About 2 years or so ago I replaced everything associated with the speedometer including the gauge itself.

Now the needle seems to jump around. I inspected the speedo gear and it looks just fine. Also, sometimes after a I park the car I notice that the speedo is stuck on 10-20 mph. If I tap on the cluster a few times it will return to 0. This doesn't happen all the time.

The cable had some light grease on it originally. Should I remove the cable and clean it all out and grease it back up before adding the oil? What should I use to clean the back of the speedometer, and should I put some of this graphite oil on it, how much?

I have a tube of this graphite oil. Is this the best stuff to use? How much is used, the entire tube, do I need more?

Who makes the best replacement cable?

 

You need to get some gun oil into the drive shaft of the speedo. Might not hurt to get it inside, either. Carpenter makes the best cable.

 

the jumping around is either bent cable or not greased properly in the cable.
But if the needle sticks at a position it is completely unrelated to the cable it has to be in the speedo itself. So check there as well. gun oil seems a very smart idea since it doesn't turn to sticky gunk like many other oils do after a while.

 

I had the same problem. New speedometer, new cable, new gear. I put grease on the end of the cable that plugs into the speedometer to stop a ticking sound, which it did. However, that grease worked its way up into the moving parts inside the speedo. It will be hard to clean out.

 

Virginia Classic Mustangs for the win.

Speedo Parts List

Check which side your cable enters the transmission. I have a 5 speed and mine enters on the drivers side. Of the cables listed, one will be a bit longer to reach around to the passenger side of the car.

I just replaced two cables, the first one I failed to secure to the fire wall and it melted to the heads....duh....

Check the gear, where it enters the transmission, for missing teeth. It sounds like your cable is crappying out. The whole cable inside is made up of a tiny wire that loops all around a thick square wire/bar of metal. The wire is wound almost like a spring, it can break and what not and start to cause failure.

Yeah don't forget oil. Thin oil up top where it enters the back of the speedo. And you can just dip the gear into some tranny oil or 80/90 oil before you put it back into your transmission.

James

 

Thanks for the replies and tips everyone.

What type of cleaner should I used to clean the speedometer before applying the gun oil? I was thinking of using electronic parts cleaner, bad idea?

Who carries the Carpenter brand cable? Is it Dennis Carpenter? I don't see Mustang listed on his site.

http://www.dennis-carpenter.com/

 

When you say drive shaft of the speedo, which part do you mean exactly?

I was reading some and it seems I should apply some to the magnetic heads.

Should I get the gun oil in the little bottle or spray can?