Speedometer Noise - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

stickshift_or_walk · 06-12-2005, 11:48 PM

Hey gang,

Could use some advice on the '69. My son is finally driving it around town, and the only problem to show up so far is an intermittent noise from the speedometer. Definitely does it longer and more often at higher speeds; a vibrating/buzzing noise (no speed warning

). Noise disappears completely when we disconnect the speedo.

The needle does nothing special during the noise - steady and smooth.

Any thoughts/advice?

Thanks...SSOW

sneakysnake · 06-13-2005, 12:15 AM

Unhook it from the tranny,pull the inner cable out of the outer sleeve,check it for wear,clean it,lubricate it,and put it back together.they gum up and get dry and it causes the to twitch going down the road.

71-longbed · 06-13-2005, 03:11 AM

does ATF come pouring out when you unhook the speedo from the tranny ??

69 Short Fleet · 06-13-2005, 04:12 AM

^ No the gear drive for the speedo that goes into the tranny housing shd retain the tranny fluid (on the manual trannies anyway). I went through a simular ticking noise with a S-15 GMC I once owned, I thought it was coming from the head (on the 4 cyl.)but it turned out to be the small gear box that the speedo cable attaches to (at tranny) almost drove me bonkers figuring it out. I pulled it off cleaned it out, regreased everthing, reinstalled it and problem fixed. Doug

stickshift_or_walk · 06-13-2005, 09:07 AM

Thanks, guys....we'll pull, clean & lube it asap. Sure beats pulling the speedo.

I want to remember the white lithium grease as the weapon of choice in this situation. Is that right?

While we're at it, does the small gear box at the tranny need to be lubed, and if so, how?

SSOW

cdowns · 06-13-2005, 10:27 AM

white lithium grease will do ok ,but i prefer the speedo cable lube as it does a better job and doesn't gumup it's graphite based and actually polishes the cable as it's beind used. it's available in most autoparts stores

roadking · 06-13-2005, 11:02 AM

you will get some tranny fluid leaking out on a auto trans when you remove the speedo gear.

bobs409 · 06-15-2005, 07:26 AM

To lube a speedometer cable, I've always just "fished" the cable into a quart of trans fluid, then pull out while lightly wiping off the excess and reinstall. I never had a problem using this method.

70c10 · 06-15-2005, 07:42 AM

When I pulled my bullet out it leaked alot of fluid into a bucket I had. I think I should have jacked the rear of the truck up to keep the fluid toward the front.

06-12-2005, 11:48 PM	#1
stickshift_or_walk Left Foot Functioning Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duncan, OK Posts: 348	Speedometer Noise Hey gang, Could use some advice on the '69. My son is finally driving it around town, and the only problem to show up so far is an intermittent noise from the speedometer. Definitely does it longer and more often at higher speeds; a vibrating/buzzing noise (no speed warning ). Noise disappears completely when we disconnect the speedo. The needle does nothing special during the noise - steady and smooth. Any thoughts/advice? Thanks...SSOW __________________ 69 C10 (#1 son's ride) 72 C20 (Dad's farm truck) 82 K30 (Ex - brush pumper project)

06-13-2005, 03:11 AM	#3
71-longbed Its Magically Delicious Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oregon Posts: 2,398	does ATF come pouring out when you unhook the speedo from the tranny ?? __________________ 71 C10 LWB 350sbc -TH350 12 bolt 3.42 Posi Of all my favorite things to do, The utmost is to have a brew. My love grows for my foamy friend, with each thirst-quenching elbow bend. Beer so frosty, smooth, and cold it's paradise pure liquid gold. Yes beer means many things to me that's all for now cus I gotta pee.

06-13-2005, 09:07 AM	#5
stickshift_or_walk Left Foot Functioning Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duncan, OK Posts: 348	Thanks, guys....we'll pull, clean & lube it asap. Sure beats pulling the speedo. I want to remember the white lithium grease as the weapon of choice in this situation. Is that right? While we're at it, does the small gear box at the tranny need to be lubed, and if so, how? SSOW __________________ 69 C10 (#1 son's ride) 72 C20 (Dad's farm truck) 82 K30 (Ex - brush pumper project)

06-13-2005, 10:27 AM	#6
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	white lithium grease will do ok ,but i prefer the speedo cable lube as it does a better job and doesn't gumup it's graphite based and actually polishes the cable as it's beind used. it's available in most autoparts stores __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

06-13-2005, 11:02 AM	#7
roadking Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: kc Posts: 229	you will get some tranny fluid leaking out on a auto trans when you remove the speedo gear. __________________ 71 C10 SWB BLACK AND WHITE 350 CRATE TH350 ENJOY LIFE

06-13-2005, 12:15 AM	#2
sneakysnake It's a catastrophic success. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,077	Unhook it from the tranny,pull the inner cable out of the outer sleeve,check it for wear,clean it,lubricate it,and put it back together.they gum up and get dry and it causes the to twitch going down the road.

06-13-2005, 04:12 AM	#4
69 Short Fleet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada Posts: 1,086	^ No the gear drive for the speedo that goes into the tranny housing shd retain the tranny fluid (on the manual trannies anyway). I went through a simular ticking noise with a S-15 GMC I once owned, I thought it was coming from the head (on the 4 cyl.)but it turned out to be the small gear box that the speedo cable attaches to (at tranny) almost drove me bonkers figuring it out. I pulled it off cleaned it out, regreased everthing, reinstalled it and problem fixed. Doug

06-15-2005, 07:26 AM	#8
bobs409 1969 Custom 30 wrecker Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Pottsville, Pa Posts: 2,611	To lube a speedometer cable, I've always just "fished" the cable into a quart of trans fluid, then pull out while lightly wiping off the excess and reinstall. I never had a problem using this method. __________________ Bob 63 Impala 283/PG/3.36 (under restoration) 66 Impala 327/PG/3.36 66 Chevelle SS 409/M22/3.55 69 Chevelle 307/PG/3.08 (future restoration) 69 C10 short stepside 454/TH350/3.73 69 Custom 30 tow truck 350/4 spd/4.10 (resto done, CRUISIN TIME!) 71 Cheyenne 20 fleetside 350/4 spd/4.10 71 Chevelle 6/PG/3.08 72 Chevelle 454/M21/4.10

06-15-2005, 07:42 AM	#9
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	When I pulled my bullet out it leaked alot of fluid into a bucket I had. I think I should have jacked the rear of the truck up to keep the fluid toward the front. __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

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