speedometer cable
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Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2022
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Likes: 7
speedometer cable
My speedometer was shaking at lower speeds while driving. I ordered the complete cable from LMC and installed it over the weekend. When I took the truck out, the speedometer still bounced around but now it’s also making a clicking noise.
I read up on the forum and it sounds like I will need to put some graphite on the cable (I figured it was already done since it was new) and there’s supposed to be a port on the back on the speedo that I can clean and apply some thin oil to as well. I checked my shop manual but didn't see anything related to this.
One other thing that was mentioned is the length of the new cable. I didn’t pull out both cables and lay them side by side but the overall dimensions of the old/new units were the same. Is this something to worry about or are they generally accurate?
Am I missing anything else that I should be doing while I have it apart? As a side note, the fuel gauge started acting up on my test drive. Could this related to removing the cluster or just a coincidence? I’ve had the cluster out a couple times before and never had any issues.
I read up on the forum and it sounds like I will need to put some graphite on the cable (I figured it was already done since it was new) and there’s supposed to be a port on the back on the speedo that I can clean and apply some thin oil to as well. I checked my shop manual but didn't see anything related to this.
One other thing that was mentioned is the length of the new cable. I didn’t pull out both cables and lay them side by side but the overall dimensions of the old/new units were the same. Is this something to worry about or are they generally accurate?
Am I missing anything else that I should be doing while I have it apart? As a side note, the fuel gauge started acting up on my test drive. Could this related to removing the cluster or just a coincidence? I’ve had the cluster out a couple times before and never had any issues.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 362
Likes: 78
dtrain911,
You are on the right track regarding adding graphite to the cable. That is what fixed my speedo needle bouncing around. As to a port on the back of the cluster, I am not familiar with that but I would again lean more toward graphite as even light oil can "gum up" over time.
I don't have anything to offer as to the length of the speedo cable. As to the fuel gauge, the printed circuit board on the backside of the cluster can be fragile and it could have been damaged in getting the cluster in and out. You may want to do a separate search on that. (Lots of posts on cluster problems.)
Good luck! Always better to look into these things yourself vs. taking it into a shop!
You are on the right track regarding adding graphite to the cable. That is what fixed my speedo needle bouncing around. As to a port on the back of the cluster, I am not familiar with that but I would again lean more toward graphite as even light oil can "gum up" over time.
I don't have anything to offer as to the length of the speedo cable. As to the fuel gauge, the printed circuit board on the backside of the cluster can be fragile and it could have been damaged in getting the cluster in and out. You may want to do a separate search on that. (Lots of posts on cluster problems.)
Good luck! Always better to look into these things yourself vs. taking it into a shop!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 116
From: St James, Missouri
I replaced mine with the entire cluster out of a 1990 Econoline. Was a direct remove old, install new type of deal. Gained all backlighting operational, all gauges operational, no more bouncing/not returning to zero speedo and a better quality of plastic housing so the back won’t disintegrate like the 70s ones will. Might be worth looking into whether yours interchanges as well if you’re not trying to keep it 100% original.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 53
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I replaced my odometer/speedometer on my 78 F150 with one out of a 78 Fairmont as they are both exactly the same. I even reset the miles to the original F150 miles. Solved my problem and was pretty easy to do.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 598
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From: New Hampshire
My story about chasing down a bouncing speedometer cable.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-resolved.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-resolved.html
Desk Jockey
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 433
From: Raleigh, NC
At the risk of the simple approach, have you given the cable the man-thumb? I’ve found that reseating the cable once or twice to ensure it’s seated fully solved my bouncing needle. I give it a solid push, and then attempt to pull. If it’s seated right, it won’t return but 1/8”.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 63
Likes: 7
At the risk of the simple approach, have you given the cable the man-thumb? I’ve found that reseating the cable once or twice to ensure it’s seated fully solved my bouncing needle. I give it a solid push, and then attempt to pull. If it’s seated right, it won’t return but 1/8”.
thanks again for the suggestions
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