Speedo noisey and bounces above 50MPH - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

joe231 · 08-20-2009, 07:53 AM

I broke the shaft the needle fits onto on my good speedo when I was doing my tach swap, since then I have tried 2 different speedos, both are very noisy and the one in my truck currently bounces like crazy the faster you go.
Are they just junk, or is there something I can do to help them out, rebuild with fresh lube?

I tried searching but came up empty.
Thanks Guys

77gmcjoe · 08-20-2009, 08:05 AM

When I've had a problem like that before, I pulled the speedo cable out and lubed it with a little grease. That fixed it for me.

joe231 · 08-20-2009, 08:16 AM

the thing is, with my original speedo.....no noise and nice and smooth...after the speedo swap is when the problem came up...so that leads me to believe the speedo is the culprit

glock35ipsc · 08-20-2009, 09:12 AM

Usually the bouncing is from a lack of lube in the cable housing. The cable "sticks" to the old gooy stuff in the housing, twists a little, then snaps loose and has to catch up to the rest of the cable. Hence the bounce when it breaks loose.

I would still lube the cable, but you might try to clean the mechanical part of the speedo with WD40 or something like that.

**old Rusty C10** · 08-20-2009, 09:32 AM

this has happened to me and lube has always fixed the problem

joe231 · 08-20-2009, 10:00 AM

Ok,
thanks guys....now another question...what do you use to lube the cable? spray silicone?
and can the speedo be disassembled to clean and lube the pieces and parts?

Sniper X · 08-20-2009, 11:37 AM

Could also be that the cable hasn't been reseated correctly when you did the swap. Push it into the housing and twist it at the same time then lube it and try again.

77gmcjoe · 08-20-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe231

Ok,
thanks guys....now another question...what do you use to lube the cable? spray silicone?
and can the speedo be disassembled to clean and lube the pieces and parts?

I unscrewed the cable from my transfer case (easier to get to in my situation) and gently pulled the cable itself out of the housing. I just used regular old grease, but maybe someone else might know of something that would work better.

**nlped** · 08-20-2009, 04:27 PM

You can also verify if the speedo is the culprit if you "fab" up a cable and hook it to a drill and give it a spin...gently. If it moves smoothly, you now know it is the cable. The cable is the most probable culprit though. I have used a graphite impregnated lube with great success.

I just love saying "impregnated"

Sniper X · 08-20-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlped

You can also verify if the speedo is the culprit if you "fab" up a cable and hook it to a drill and give it a spin...gently. If it moves smoothly, you now know it is the cable. The cable is the most probable culprit though. I have used a graphite impregnated lube with great success.

I just love saying "impregnated"

I am also surprised that no one has said this: They all do that!

joe231 · 09-16-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sniper X

I am also surprised that no one has said this: They all do that!

but my old one didn't

so last night I crawled under the truck in preparation to lube the cable, the cable was loose where it screws onto the gear housing, pulled the cable off, and low and behold, the gear housing is worn and the hold down won't keep it from turning. I tried a different hold down (the one that was on it had one corner that was worn and no longer square). It is better but it still moves a bit. I'm going to pick up a new steel "bullet" for it. I'm also going to have to tap the hold down hole, it is kinda stripped out, it is holding, but not by much. drove to work this morning and the noise is gone and the needle only slightly bounces.
The weird thing is with my old speedo it was dead on compared to GPS, this "new" speedo is about 5 mph off at 50. I'm going 50mph, but the speedo reads 55mph. I'm hoping once I get the last bit of slop out of the gear housing it will be more accurate......but I am changing wheels and tires next month so I will probably need to re-calibrate anyway.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions

MASONGMC · 09-03-2018, 06:49 PM

My 1977 GMC 4x4 4spd is doing the same thing lubed the cable it didn't help. Any body use the LMC gauges?

**Palf70Step** · 09-06-2018, 10:01 AM

Sometimes the cable is beyond lube help it. I have had several that when I lubed it didn't help, but soon as I pu on a new cable the issue went away. I can only assume the lack of lubricant torn up the inside of the cable so that it was no longer a smooth surface. I have a can of spray liquid graphite that I use to squirt down the cable.

