The Ford Barn

tubman · 08-14-2022, 03:01 PM

Last fall, the first time I took my car out after the weather turned cold, the speedometer started making a noise and jumping around. I pulled the cable, cleaned and lubed it and put it back in, which seemed to solve the problem.

A couple of days ago, it was 52 degrees when I took off for town. As soon as I hit about 50 mph, the speedometer started really jumping badly and making a terrible screeching sound. I checked the cable and it still seems well lubed (with special speedometer cable lubricant). I then searched the forum, and it looks to me that the speedometer head itself needs to be lubricated. I found all kinds of information about the earlier cars, but nothing about the later models. I don't think the lubricant port is the same place as the earlier cars. Does anyone know where it is or how to lube one of these?

(At my age, I'm seriously "under-the-dash" impaired.)

35ragtop · 08-14-2022, 03:38 PM

Hi Tubman,
I have also experienced these symptoms recently in my 48 Mercury. I did the research and it sounded straight forward. I decided to remove the speedo. IE. remove front seat, to make room for my body, remove heater to make room for my head!
Getting it on the bench, there were no plugs to remove of wicks to oil. So I dismantled it from its case and found a tiny hole on the top of the round body, on the outside hidden by one of the screw heads! no need to dismantle it. I lubricated this for a day or two with three in one oil then reassembled it. Now that its back together it is smooth and accurate once again. A PITA job for those no longer nimble.
My suggestion, find a nimble teenager that will listen to instruction!
good luck, Dave

Merc Cruzer · 08-14-2022, 04:10 PM

Try this post:

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...il+speedometer

I think, this is your speedometer. The arrow shows the oil hole. A little 3in1 oil, and you are good to go.

Wayne Schuenke · 08-14-2022, 04:18 PM

my 50 ford speedometer has a small hole just above the cable housing that oils the head

tubman · 08-14-2022, 07:07 PM

Thanks guys. I'll crawl up there (as best I can) and see if I can find the lube hole.

Thanks "Merc Cruzer" for the picture.

petehoovie · 08-14-2022, 08:20 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

Try this post:

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...il+speedometer

I think, this is your speedometer. The arrow shows the oil hole. A little 3in1 oil, and you are good to go.

Merc Cruzer · 08-14-2022, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

Thanks guys. I'll crawl up there (as best I can) and see if I can find the lube hole.

Thanks "Merc Cruzer" for the picture.

I am not sure how a 53 Ford speedo comes out. My 53' Merc has 5 screws and you can tilt it forward to get to the back.

I found the picture on the web. Quite a few of the front, but very few of the backs. Maybe some one will chime in on how to get the speedo out, unless you have done it before.

The 3in1 oil, in that container, works great, just for this purpose.

Good luck with the project.

papanick · 08-15-2022, 04:02 PM

Hay it may need to be serviced have it total cleaned and rebuild at the same time.

08-14-2022, 03:01 PM	#1
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,319	Noisy speedometer - 1951 Ford Last fall, the first time I took my car out after the weather turned cold, the speedometer started making a noise and jumping around. I pulled the cable, cleaned and lubed it and put it back in, which seemed to solve the problem. A couple of days ago, it was 52 degrees when I took off for town. As soon as I hit about 50 mph, the speedometer started really jumping badly and making a terrible screeching sound. I checked the cable and it still seems well lubed (with special speedometer cable lubricant). I then searched the forum, and it looks to me that the speedometer head itself needs to be lubricated. I found all kinds of information about the earlier cars, but nothing about the later models. I don't think the lubricant port is the same place as the earlier cars. Does anyone know where it is or how to lube one of these? (At my age, I'm seriously "under-the-dash" impaired.) Last edited by tubman; 08-14-2022 at 09:16 PM.

08-14-2022, 03:38 PM	#2
35ragtop Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Gold Coast , Australia Posts: 249	Re: Noisy sepeedometer - 1951 Ford Hi Tubman, I have also experienced these symptoms recently in my 48 Mercury. I did the research and it sounded straight forward. I decided to remove the speedo. IE. remove front seat, to make room for my body, remove heater to make room for my head! Getting it on the bench, there were no plugs to remove of wicks to oil. So I dismantled it from its case and found a tiny hole on the top of the round body, on the outside hidden by one of the screw heads! no need to dismantle it. I lubricated this for a day or two with three in one oil then reassembled it. Now that its back together it is smooth and accurate once again. A PITA job for those no longer nimble. My suggestion, find a nimble teenager that will listen to instruction! good luck, Dave

08-14-2022, 04:18 PM	#4
Wayne Schuenke Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Darien wi Posts: 45	Re: Noisy sepeedometer - 1951 Ford my 50 ford speedometer has a small hole just above the cable housing that oils the head

08-14-2022, 07:07 PM	#5
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,319	Re: Noisy sepeedometer - 1951 Ford Thanks guys. I'll crawl up there (as best I can) and see if I can find the lube hole. Thanks "Merc Cruzer" for the picture.

08-15-2022, 04:02 PM	#8
papanick Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: gouverneur n,y, Posts: 2,756	Re: Noisy speedometer - 1951 Ford Hay it may need to be serviced have it total cleaned and rebuild at the same time.