Easy way to lubricate a speedo cable?

[Fred K-OR]

Thanks in advance for info on this subject.

Sorry I maybe could have found out how to lubricate the speedometer cable in one of the books I have but thought maybe someone on here may have a neat way to do it. So thought I would ask.

If I remember correctly, a person if they want to remove the cable, has to pull it out from the end attached to the speedometer? Is this correct? Then you can do your thing as far as lubrication. Then the question is, what type of lub should a person use? Oil, grease, etc.?

Or can a person just take the end off the speedometer and squirt some 3 in one oil down the tube?

Anyway just wanted to find an easy way to do it. My speedo seemed to flip around this morning when I took it for a drive and I am thinking it needs a least the cable lubed.

[burner31]

Personal choice
You're going to get dozens of different answers
I just did mine (decline to answer)
This one should be fun

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by burner31

Personal choice
You're going to get dozens of different answers
I just did mine (decline to answer)
This one should be fun

Hi Keith,
let me guess white lithium

[Tom Wesenberg]

Squirt some oil down the top of the housing, then slide the inner cable across the palm of your hand and down the housing. The palm of your hand should have some Mystik JT-6 High Temp red grease. I've always had a smooth speedometer and no squeeks when using this method.

Using a small brush to apply the grease would be less messy, but don't we like to get grease on ourselves.

[oldbike99]

I am not sure why no one has suggested "Speedometer Cable Lube". It is a little hard to remove from your hands, but some latex gloves cures that, and it is not affected by cold weather operation.

By the way, first remove the ground cable from the battery, then remove the dash panel, unscrew the cable, slide out the inner cable, wipe off the old lube with brake cleaner and re-lube with the graphite. All except the last 6 to 8 inches. This is to avoid getting too much lube up in the speedo head.

[CarlG]

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Speedometer Cable Lube is what I have used. Got it at NAPA, comes in a little squeeze bottle, enough for one cable. It's a semi-liquid with graphite, just take it loose from the speedometer and let it run downhill inside the outer sheath. Worked for me.

[chap52]

I use some stuff called "Lock-Ease graphite lock fluid". I've had this little squeeze bottle of the stuff for probably 40 years. Always seemed to work. Ain't got no technical info about it.

[d.]

Roger Kaufmann, tech advisor for MARC, had a detailed article on how he successfully did the speedo cable lube. He used STP and hung the cable from a ladder, let it drip overnight and never had a problem from then on.
Look this up in the MARC technical articles search.

[Mike V. Florida]

Powered graphite and oil will work, any grease that will not harden will work as well. Motorcycle shops will have the lube as well.

[redmodelt]

Pump grease into the u-joint housing till you see it in the speedometer display windows.
Sorry just had to say that.

[burner31]

RedmodelT:

I like the way you think

[Kurt in NJ]

If the speedo wavers it could also be a kink in the inner cable, the test for that is to pull the inner cable out and roll it on a flat surface, if it rolls smooth no kink, if it bounces and flops there is a kink
another cause is to tight of a bend ---there should be no bend of less than about 7" radius

I have been using CV joint lube lately, mostly because it works and I have it in a handy squeeze tube

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by burner31

RedmodelT:

I like the way you think

Yo, Brother Oakie,
Your FUNNY made my day! Mornings are the WORST time to get my head & my body going I hope mine & the Dog's "FUNNIES" help someone smile & forget their cares & hurts, even if for only a few minutes!
Back to CABLES, I use Delco-Remy Dist Cam lube, seems to work well & doesn't seem to get old & hard.
Bill W. & the Sleeping Dog

[Fred K-OR]

Originally Posted by redmodelt

Pump grease into the u-joint housing till you see it in the speedometer display windows.
Sorry just had to say that.

I did that(shows my Model A smarts) and now I have to clean up a mess of U-Joint grease off the floor every time I park the coupe. Thanks for the advise as to what not to do!

[FL&WVMIKE]

I have always used plain ole Vasoline. You get a gob in your hand and just feed the cable through the gob, into the housing. It will not get hard when it is cold and does not run when it is hot.
MIKE (mikeburch)

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by FL&WVMIKE

I have always used plain ole Vasoline. You get a gob in your hand and just feed the cable through the gob, into the housing. It will not get hard when it is cold and does not run when it is hot.
MIKE (mikeburch)

Is thet the SAME jar you keep under your PILLOW?---
Bill W.

[burner31]

Just got done going around the block, speedo works great, no noise and indicates smoothly.
Last time that speedo showed any movement was way back in 1958.
Had it up to 47 MPH, can't wait to get her on the open road, but the rain is coming and it's back in the garage.
Now if only my Aooga horn would get here.