Freeing up a frozen 36 speedometer

[my4dv8]

Hi , we have a couple of 36 speedometers, one with a somewhat rusty body and faded face and numbers they seems to function well . The one we want to use has a nice body and nice face ( don’t we all want that) but after 24 hrs with penetrating oil in the cable input end it still won’t budge. Am I looking at the wrong place for frozen?.

[deuce lover]

There are 3 different types.Waltham,Delco and SW.The parts do not interchange.Is your bezel a push on or crimped on style?You need to remove the bezel,then the needle(maybe).The needle is that hardest to get off without damage as its on a tapered shaft.The screws on the back come off and the unit drops out for access to the mechanism.

[Terry,OH]

There is usually a small oil cup take the plug out of the hole and add some light oil.

[my4dv8]

I took the mechanism out of the case and soaked in penetrating oil where cable goes in but still no luck. It is a delco speedometer. Some say there is a Welch plug near where cable goes in , Found the little brass plug further down than I thought , removed it and the felt. Will wait and see.

[Ken/Alabama]

Warm it up with a propane torch while trying to turn it. I’ve had pretty good luck freeing up some using heat.

[my4dv8]

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Thanks a bunch @Ken/Alabama . The gentle warming, give it a spin, warm it , give it a spin, third time it came good with a little more oil and a spin.

[Tinker]

Heating it up might be just a temporally fix. Once it congeals again it might stick again. Might. Maybe a shot of brake cleaner and flush. Then re-oil. Lithium grease.


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[my4dv8]

Yup, did the brake cleaner thing too, then some degreaser , and lubed it. tested it on the bench with an electronic speed sensor to cable adapter , powered the adapter up , flipped all the switches and it read 60mph for 20 seconds and the odo read 3/10 more as Its supposed to .. So here’s hoping .