Speedometer Calibration
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 687
Likes: 80
Speedometer Calibration
The odometer in my '56 with light duty 3-speed is remarkably accurate- within 2%. However, the speedometer reads 7 mph slow. The needle points to zero at rest. I have a 19 tooth gear on the cable. Anybody know how to calibrate the needle?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
United Speedometer or a similar shop can fix that. There is a hairspring on the needle that gets adjusted to fix calibration, plus perhaps a good cleaning. I suspect the cost may be close to what a replacement costs.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 687
Likes: 80
Thanks guys-
Kinda figured the gear was correct based on the accurate odometer.
For as long as I've owned the truck, the at rest needle was never visible- dropping below the "0" mark at a standstill. I recently fixed that easily enough Here and thought it would be fixed. No such luck. I can continue to add 7mph as I've always done I suppose!
Kinda figured the gear was correct based on the accurate odometer.
For as long as I've owned the truck, the at rest needle was never visible- dropping below the "0" mark at a standstill. I recently fixed that easily enough Here and thought it would be fixed. No such luck. I can continue to add 7mph as I've always done I suppose!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Because of changed rear gears, mine is off. The odo is consistently 10% low, and the speedo is until about 45 (indicated) mph, then it becomes exponential. 47 = 55, 51 = 60, and so on. I'd love to get an electronic conversion, but for now I just use the tach, which is dead on.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Houston
I use a GPS speedo and avoid all those problems. Totally accurate unless driving in a tunnel or parking garage.
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
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From: Crossville, Tn
I've been looking at GPS speedometers, what kind do you have?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
I have Speed Hut gauges. I like that you can pick from an array of different combinations of design and colors. The GPS also tells you elevation and will tell you your quarter mile time if so desired. They are also very helpful and in my opinion reasonable. I fried my wiring when a friend of mine tried hooking them up and he hooked a ground to a hot by accident. I sent the gauges back in case they were fried along with the wiring harness that came with the gauges. They sent me a new harness and replaced the board that got fried. They charged me $15 total! I will always be their customer.
BTW, they are made in the US too.
BTW, they are made in the US too.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
I have Speed Hut gauges. I like that you can pick from an array of different combinations of design and colors. The GPS also tells you elevation and will tell you your quarter mile time if so desired. They are also very helpful and in my opinion reasonable. I fried my wiring when a friend of mine tried hooking them up and he hooked a ground to a hot by accident. I sent the gauges back in case they were fried along with the wiring harness that came with the gauges. They sent me a new harness and replaced the board that got fried. They charged me $15 total! I will always be their customer.
BTW, they are made in the US too.
BTW, they are made in the US too.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
Ok, is that the 4" set and if so did you have to alter the original holes for them to fit? Is that the antenna on the dash above?
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 135
From: Houston
Take your speedometer out of the dash. Clean and lightly oil the visible moving parts. There is probably a small cap or cup over the bushing that your speedometer cable drives, oil the wick or remove the cup and put a drop of oil in the hole. Do not get any oil in the end of the cup that drives the speedometer needle.
Now you need to calibrate the speedometer. You need a short length of speedometer drive cable, or equivalent, and a variable speed drill. Assemble the drive cable into the drill and speedometer. Run the speedometer at exactly 60 miles per hour. You should go exactly one mile in one minute. If you went less than a mile, reduce spring tension on the speedometer needle and try again. If you went more than a mile, add tension. Repeat until the speedometer is calibrated with itself. Reinstall and smile.
Welder User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 50
From: northwest MT
Take your speedometer out of the dash. Clean and lightly oil the visible moving parts. There is probably a small cap or cup over the bushing that your speedometer cable drives, oil the wick or remove the cup and put a drop of oil in the hole. Do not get any oil in the end of the cup that drives the speedometer needle.
Now you need to calibrate the speedometer. You need a short length of speedometer drive cable, or equivalent, and a variable speed drill. Assemble the drive cable into the drill and speedometer. Run the speedometer at exactly 60 miles per hour. You should go exactly one mile in one minute. If you went less than a mile, reduce spring tension on the speedometer needle and try again. If you went more than a mile, add tension. Repeat until the speedometer is calibrated with itself. Reinstall and smile.
Now you need to calibrate the speedometer. You need a short length of speedometer drive cable, or equivalent, and a variable speed drill. Assemble the drive cable into the drill and speedometer. Run the speedometer at exactly 60 miles per hour. You should go exactly one mile in one minute. If you went less than a mile, reduce spring tension on the speedometer needle and try again. If you went more than a mile, add tension. Repeat until the speedometer is calibrated with itself. Reinstall and smile.
The speedo is from a '49 Ford car...