, and that chrome piece that covers up a round thing with a bunch of cables coming out of it to get to it.
I had it unscrewed but was afraid I'd mess something up until I checked here first so I screwed the cap back and put the chrome piece back on and the air filter back on.
I had it unscrewed but was afraid I'd mess something up until I checked here first so I screwed the cap back and put the chrome piece back on and the air filter back on.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Grosse Ile MI
Oh, I thought you were talking about the speedometer cable when in fact you were speaking of the tachometer cable. Sooo, forget about all the reference to the speedometer cable that I previously posted except the finesse and "square thingy" still apply.
Thread Starter
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From: Ky
Ok, now that I have learned some terminology today, I appreciate you help.
I should have said I have a '64. I will tackle this tonight when it cools off a bit and report back.
Thanks for your help.
I should have said I have a '64. I will tackle this tonight when it cools off a bit and report back.
Thanks for your help.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,665
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From: Buffalo New York
It sounds like a loud "spinning" noise from the tach. The tach jumps when it is making the noise. It coincides with the cluster being removed for about 2 months while the odo was being repaired. i.e. never heard the noise before.
The noise will disappear or significantly decrease when I let off the gas which of course I don't like to do
The noise will disappear or significantly decrease when I let off the gas which of course I don't like to do
Dennis
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From: Ky
Your "spinning" noise and jumping needle may be related to a dry cable but don't be surprised if it is actually the head unit of your tach. My '66 tach had the same symptoms but not related to the cable. It was the head unit. So this past winter my cluster was restored including repairing the tach head unit. I had new cables made and I used a NAPA product called Syl-Glyde on the cables. It has lots of applications including speedo/tach cables.
Dennis
Dennis
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,665
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From: Buffalo New York
You state your cluster is out. You should be able to spin your tach using a cordless drill somehow. I HAVE NEVER DONE IT but it seems possible to me. Forward or reverse and RPM's on the drill I'm not sure. That way before you put it back together you could know head unit or cable. Perhaps someone here could expand on that.
Dennis
Dennis