Speedometer Cable Lube
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 134
From: Blanco County, TX
Speedometer Cable Lube
Bouncing needle. I lubricated with white lithium grease as recommended by many and it made it worse...to the point of making noise in the gauge at more than 50 mph. So I pulled the inner cable, wiped it off, ran it in several more times to remove as much of the the lithium grease as I could. Then tried some light silicon oil (500* temp rating) like the speedometer cable lubricant I'd use decades ago and that smoothed the speedometer needle out beautifully....for about 10 miles. Then it went back to bouncing but not as bad. The inner cable doesn't appear to be worn, nicked or kinked in any way and easily engages with the transmission. With the lighter oil it definitely spun by hand with much less resistance. When I used the lithium grease I had a bad feeling about it.
What are you guys using to lube the speedo cable? Anybody use graphite powder?
Is it possible/likely that the inside of outer cable is worn or nicked?
Any tips clean old the old grease/oil out of the outer cable other than a solvent bath and dry?
When I pull the outer cable off the transmission, is it going to drain the gear oil out? Not a problem, since I probably should change it anyway. Just want to be prepared.
Thanks
What are you guys using to lube the speedo cable? Anybody use graphite powder?
Is it possible/likely that the inside of outer cable is worn or nicked?
Any tips clean old the old grease/oil out of the outer cable other than a solvent bath and dry?
When I pull the outer cable off the transmission, is it going to drain the gear oil out? Not a problem, since I probably should change it anyway. Just want to be prepared.
Thanks
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,579
Likes: 7,020
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Rookie reply: Thicker grease causing it to worsen makes me think several things you mentioned are causing problems.
Remove the cable from the transmission...use a LOW SPEED drill to spin the inner cable at 60 mph...........Does the fluctuation still happen?
Look into the female square hole in the transmission.......Does the hole appear to have "rounded corners"? Does the end of the inner drive cable appear to have rounded corners?
Let us know what you discover.
I use only a VERY THIN coat of bearing grease on my inner cable.
Remove the cable from the transmission...use a LOW SPEED drill to spin the inner cable at 60 mph...........Does the fluctuation still happen?
Look into the female square hole in the transmission.......Does the hole appear to have "rounded corners"? Does the end of the inner drive cable appear to have rounded corners?
Let us know what you discover.
I use only a VERY THIN coat of bearing grease on my inner cable.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
I used spray graphite and kept spraying until some liquid came from the other end. Did this one about four years ago to fix the wobbly needle that quickly progressed from minor to virtually the entire speed range. Never had to touch it again.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 134
From: Blanco County, TX
Rookie reply: Thicker grease causing it to worsen makes me think several things you mentioned are causing problems.
Remove the cable from the transmission...use a LOW SPEED drill to spin the inner cable at 60 mph...........Does the fluctuation still happen?
Look into the female square hole in the transmission.......Does the hole appear to have "rounded corners"? Does the end of the inner drive cable appear to have rounded corners?
Let us know what you discover.
I use only a VERY THIN coat of bearing grease on my inner cable.
Remove the cable from the transmission...use a LOW SPEED drill to spin the inner cable at 60 mph...........Does the fluctuation still happen?
Look into the female square hole in the transmission.......Does the hole appear to have "rounded corners"? Does the end of the inner drive cable appear to have rounded corners?
Let us know what you discover.
I use only a VERY THIN coat of bearing grease on my inner cable.
Since you said you used a thin coat of grease, that may have been my problem. Too much grease. I'll get it up on the lift this weekend and pull the other end to see if I can clean it out and start over.
Or I can get a new cable locally for somewhere between $12 and $18, so I may just push the easy button.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 134
From: Blanco County, TX
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,232
Likes: 1,232
From: PHX AZ
moly dry
Molybendum disulfide grease.....The dark grey metallic stuff. I used to work at a factory that made similar....that's what they used.
https://www.grainger.com/product/2F1...YUPY8:20500731
https://www.grainger.com/product/2F1...YUPY8:20500731
Last edited by L-46man; Sep 14, 2020 at 06:18 PM.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,579
Likes: 7,020
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Try the electric drill test to eliminate the transmission gear as a source of the problem.
If you are ok with pain....unplug the cable from the speedometer AND the transmission....
Then use the drill test to feel any "twitches" in the cable housing or the square cable core.
There is also a tiny geared shaft INSIDE the speedometer that can wear out and cause noise/twitching.....but checking that would be the LAST resort....
Replace the cable first
If you are ok with pain....unplug the cable from the speedometer AND the transmission....
Then use the drill test to feel any "twitches" in the cable housing or the square cable core.
There is also a tiny geared shaft INSIDE the speedometer that can wear out and cause noise/twitching.....but checking that would be the LAST resort....
Replace the cable first
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Dry graphite is the only thing that SHOULD be used on speedo and tach cables. Grease will gum up the cable/sheath and make cable drag much worse. You need 'lubricant'...not goo.
Grease works well to lube metal parts with high loading. ANY drag inside the sheath is a loser.....
Grease works well to lube metal parts with high loading. ANY drag inside the sheath is a loser.....
Last edited by 7T1vette; Sep 15, 2020 at 03:51 AM.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 134
From: Blanco County, TX
Dry graphite is the only thing that SHOULD be used on speedo and tach cables. Grease will gum up the cable/sheath and make cable drag much worse. You need 'lubricant'...not goo.
Grease works well to lube metal parts with high loading. ANY drag inside the sheath is a loser.....
Grease works well to lube metal parts with high loading. ANY drag inside the sheath is a loser.....