08-20-2009, 07:53 AM	#1
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Speedo noisey and bounces above 50MPH I broke the shaft the needle fits onto on my good speedo when I was doing my tach swap, since then I have tried 2 different speedos, both are very noisy and the one in my truck currently bounces like crazy the faster you go. Are they just junk, or is there something I can do to help them out, rebuild with fresh lube? I tried searching but came up empty. Thanks Guys __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

08-20-2009, 08:05 AM	#2
77gmcjoe What do we get for $10? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Beardstown, Illinois Posts: 341	Re: Speedo noisey and bounces above 50MPH When I've had a problem like that before, I pulled the speedo cable out and lubed it with a little grease. That fixed it for me. __________________ 1977 GMC K25 400/400/205 1989 Chevy Suburban R1500 350/700R4 (work beater) 1994 Chevy K3500 dually 454/4L80 1996 Corvette LT4 350/ZF 6 speed 2000 Bonneville SSEI Supercharged 3.8 Liter V6 1966 Chevelle 2 door sedan (Needs major repair )

08-20-2009, 08:16 AM	#3
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: Speedo noisey and bounces above 50MPH the thing is, with my original speedo.....no noise and nice and smooth...after the speedo swap is when the problem came up...so that leads me to believe the speedo is the culprit __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

08-20-2009, 09:12 AM	#4
glock35ipsc Next project: 1970 K10 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fort Collins, Colo 80524 Posts: 6,685	Re: Speedo noisey and bounces above 50MPH Usually the bouncing is from a lack of lube in the cable housing. The cable "sticks" to the old gooy stuff in the housing, twists a little, then snaps loose and has to catch up to the rest of the cable. Hence the bounce when it breaks loose. I would still lube the cable, but you might try to clean the mechanical part of the speedo with WD40 or something like that. __________________ *Bob* 1970 Chevy K10 LWB "Goldie" 350/TH350 *next project!!* 1981 Chevy C10 LWB 355/TH350 - My son's truck LS SWAP FORUM! Tons of LS swap info here! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE GREATEST BOARD ON THE NET! CLICK HERE FOR THE FAQ INDEX by KRUE

08-20-2009, 09:32 AM	#5
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,261	Re: Speedo noisey and bounces above 50MPH this has happened to me and lube has always fixed the problem __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

08-20-2009, 10:00 AM	#6
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: Speedo noisey and bounces above 50MPH Ok, thanks guys....now another question...what do you use to lube the cable? spray silicone? and can the speedo be disassembled to clean and lube the pieces and parts? __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

08-20-2009, 11:37 AM	#7
Sniper X Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Albuquerque New mexico Posts: 169	Re: Speedo noisey and bounces above 50MPH Could also be that the cable hasn't been reseated correctly when you did the swap. Push it into the housing and twist it at the same time then lube it and try again.

08-20-2009, 04:27 PM	#9
nlped Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hayden, Al. Posts: 4,147	Re: Speedo noisey and bounces above 50MPH You can also verify if the speedo is the culprit if you "fab" up a cable and hook it to a drill and give it a spin...gently. If it moves smoothly, you now know it is the cable. The cable is the most probable culprit though. I have used a graphite impregnated lube with great success. I just love saying "impregnated" __________________ Carter 1968 Chevy SWB Fleet... Walt 1963-1/2 Ford Falcon Futura...Martha

09-03-2018, 06:49 PM	#12
MASONGMC Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: new glasgow Posts: 90	Re: Speedo noisey and bounces above 50MPH My 1977 GMC 4x4 4spd is doing the same thing lubed the cable it didn't help. Any body use the LMC gauges?

09-06-2018, 10:01 AM	#13
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 46,641	Re: Speedo noisey and bounces above 50MPH Sometimes the cable is beyond lube help it. I have had several that when I lubed it didn't help, but soon as I pu on a new cable the issue went away. I can only assume the lack of lubricant torn up the inside of the cable so that it was no longer a smooth surface. I have a can of spray liquid graphite that I use to squirt down the cable. __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!



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