Other: speedometer and/or cable

[drnittler]

I have a speedometer needle bouncing in my 61 Lark. I am guessing that I need to lubricate the cable. So how do I do this and what lubricant should I use?
Thanks for the help.

[StudeRich]

Speedometer Cable Lube has Graphite in it and comes in small Tubes.
Unscrew the Cable Nut at the Speedo and pull the Cable Core out, run it through the semi Liquid grease and re-insert.

If that fails to fix it, a drop of light machine Oil, 10Wt. Motor Oil, 3 in One etc. can be installed under the tiny removable cup on the back of the Speedo. above the cable attachment nipple.

[56Golden]

I have a speedometer needle bouncing in my 61 Lark. I am guessing that I need to lubricate the cable. So how do I do this and what lubricant should I use?
Thanks for the help.

I've always used Kable-Ease ...available at ACE Hardware and some FLAPS. It's sort of liquid graphite and can be very messy. Here is what others have said about it on this Forum: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...eedo-Cable-Oil

[JoeHall]

When lubing the cable, its a good idea to go ahead and remove the speedo, and lube it too, as Rich mentioned. Once removed, its easy to do the job: Use something sharp to dislodge the little brass cup with tiny hole in it. Once removed, there's a felt wick below it. Use thin oil to soak the wick, while rotating the speedo shaft back and forth, between thumb and forefinger. Once oil reaches the shaft, reinstall the brass cup, and fill it with oil. Then reinstall the speedo. That job, along with lubing the cable, will usually result in a smooth operating speedo. Most of them will still have a bit of bounce however, but that's just the way it was.

[drnittler]

Thanks one and all for the help,

[DMB-8]

Disconnect the battery before you start to take the speedometer out as if you happen to touch a hot wire it will burn your wiring out in a hurry.Found this out as a teenager when I tried to change a speedometer in a 52.

[drnittler]

That happened to me before

[BILT4ME]

Recently did this on my 59 Lark. Worked great!

I highly recommend a gallon sized freezer Ziploc to pull the speedo cable, coil it up, and place it in the bag. Lube the cable while in the bag. This will help control the cable and keep your hands and the inside of the car cleaner, as it is sometimes hard to shove that wet noodle up a wildcat's a**.

I also place a gob of lubricant in the hole of the tube, the insert the cable about 10"-12", then pull it out and repeat until I can work lubricant all the way down the inside of the cable because by the time it gets all the way to the bottom, there is about 6' of tube housing that needs lube ahead of that. It's easy to do, just that it can get messy.

I happened to have a tube of "Speedo Cable Lube" (AC Brand) that is in what appears to be a lead tube. I recall this tube of lube from when I was about 5 years old in my Dad's tool box. This lube appears to be more lithium based than graphite based.

[drnittler]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Chucks Stude]

I was taught to do this with a Dixie cup. While sitting in the driver seat with the cable on the floor between your legs, feed the cable thru the Dixie cup with lube in it, and feed it into the housing. Least messy way I know of, to do this.

[drnittler]

I believe I got it. It runs as smooth as a baby's behind. Thanks on and all.