Speedometer Bounce...
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 323
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Speedometer Bounce...
Just curious if the speedometer in your guys trucks ever make a noise and bounce around when its really cold? My speedo has always read off and bounced around when the temps got down into the single digits. After I drive it awhile and things warm up it works fine. My dads old 69' did the same thing and my brothers 71'. It has been cold here lately and wondering if something finally grenaded in the cluster causing my speedometer to quit cause the gear and cable are fine.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 148
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Mine doaent, but i have owned vehicles that did. try this. You have to pull the cluster.
Dorman Champ 9-1812 - Speedometer Cable Lubricant | O'Reilly Auto Parts
Dorman Champ 9-1812 - Speedometer Cable Lubricant | O'Reilly Auto Parts
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
Yup, you need some lubricant on the cable.
Pull the cluster, remove the cable nut and then you should be able to pull the inner cable out. Get some graphite on it, just a light coat, don't over do it. Then slip it back in and you should be good to go.
Pull the cluster, remove the cable nut and then you should be able to pull the inner cable out. Get some graphite on it, just a light coat, don't over do it. Then slip it back in and you should be good to go.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 789
Likes: 7
From: Durham, NC
I've got a 76 maverick that not only bounces, but the needle does 360's after you hit 70+. Talk about a conversation piece. I like it since I really don't even WANT to know how fast I'm going in a tin can on wheels after 70...
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 783
From: Simi Valley, CA
When the lube dries out, the inner woven steel core (available from auto parts stores-cut to fit) binds up inside the housing, eventually snaps.
Ford originally sold speedometer cable lubricant, which was white lithium grease. Today, most people use graphite.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,678
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
Mine bounces below 20. Not real bad though.
Sometimes it will also swing back and forth from 60-70 when I'm on the highway.
Sometimes it will also swing back and forth from 60-70 when I'm on the highway.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
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Numbers, I put a new cable in prob 3-4yrs ago. Cant really remember what I used to lube it. Pulled the cable last night and it looks great but I picked up some spray graphite lube from NAPA today and will try it when I reassemble.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,651
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From: Hemet ca.
Come on guy's/gal's think old school, how do we solve this problem? Lets go back to basic's.
First verify speedometer is working. Next make sure you have a gear for the cable. (I won't go into detail) Last, mix up some ATF and white lithium grease. Remove cable from both ends. Get your cordless drill out. Stick one end of cable into solution, the other to drill. Now run drill in reverse while cable is in solution. Let cable get lubed and your done. Unless your outer cable is bent and or damaged, then of course you need a new cable.
These are simple fixes that just require 1% of brain.
First verify speedometer is working. Next make sure you have a gear for the cable. (I won't go into detail) Last, mix up some ATF and white lithium grease. Remove cable from both ends. Get your cordless drill out. Stick one end of cable into solution, the other to drill. Now run drill in reverse while cable is in solution. Let cable get lubed and your done. Unless your outer cable is bent and or damaged, then of course you need a new cable.
These are simple fixes that just require 1% of brain.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2014
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My speedo would bonce all over. Decided to clean everything up. Pulled the whole cluster. took it all apart ...painted, polished clean plastic,the added a little light oil to the speedometer moving parts. Put it back together and no more bounce!!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,592
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From: **** hole San Jose ca.
Sometimes the cable housing is old and to sharp of bends in it when al else fails.
Or your tired of looking at that old cluster, then do like many of us have done.
Build yourself a custom dash with one of the newer high teahs electronic /gps speedometers. No more changing drive gears fi you switch to a different size of tire.
Just mark out a mile them push a button starting a mile then press at end of mile it's now recalibrated for the new tires an done.
Orich
Or your tired of looking at that old cluster, then do like many of us have done.
Build yourself a custom dash with one of the newer high teahs electronic /gps speedometers. No more changing drive gears fi you switch to a different size of tire.
Just mark out a mile them push a button starting a mile then press at end of mile it's now recalibrated for the new tires an done.
Orich
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
Sometimes the inner core wears in to the inside of the cable's housing. Lube doesn't help much for this. There was one time Long ago a customer brought in his old cable assy as a sample. The inner core had worn "through" the outer housing!
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
I just ran across Ford's PTFE lubricant for driveshaft slip yoke splines is also recommended by them to lube speedo cables. It's still available from your local Ford Dealer.
Ford Motorcraft part number XG8A is a 1 lb. container.
Ford Motorcraft part number XG8 is a 3 oz. tube.
Ford Motorcraft part number XG8A is a 1 lb. container.
Ford Motorcraft part number XG8 is a 3 oz. tube.
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