speedometer needle bounce

[66ragtop]

My 66 327 4 speed has a speedo needle bounce problem.

The needle was bouncing from 0 to 15 mph. I removed one end of the cable and lubed it with WD40. This made the bounce worse but still only to about 15mph. Next I replaced the cable with a new one. Not a AC Delco but a generic brand probably made in Tiwain or China. Before I installed the new cable I lubed it lightly with white lithium grease. Now the needle bearly bounces at low speeds but after 50mph it bounces pretty bad. It was rock steady at 55mph with the old cable.

How much and what is the best lube for a speedo cable? Is it possibly the aftermarket cable? Should I try a new AC Delco cable?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Vetsvette2002]

First the bad news, you should have used a DRY speedo cable lube. It won't change the action of the cable with very hot weather or very cold winter days.
Now for the worse news, You will probably have to have the speedometer/odometer repaired and recalibrated. Thats the easy part, the hard part is the removal of the cluster and then the speedo unit itself.
I had a similar problem in my 67 and after the removal, I did the repairs myself. The problem was oil/grease had migrated up into the speedo's magnetic cup and was screwing it all up. Then came the fun of four attemps to rebuild it and finally re-install it.....

 

[JohnZ]

Before you start the process of removing the cluster to get to the speedo, unscrew the bottom end of the cable at the transmission, then remove the speedo gear adapter from the transmission and check the teeth on the plastic gear, and the square hole in the other end where the cable engages the gear. Try the simple things first.

 

[66ragtop]

Thanks for the help. I guess I'll pull the cable and try to clean out the grease and reinstall before I pull the cluster out. The plastic drive gear in the trans is new.
Thanks again
Brian

 

[Jack44]

One of the most expensive repairs going...

 

[jonstr]

Before you start the process of removing the cluster to get to the speedo, unscrew the bottom end of the cable at the transmission, then remove the speedo gear adapter from the transmission and check the teeth on the plastic gear, and the square hole in the other end where the cable engages the gear. Try the simple things first.

Also, you don't say if you replaced just the cable core or the entire cable/sheath assembly, but I'm assuming it was just the core since you said it was a 'generic' replacement.

Check your sheath for kinks or collapsed areas. In particular up near the distributor. The orientation of the cable assembly going into the distributor can cause a pretty sharp bend that will eat through the cable. If you still have your original, check it closely to see if there is any wear on the cable itself - that will tell you where on the sheath to look.