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I would examine the cable for damage first and replace it if need be -- if the old cable looks good then try lubing the cable liberally and then if no joy send the speedo out. A dry cable can bind and cause a jumping needle. You can chuck the tranny end up to a variable speed drill and simulate driving to test the cable.
HOWever the fact your odometer quit makes me think you are in for a head unit repair as Doug suggests...get the tach checked out and calibrated at the same time and save yourself add'l grief.
I have just about the same thing happen right after I got my '62. The speedo would jump around and every once in while it would make noise like a siren. Before spending a BUNCH of money on the speedometer rebuild I replaced the entire cable. I pulled the cable out and it looked OK and I tried lubing it but it behaved the same. I examined the outside casing of the cable and it had a couple of "bad" spots so I replaced it. Problem gone!
I would examine the cable for damage first and replace it if need be -- if the old cable looks good then try lubing the cable liberally and then if no joy send the speedo out. A dry cable can bind and cause a jumping needle. You can chuck the tranny end up to a variable speed drill and simulate driving to test the cable.
HOWever the fact your odometer quit makes me think you are in for a head unit repair as Doug suggests...get the tach checked out and calibrated at the same time and save yourself add'l grief.
Frankie, I think you're right. I replaced the cable unit about 150 miles ago because the outside of the old cable had a burnt spot on it (don't remember how that came to be). The speedo had been jumping around a bit at that time, but nothing like now. Only a 20 mph variation from time to time, but the odometer worked.
I guess it's cluster removal time now. Actually, I had to replace the tach last year about this time, so I'm well versed in that procedure. This time I might remove the steering wheel as I put a little nick in my steering wheel hub last time and don't want to do that again, even after trying to keep it covered etc!
The '57 has a rebuilt speedo & cable so it should be good to go for some time.
Yeah - removing the steering wheel isn't that tough and saves you some headaches...
Its still a PITA job on these cars.... I get a pillow and put a towel on the deck lid and just go inverted under the dash and lay my feet on the towel... The wife swears that's how she' gonna
have me buried in the car.
On my road trip from CO to AZ this week my speedometer started to "scream" at the head unit. I already had an intermittent odometer (for years) but the speedo worked. For now I disconnected the speedo cable at the transmission.
OK. it's time to rebuild the head unit. Has anyone documented a "step by step" procedure for removing the speedo? Last time I had the dash apart I scratched the outside casing. Don't want to do that again! Thanks in advance. Hal
On my road trip from CO to AZ this week my speedometer started to "scream" at the head unit. I already had an intermittent odometer (for years) but the speedo worked. For now I disconnected the speedo cable at the transmission.
OK. it's time to rebuild the head unit. Has anyone documented a "step by step" procedure for removing the speedo? Last time I had the dash apart I scratched the outside casing. Don't want to do that again! Thanks in advance. Hal
I wrote an article on this a while back. PM me and I will send you a copy.
Joe
I wrote an article on this a while back. PM me and I will send you a copy.
Joe
You mentioned you wrote an article on pulling the speedo on a 62. I think my cable broke so I was going to pull it and have the speedo calibrated while I changed things out.
You mentioned you wrote an article on pulling the speedo on a 62. I think my cable broke so I was going to pull it and have the speedo calibrated while I changed things out.
If you want a copy sent me your email address.
Joe
i am a new 61 owner and my speedo has just started jumping around and a metallic whirring sound has appeared from behind the dash. I suspect I may have to repair or replace the speedo cable but there is nothing about this in the Corvette Service Guide so was hoping you could email me your step by step guide mentioned above.
Cheers Mark
i am a new 61 owner and my speedo has just started jumping around and a metallic whirring sound has appeared from behind the dash. I suspect I may have to repair or replace the speedo cable but there is nothing about this in the Corvette Service Guide so was hoping you could email me your step by step guide mentioned above.
Cheers Mark mlowe@bsa.com.au
i am a new 61 owner and my speedo has just started jumping around and a metallic whirring sound has appeared from behind the dash. I suspect I may have to repair or replace the speedo cable but there is nothing about this in the Corvette Service Guide so was hoping you could email me your step by step guide mentioned above.
Cheers Markmlowe@bsa.com.au
You mentioned you wrote an article on pulling the speedo on a 62. I think my cable broke so I was going to pull it and have the speedo calibrated while I changed things out.
Have the tachometer checked at the same time for health/accuracy.....those big cable driven instruments are the failure points on these cars....the "small" gauges are usually bulletproof.
Mine worked perfectly (for the 150 miles I'd driven it) and then had the transmission speedometer gear changed out so it was accurate and shop just told me it's hanging up at 40 mph and then jumping to the correct speed. Does this sound more like a cable problem, rather than the speedometer head. Their suggestion, they pull the head and send it out to be rebuilt......which I'll do if needed.
Wow Frankie!! Your suggestion about the pillow and towel are fantastic! I can't get under my panel, as I can't contort my body in between the seat and the front door frame, so your suggestion might work for me. I'd like to be able to do this kind of work myself instead of farming it out.
Thank you!
BH
Last edited by Dreaming60’s; Jul 3, 2018 at 10:15 AM.