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Author Topic: the speedometer is acting up  (Read 2348 times)

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Offline Red Beauty

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the speedometer is acting up
« on: December 11, 2013, 10:58:23 PM »
The speedometer is acting up! It acts OK sometimes though it bounces around + or - 5 mph. Other times it reads 30 mph too high? What does this mean? What am I to do? How do I do it!? Thanks guys. I appreciate any help I can get.
😊😊:-) 

Offline dga57

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Re: the speedometer is acting up
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2013, 01:57:45 AM »
My wife had a Ford Tempo 20+ years ago that did that about every twelve months... she'd have the speedometer cable lubricated with graphite and that always took care of the problem.
Dwayne :)
Pinto Car Club of America - Serving the Ford Pinto enthusiast since 1999.

Offline Red Beauty

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Re: the speedometer is acting up
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2013, 02:29:46 AM »
Well thank you, Dwayne. :-) 
I'll try that.
William

Offline amc49

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Re: the speedometer is acting up
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2013, 04:22:21 AM »
If that doesn't work, then the gauge head itself can be dry of lube. I have made up a fixture before to use on motorcycle and car that uses rubber hose and grease gun to clamp onto the outside of the gauge unit and when sealed you carefully pump a SMALL amount of grease in to lube the bushing right at end of gauge. Done correctly the gauge will go to working perfect and for years.

If you pump in too much to foul the flyball magnet you have screwed up. Just a LITTLE.

Quick way to test if the gauge? Grab the input stem that sticks out and spin it by flipping it with fingers while watching needle, if the needle moves jerky the head bushing is dry.

Offline Wittsend

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Re: the speedometer is acting up
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2013, 12:27:33 PM »
Generally the reason the needle bounces is because the cable is lacking lube.  It will bind in the sheathing until enough torque has built up that it snaps a few quick rotations and then bind again. That is what causes the needle bounce.

Like AMC 49 has stated the bushing in the speedometer itself can dry out. Usually in that case there is a chatter sound from speedometer

Offline Red Beauty

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Re: the speedometer is acting up
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2013, 12:56:52 PM »
How do Ilube the cable?
Thanks for your help guys!

Offline amc49

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Re: the speedometer is acting up
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2013, 12:27:20 AM »
Yes, chatter when hand spinning the head is a dead giveaway.

Offline jeremysdad

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Re: the speedometer is acting up
« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2014, 02:55:20 PM »
How do Ilube the cable?
Thanks for your help guys!

I use lithium (spray can), but you have to remove the cable from the back of the cluster. What year model is this? The later models have a reputation for disintegrated rear cluster housings. 75 and up, I believe? When I did mine, I followed the instructions (loosely) from my since disappearing Chilton's manual. Hopefully someone can give you better directions, it was the summer of 2012 when I did mine. lol

Offline amc49

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Re: the speedometer is acting up
« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2014, 11:09:22 PM »
As long as no one has been inside the unit to screw around with the flywheel return spring there is really very little to disintegrate.. ......