I'm working out a few bugs on the convertible, now that she is on the road. One such problem is that the speedo is screaming like a banshee. Last night, I took the cable out and gave it a good oiling, but it was obvious that I had done that before I installed it. So, I think I have it narrowed down to two options:
1. The speedometer housing itself needs to be oiled. Honestly, I re-built it so long ago I can't remember if I oiled it then, but I'm thinking I surely had to (I'm usually very thorough). Is there a good method for oiling the housing or does it need to be taken apart again?
2. I thought I remember reading on one of the forums not long ago that there were two (or more) different lengths of speedo cables (can't remember where I saw the thread). Maybe I have the wrong one? Does anyone have a known length for stepdown with Hydramatic?
I did a search on the forums and didn't come up with much and didn't see anything specific in the MPM, the regular manual or the body manual.
What say y'all?
I found the thread on the other forum. I think I'll try oiling the housing and see if that works.
Russ what is the link to the other forum?
thanks
J Lombard
That's weird, I did have it posted on there. Here it is again:
http://forum.hetclub.org/discussion/165652/speedometer-noisy-and-swinging-wildly/p1 ;
Incidentally, I oiled the oil hole in the housing, which, by the way, is a PITA without taking out the gauge, which also would have been a pain. But, I got a small oil can up there with a small spout and got a few drops in there. I took it on a short road test and up to about 40mph, no screaming. Haven't tried it at highway speed yet, but will this weekend as Saturday morning she's due in the alignment shop to get the front end squared away. That trip is about 25 miles from my house.
Pull The Center Cable Out Coat It Real Good With White Lub And Put It Back>>> Problem Gone :):)
Harley03joe
Joe, what is White Lube? Lithium?
I pulled the cable off of mine squirted a little oil in it stoped the noise
Yes Pat Its White Lithium
Sorry
Joe
You can also pull the cable out of the housing and soak it overnight in a sdmall bucket with ATF . Have did this one a couple of my cars and my problems wenty away !
If the noise seems to be from the speedometer instead of the cable, locate the small hole on top of the speedo, near the threaded connection for the cable, and put a couple of drops of 3 in 1 in it. That brass bushing that the inner cable plugs into does not like to be run dry.
Oil will not go into the head until you remove the small brass cup that is in the hole. Speedo must be removed to remove the brass cup. Then put 3 drops of Marvel Mystery oil in the hole and forget about the brass cup as it will soak the wick in the hole. Walt.
Thanks, Walt . . . guess I never encountered one that still had the cup in it.
BTW - a number of you have said that you removed the cable. I assume that means unscrewing the knurled knob on the speedo cable housing and then withdrawing the inner cable from the housing. I tried this last night from underneath my car, since it was on jack stands anyway, just to lube the cable. But the inner cable didn't come out easily with my fingers, even though i could spin it with no trouble, I was afraid to pull on it with a pair of pliers. Does the cable have to come out from the top?
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