tach needle flutter
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Actually, you might need less. A very light wipe on the cable surface is all that is required; too much will cause it to gum up and bind (as you are describing). Some folks are adamant about NOT using any grease, but without some sort of lube, the cable will rub and start to bind in any curved sections. Others will say to use graphite because it is a dry lubricant. Let's see what others recommend.
Race Director
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 136
From: Out of Site...Out of Mind. Corvette: anything else is just transportation.
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Had the cable on my '75 break last Fall. It fluttered badly after driving for a long period of time.
Got the new one on. It seemed to work smoothly, for a while. It flutters now after a while on the road. But not nearly as bad as before.
Guess it's just part of owning a Classic Vette.
Got the new one on. It seemed to work smoothly, for a while. It flutters now after a while on the road. But not nearly as bad as before.
Guess it's just part of owning a Classic Vette.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,213
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
I greased the whole length of mine to make sure there weren't any dry spots, then wiped off most of the excess. I used high temp wheel bearing grease because it gets so hot under my hood and I figured this might not melt and flow.
Did you grease your distributor gears?
Also, you can clock your distributor to streighten out the cable, or they make 90 deg adapters also.
Did you grease your distributor gears?
Also, you can clock your distributor to streighten out the cable, or they make 90 deg adapters also.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I'm glad most of you guys posted you wiped off all excess!
Using grease on a speedo cable can solve your problem but only temporary. Over time, regular grease or oil can do more harm than good! You really shouldn’t use oil or grease on a speedometer cable or tachometer cable!
The cable is reverse wound and the oil or grease will end up in the speedometer head and over time it will bind the cable. The head (or known as the first worm and magnet) has an oil impregnated bushing and the additional oil will increase the failure rate of this bushing!
If you are going to lubricate your cable you can purchase a special lubricant and it should be applied on a lint free towel and the cable drawn through it. You want to find (or use) a graphite based lubricant! http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=25927
Over the years we have seen way to many of these gauges come in our shop only to find the head packed with grease! While the grease hurts the first worm bushing, it will also attract dust and dirt from inside the car and it really makes for a mess on the inside of the speedometer. It really will do more harm than good!
IMHO
Willcox Inc.
Using grease on a speedo cable can solve your problem but only temporary. Over time, regular grease or oil can do more harm than good! You really shouldn’t use oil or grease on a speedometer cable or tachometer cable!
The cable is reverse wound and the oil or grease will end up in the speedometer head and over time it will bind the cable. The head (or known as the first worm and magnet) has an oil impregnated bushing and the additional oil will increase the failure rate of this bushing!
If you are going to lubricate your cable you can purchase a special lubricant and it should be applied on a lint free towel and the cable drawn through it. You want to find (or use) a graphite based lubricant! http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=25927
Over the years we have seen way to many of these gauges come in our shop only to find the head packed with grease! While the grease hurts the first worm bushing, it will also attract dust and dirt from inside the car and it really makes for a mess on the inside of the speedometer. It really will do more harm than good!
IMHO
Willcox Inc.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
I greased the whole length of mine to make sure there weren't any dry spots, then wiped off most of the excess. I used high temp wheel bearing grease because it gets so hot under my hood and I figured this might not melt and flow.
Did you grease your distributor gears?
Also, you can clock your distributor to streighten out the cable, or they make 90 deg adapters also.
Did you grease your distributor gears?
Also, you can clock your distributor to streighten out the cable, or they make 90 deg adapters also.
