Bouncing Speedometer

Blake Olson · #1 (**permalink**) 05-19-2003, 07:47 AM

What causes my speedometer to bounce? It has about a 5-10mph 'bounce'. the needle is very eradic and annoying.

any ideas?

thanks!

blake

Junket · #2 (**permalink**) 05-19-2003, 08:25 AM

The speedo cable might be dry and catching or the magnetic in the head is bad.
Ken

mr0077 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-19-2003, 08:25 AM

Blake, a slight bend in the cable will cause that, also a dry cable. typical symptom, it is worse at low speed, changes from a bounce with every revolution of the cable to a "tremble" as you get to 40-50 mph. What speed does yours bounce?

Blake Olson · #4 (**permalink**) 05-19-2003, 08:32 AM

Ken,

you are correct, it is worse at low speeds. I will check the 'routing' of the cable to ensure there are no bends. What does one use to 'lube' the cable?

blake

mr0077 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-19-2003, 08:56 AM

Blake, in addition to checking the routing, you might also want to pull the cable out of the housing (can't remember if you can do that from the speedo without unclipping the gear, but I'm pretty sure you can pull it from the tranny side), and check for a "kink" in the cable and for good lubrication...the grease looks like regular chassis grease to me, it doesn't look like a motor oil type lube.

Mr.Fixit · #6 (**permalink**) 05-19-2003, 09:00 AM

New speedo cables often come with a little tube of grease, mechanics often discard this grease without ever using it. Lube the cable, make sure there are no sharp bends.

BlueRooster · #7 (**permalink**) 05-21-2003, 08:15 PM

You know guys, my speedo bounces 10 to 15 MPH at all speeds. I I having one hell of a time getting under the dash to try and lube the cable. Should I lube it from the dash or the tranny? Under the dash, the cable goes into the speedo at a 90* angle. Should I remove the cable from the 90* fitting or remove the fitting from the back of the speedo? Any insight would be great.

Dane

Specialk · #8 (**permalink**) 05-21-2003, 08:18 PM

Do you have a speedo reversor? Sometimes the little drive pin between the speedo and reversor binds up and causes the same thing.

BlueRooster · #9 (**permalink**) 05-21-2003, 08:38 PM

A reversor? Where would it be and what does it look like? Sorry about the ignorance....is this the 90* fitting that goes into the speedo?

Turk · #10 (**permalink**) 05-22-2003, 12:50 AM

SpecialK would attest to this.

My speedo bounced like crazy. We had discussion about how to remedy it. We did not agree. 200 miles later it does NOT bounce at all.

I fixed it. Actually it fixed itself.

Mine employed a speedo-reversor. It is called that, but what it really is a 90 degree adaptor. It is pre-greased. NOT ENOUGH.
The cable is dry as well.

If I am not mistaken the best thing to use is powdered graphite, or graphite based grease. I had neither. I used Lubriplate. I suppose any white grease should do. You don't need much.

It kept on bouncing even after the lubrication. Only at slower speeds. Then it started doing it at slower speeds yet. Slowly but surely it started giving me stable readings at anything over 15-20 MPH. Eventually stopped bouncing at all speeds.

My take is, the brass drive componets in the reversor started smoothing out the machining roughness, and the grease started working it's way down the cable.

TURK

mr0077 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-22-2003, 05:35 AM

Blue, my source says pull the cable from the transmission end, and check the permatex/loctite line for lube. This won't address the possible need for lube for the 90 degree drive at your speedo that Turk and SpecialK mention above, though...hmmm, lube in your speedos...that sounds off-topic...