Speedometer woes

[Mryan]

Does anyone know of a replacement speedometer that will last more than a season? I have replaced about five speedometers (so far) and they all either bounce severely or make crazy noises and or stop all together. I have had both aftermarket and used OEM units. I should also say that the cable and gear are both new and spin freely. After I install a new unit it usually lasts about a month with no issue but eventually drives me crazy. Thoughts?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Mryan

Does anyone know of a replacement speedometer that will last more than a season? I have replaced about five speedometers (so far) and they all either bounce severely or make crazy noises and or stop all together. I have had both aftermarket and used OEM units. I should also say that the cable and gear are both new and spin freely. After I install a new unit it usually lasts about a month with no issue but eventually drives me crazy. Thoughts?

If you have replaced that many I think you are chasing the wrong problem. I would re-route the cable or replace the transmission tail shaft speedometer gear.

If you are using reproduction cables I would find a good original cable. Make sure you have the correct length complete unit because there are different length cables. Pull the cable out of the housing, clean the cable and inside of the housing with a solvent of some kind, (I use carb cleaner) and lube it with a light oil like "3in1" or "Hoppe's Gun Oil". DO NOT use White Lithium Grease!

There is no way you can have that many bad speedometers, period.
.

[PbFut]

Agree. I had jumping guage. Thought it was the guage unit. Removed cable at tranny and connected a drill to the inner cable. The gauge was indicating speeds up to about 25mph and very smooth. Found to be a failing step up adaptor on the cable at tail housing of tranny. Repaired. Gauge worked perfect, but I was getting a drip of tranny fluid. Not understanding the sealing points, I went down the path of finding correct speedo gears for the tail housing to eliminate adaptor. There are 2 different sized gear sets. After a month of figuring out the size issue and correct tooth count, guage now accurate, but I still had a drip. So I made a simple problem way over complicated. The step up adaptor needed repair. Simple with a dab of epoxy. And the speedo gear housing in the tail shaft needed new seals to stop the drip. I did not need to replace the adaptor. All that to say, figure out the real problem first.

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

....lube it with a light oil like "3in1" or "Hoppe's Gun Oil".

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this. Speedometer cables really should have lubricant specific for the application, such as Kable-Ease lubricant. And it should be used sparingly, just a light coating along the entire inner cable leaving the last few inches clean of any lubricant. And it is important that the inner cable and cable housing are thoroughly cleaned first. This advice came to me from a guy who restores old speedometers for a living and since taking his advice I have never had a single issue with a speedometer or cable on any of my old stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/AGS-KABLE-EAS.../dp/B000ZO0EA2

[Mryan]

Thanks for the feedback, I guess I went down the wrong path, after speedo was replaced, they all worked well for a short while. I'll look elsewhere.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Rich69shortfleet

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this. Speedometer cables really should have lubricant specific for the application, such as Kable-Ease lubricant. And it should be used sparingly, just a light coating along the entire inner cable leaving the last few inches clean of any lubricant. And it is important that the inner cable and cable housing are thoroughly cleaned first. This advice came to me from a guy who restores old speedometers for a living and since taking his advice I have never had a single issue with a speedometer or cable on any of my old stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/AGS-KABLE-EAS.../dp/B000ZO0EA2

Also good advice, but as we all know there is more than one way to skin a cat. I have been using the procedure I posted above on all of my builds since 2004 with no issues. That would be 6 trucks and 2 Hot Rods......
.

[70 gmc c2500]

Originally Posted by Mryan

Does anyone know of a replacement speedometer that will last more than a season? I have replaced about five speedometers (so far) and they all either bounce severely or make crazy noises and or stop all together. I have had both aftermarket and used OEM units. I should also say that the cable and gear are both new and spin freely. After I install a new unit it usually lasts about a month with no issue but eventually drives me crazy. Thoughts?

Have you installed lube in the new cable before installing it? You can't just install the cable without lube.