The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk New vs rebuilt speedometer

I need to replace my speedometer in my ’53 Chevy and need some guidance as to whether it is best to buy a rebuilt original or simply buy one of the new import speedometers. I have 6 different catalogues with some offering either or both with varying prices. I am looking for dependability and am not hung up on “all original”. Can anyone shed some light here?

I bought the new "guts" from Clasic of America with new basil and glass for my 52 saved a few dollars and it works and looks good.


Pete

John,

I did as Pete describes, but my speedometer worked fine - it just needed to be "spruced up". As Pete says, it looks good (and I will do this again with the speedometers on the two trucks I am restoring).

Does you speedometer work OK? If not, you have to decide if you want to buy a non-stock-looking replacement, a reproduction unit (if one is available from a USA source or as an import), or a rebuilt unit (or have yours rebuilt).

http://redlinegaugeworks.com/

These guys did mine in my 57, made the stocker look new and rebuilt the speedo and gauges. Located in Valencia, So Cal



Don J

A speedometer shop told me that if my speed indicator needle swung widely at slow speeds, it was the cable. If it was smooth at slow but varied wildly at high speeds, the speedometer needed lubrication. Mine did both. I removed it and also removed the back. Upon inspection, I found a tiny hole coming up from the bottom and applied some 3 in one oil. It all of a sudden spun easily by hand. I cleaned the worm gear that drives the odometer as best as I could and lubed it with some grease. I put it all back together and test drove it up to 70 mph. It still jerked at slow speeds but was as smooth as silk at high speeds. I now believe that my speedometer is good (now lubricated) and that all that I need to replace is the cable.
John

John, it seems like time to lube the speedo cable. I have a good friend who recently retired from the Toyota corporate headquarters technical department in Torrance California. About 25 years ago he gave me some Lexus speedo lube from when they still used mechanical speedos. That stuff solves the jerky needle syndrome every time!

I use it in my '71 Dodge van that I bought new and the needle is still steady at 340,000+ on the odometer.

Ray,
I previously asked about proper lube for a speedometer cable and received answers of only use graphite and never grease to use good red chassis grease. No one said to use a little or a lot. I asked a speedo shop and they said red chassis grease so I tried it. I think that I have a kink so I am going to replace the cable anyway since it is lubed and still jumping at slow speed.
John

I just replaced my cable and it came with a small tube of grease (It's a light weight grease). The instructions said to remove the inner cable and grease it before installing it in the vechicle.