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| | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 | I have a 53 Chevy 1 ton and with the colder weather the speedometer jumps up and down. A friend says the cable needs lubed but I think the problem is in the speedometer head itself. All sugestions appreciated, Thanks | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Could be either. You can lube the head using some sewing machine oil (air tool oil will probably work OK too). Close to where the cable attaches there should be an recess with a small opening at the bottom. There is normally some fibrous (cotton?) packing exposed by the opening. I've been told that this is where you are supposed to lube the head by putting a drop of the oil in the recess which is then wicked up by the packing. I've used a small syringe to shoot oil into the packing with some success. While you're doing that you can lube the cable too. I use white lithium grease on mine. Good luck.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,002 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,002 | Might also be the speedometer gear. I just changed the sm465 in 68 C20. The speedometer needle was jumping around and I figured it needed rebuild. Since I changed the trans the needle no longer jumps around. 8-) The old trans had 125k miles on it, afaik it was original trans.
Larry
I don't own a vehicle that isn't old enough to drink.
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,904 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,904 | I find that when my speedo starts jumping or sticking in the cold weather, loosening up on the retaining nut on the back of the speedo solves the problem many times. Funny things happen on mine when that is too tight.
1948 3/4-Ton 5-Window Flatbed Chevrolet 34 Years. Now with a '61 261, 848 head, Rochester Monojet carb, SM420 4-speed, 4.10 rear, dual reservoir MC, Bendix up front, 235/85R16 tires, 12-volt w/alternator, electric wipers and a modern radio in the glove box.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Funny things happen on mine when that is too tight. Funny things often happened to me when I got too tight as well. 
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | Funny things happen on mine when that is too tight. Funny things often happened to me when I got too tight as well. My kinda guy Tiny ..... I go along with the need to clean and re oil the cable advice. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 | I had a jumpy speedo years ago in the winter. For me, it just was part of the car's character. On the warmer days, it was fine again. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,986 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,986 | I think sometimes frost gets into the cable and makes them act up when it's cold. And I'm sure it doesn't help if it's a little dry to begin with. So probably try lubing the cable, as others have suggested. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 52 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 52 | definatly the cable grease is hardening up in the cold...try light oil | | | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 14 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 14 | The speedometer cable in my truck jumps around accompanied by a clicking noise. I asked my brother how to fix it and he told me to clean it good and lub it with trans fluid.
The truck has a two piece cable so I will try cleaning and lubing the upper one first and see how it turns out.
Danny | | |
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