Bouncing speedo needle!!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne Australia
Bouncing speedo needle!!
The needle on my 76 speedo bounces around alittle whilst driving, which makes it hard to determine my accurate speed.
It used to flicker abit so i took it out and cleaned her, now she bounces alittle!!
Any suggestions?
It used to flicker abit so i took it out and cleaned her, now she bounces alittle!!
Any suggestions?
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 3
From: charlotte N.C
Funny to see this thread. Mine, in my 76, just went dead today on my way home from school. In my case, while I was wrenching on the car, I noticed that the insulation around the speedo wire was burned severely by one of duel pipes installed by a previous owner. Just another thing to fix but I always try look at the positives now my car won’t depreciate in value based on high miles. 
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 423
Likes: 7
From: Utah
My '69 did the same no matter what speed. The good news is it stopped...the bad news is it now only displays 0mph. I haven't had a chance to take a look at it (and now it's in storage), but I suspect a loose/broken cable. I doubt the speedo just died.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
You can pull the cable housing then remove, clean and re-grease the cable with white lithium. Only grease the lower 2/3 of the cable (the trans end) to prevent grease from "pumping' up in to the speedo later. (Saw that part in an old GM service bulletin years ago) The cable housing wears over time and the cable starts to slop around; greasing it kind of quiets it down a bit.
Do you have cruise control? If so, two cables.
Do you have cruise control? If so, two cables.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Groton MA
The speedometer on my 81 bounced a bit when I bought it. This progressed to chirping and bouncing a lot. I tried lubing it and that lasted 2-3 months before it started bouncing again. I gave up and replaced the cable and it's fine now. I would recommend that if you are going to pull the cable out to lube it just replace it. Its not expensive and it is not a job you want to do twice.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,565
Likes: 2
From: Sparta Mo.
This is actually very common on older cars.
Remove the instrument cluster
With the speedometer disconnected from the cable, you can grab the inner cable and remove from the sleeve. (the sleeve will stay in the car and hooked up to the transmission)
Use solvent to completely clean the cable
Use the heavier lithium grease (black in color) from a grease gun tube
Slather it up so the cable is covered at least as high as the firewall. (where the tightest bend in the cable is)
Re-insert the cable into the sleeve and re-assemble the dash.
I've done this many times on anything from a Corvette to Chevelles, to Ford pick ups. It'll be good for a year. If it doesn't stay quiet for two winters in a row, think about about replacing the cable.
Remove the instrument cluster
With the speedometer disconnected from the cable, you can grab the inner cable and remove from the sleeve. (the sleeve will stay in the car and hooked up to the transmission)
Use solvent to completely clean the cable
Use the heavier lithium grease (black in color) from a grease gun tube
Slather it up so the cable is covered at least as high as the firewall. (where the tightest bend in the cable is)
Re-insert the cable into the sleeve and re-assemble the dash.
I've done this many times on anything from a Corvette to Chevelles, to Ford pick ups. It'll be good for a year. If it doesn't stay quiet for two winters in a row, think about about replacing the cable.
Last edited by earthquake68; Jan 14, 2010 at 04:50 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 8
From: Enid Oklahoma
The speedometer on my 81 bounced a bit when I bought it. This progressed to chirping and bouncing a lot. I tried lubing it and that lasted 2-3 months before it started bouncing again. I gave up and replaced the cable and it's fine now. I would recommend that if you are going to pull the cable out to lube it just replace it. Its not expensive and it is not a job you want to do twice.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne Australia
This is actually very common on older cars.
Remove the instrument cluster
With the speedometer disconnected from the cable, you can grab the inner cable and remove from the sleeve. (the sleeve will stay in the car and hooked up to the transmission)
Use solvent to completely clean the cable
Use the heavier lithium grease (black in color) from a grease gun tube
Slather it up so the cable is covered at least as high as the firewall. (where the tightest bend in the cable is)
Re-insert the cable into the sleeve and re-assemble the dash.
I've done this many times on anything from a Corvette to Chevelles, to Ford pick ups. It'll be good for a year. If it doesn't stay quiet for two winters in a row, think about about replacing the cable.
Remove the instrument cluster
With the speedometer disconnected from the cable, you can grab the inner cable and remove from the sleeve. (the sleeve will stay in the car and hooked up to the transmission)
Use solvent to completely clean the cable
Use the heavier lithium grease (black in color) from a grease gun tube
Slather it up so the cable is covered at least as high as the firewall. (where the tightest bend in the cable is)
Re-insert the cable into the sleeve and re-assemble the dash.
I've done this many times on anything from a Corvette to Chevelles, to Ford pick ups. It'll be good for a year. If it doesn't stay quiet for two winters in a row, think about about replacing the cable.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne Australia
