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Jan 21st, 2020
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,137
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'Bolter
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My speedo used to bounced really bad. Lately, it stops bouncing above 30ish mph and just pegs and 90.
I bought a new cable and hooked up just the dash end tonight. Ran the other end with a drill. Still some bounce, much better, but the speedo head makes a decent amount noise.
I figure it’s time for a clean and lube at minimum. Anyone have a procedure for me?
Last edited by JW51; Tue May 30 2023 07:51 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,629
Gearhead, Moderator for The Swap Meet and General Truck Talk
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JW, Check out this previous thread on your topic. This reply in particular may help the most. Your problem sounds just like the problem I had in my 56 210. The needle would start bouncing around and making an awful screeching noise. Here is how I lubed the speedo in my car: (your truck is probably similar)
Remove the speedo assembly from the truck.
Where the cable screws onto the speedo, look for a little brass cup in a hole. Dig out the cup with a pick or small screwdriver.
Inside the hole will be a little piece of felt. Take it out and clean it with a solvent and dry it completely.
Put a few drops of machine oil on the felt piece, and a couple of drops directly into the hole in the speedo. (most folks recommend sewing machine oil for this, I used Hoppe's gun oil. The colorless oil. Not the Number 9 solvent.)
Replace the felt piece in the hole and the little brass cup.
Use a small drop of oil to lube any other moving parts. Wipe off any excess.
Then you can put it all back together and the noise will be gone.
56chev Lost of great helpful tips in there for the majority of the maladies that affect our AD speedo's. Just my $.02 worth, but sounds like you have a speedometer "head" that needs some cleaning/lube. There are also several notes about over-tightening the speedo cable connector at the speedometer end that can cause similar grief. Let us know how this turns out please. Dan
Last edited by Gdads51; Tue May 30 2023 01:31 PM.
Dan
1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 (My Grandpa's hunting truck)
1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod)
2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver)
US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998)
Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Finally time to get to work on my Grandpa's (now mine) truck!
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,137
OP
'Bolter
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That is a helpful thread and yes, I agree, some Speedo head removal/lubing sounds like the ticket.
How does a guy go about removing the head?
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,629
Gearhead, Moderator for The Swap Meet and General Truck Talk
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JW, You will need to pull the entire speedo assembly from your dash to get in there and do the head lubrication. See Page 12-33 of the '48-'51 Shop Manual [ chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com] for how to remove the speedometer and head assembly from the housing. For further "lube" work on the speedo head, check out this video [ youtube.com]. It isn't for an actual truck speedometer, but the early Chevy speedometer being worked on is similar enough to your needed disassembly and lubrication process. Sorry about the length of the video and the inevitable ads. The meat of the lube process starts after about the 21 minute mark. I would say have fun getting to this, but getting the speedo cluster out is not a "fun task" in my book. Don't forget, for safety sake, disconnect your battery before getting under there. Don't want to let any "smoke" out under the dash.  Good luck and hope your knuckles retain most of their skin! 
Dan
1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 (My Grandpa's hunting truck)
1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod)
2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver)
US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998)
Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Finally time to get to work on my Grandpa's (now mine) truck!
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,137
OP
'Bolter
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After much frustration, I got the speedo head out. As I was cleaning the lubrication hole, I broke the needle.
Is this replaceable? If so, how?
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,137
OP
'Bolter
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Ok, I ordered the needle from Jim Carter, but will definitely need some help with the install. Looks like a very delicate procedure.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,629
Gearhead, Moderator for The Swap Meet and General Truck Talk
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JW, Just a suggestion, but try to use the Search The Site tool link. I did a quick check with the question "How to replace my speedometer needle" and it provide a whole list of links to previous conversations that discuss pretty much anything you need to know on the topic. Lots of previous knowledge available in there to help you with your question. Dan
Dan
1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 (My Grandpa's hunting truck)
1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod)
2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver)
US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998)
Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Finally time to get to work on my Grandpa's (now mine) truck!
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,137
OP
'Bolter
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That does help. My previous searches didn’t turn up any useful results.
Something that’s not totally clear to me even after reading those threads. The Jim Carter website mentions little tabs that are bent around the back of a cast hub.
The threads I found mostly described securing the shaft/spindle, and just prying the old needle off. In so doing, are we removing said hub along with the chrome outer covering that has the needle?
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,629
Gearhead, Moderator for The Swap Meet and General Truck Talk
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JW,
I haven't actually attempted that, although I do need to eventually as my needle has been broken for some time.
I think sometime in the past year or so, member "JonG" did a long post with extra details on the repairs. I didn't find it in my search, so it may have been more than a year back.
Perhaps he will come back and re-share his wisdom?
Dan
Dan
1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 (My Grandpa's hunting truck)
1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod)
2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver)
US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998)
Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Finally time to get to work on my Grandpa's (now mine) truck!
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,137
OP
'Bolter
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I did find an old thread where he detailed replacing the “spindle/shaft.” I didn’t immediately see much about the needle part but may need to look closer.
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