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Old 04-19-2013, 12:38 PM   #1
green30coupe
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Default What do you use for speedometer lube?
What do you use for speedometer lube? I am replacing another entire cable assembly after 2 years. I used the very thin graphite oil sold by most of the suppliers on the last one, but would white lithium or some other grease be better?
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Old 04-19-2013, 12:51 PM   #2
Smurkey
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
Graphite powder works good for me.
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Old 04-19-2013, 12:53 PM   #3
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
I put some grease in my left palm then drag the cable through it as I insert it back into the housing. I also give the housing a few squirts of oil as the cable goes in. I've always done it this way and never had a dry or broken cable.
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Old 04-19-2013, 12:55 PM   #4
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg View Post
I put some grease in my left palm then drag the cable through it as I insert it back into the housing. I also give the housing a few squirts of oil as the cable goes in. I've always done it this way and never had a dry or broken cable.
Tom,
Do you just use Mystik Jt6?
Disregard, Tom. I found your previous post by searching (as I should have done to begin with!)
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Old 04-19-2013, 12:55 PM   #5
MikeK
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
I've always used 3% Moly lithium base grease in speedo cables. It's black, not white. Never had a replacement cable done with it fail. Your results may vary!
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Old 04-19-2013, 01:21 PM   #6
H. L. Chauvin
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For new cable, first used the recommended graphite in a tube -- appeared thin, so in addition, put a glob of white lithium grease on one end & pulled new cable through same -- probably won't live long enough to see it fail.

Speedometer was erratic, gear inside difficult to rotate when turned by hand -- removed hard caked grease inside & replaced with same white lithium -- gear now rotates freely.
Last edited by H. L. Chauvin; 04-19-2013 at 01:22 PM. Reason: typo
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Old 04-19-2013, 01:28 PM   #7
tdlmomowers
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
Flex shaft grease, that is used on string trimmers shafts works good. I get it at my lawn and garden equipment dealer.
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Old 04-19-2013, 01:41 PM   #8
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
I have always used good ole VASOLINE. It does not get stiff in cold weather and it doesn't run when warm.
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Old 04-19-2013, 02:46 PM   #9
RonC
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
I had asked the Lubriplate Lubricants Company that question; What type of grease should be applied to automobile speedometer cables? There response was "we recommend LUBRIPLATE Aero".
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Old 04-19-2013, 02:56 PM   #10
AL in NY
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
I use liquid graphite lock lubricant, flows through the cable end to end.
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Old 04-19-2013, 04:12 PM   #11
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
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I have always used good ole VASOLINE. It does not get stiff in cold weather and it doesn't run when warm.
MIKE
That hasn't been my experience using Vaseline. I used to put it in all the light sockets (important for salt states) but when the bulb got warm the Vaseline would run all over the bulb. Now I use a high temp grease in the sockets.
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Old 04-19-2013, 08:24 PM   #12
BILL WILLIAMSON
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
I use Delco distributor cam lube. Bill W.
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Old 04-19-2013, 09:30 PM   #13
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
I just replaced my Speedometer and cable on Wed., Should I have lubed the cable, it seems quiet.
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Old 04-20-2013, 02:00 AM   #14
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
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I just replaced my Speedometer and cable on Wed., Should I have lubed the cable, it seems quiet.
Yes, I'd pull it back out and lube it.
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Old 04-20-2013, 02:31 AM   #15
green30coupe
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Default Re: What do you use for speedometer lube?
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Originally Posted by spdway1 View Post
I just replaced my Speedometer and cable on Wed., Should I have lubed the cable, it seems quiet.
I would definitely pull it back out and lube it. Any lube would be better than running it dry.
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