Speedometer Cable Question ~ OIL?

[esockken]

Out driving my '71 '02 and the speedometer stopped working. Under the car was the metal coiled portion of the cable hanging from the tranny. Also, there was a hard rubber piece about 1/4" diameter coming through the firewall and hanging down. When I moved the rubber piece about a half cup of liquid spilled to the ground from somewhere. My question is.....and I'm really hoping this is the case......should the speedometer cable assembly be filled with liquid?

[Mike Self]

disconnect it...what came out could have been water, or tranny oil forced up the housing by a bad seal at the tranny end. Or it could have been a PO's attempt to lubricate it by filling the housing with some kinda lubricant.

If the cable (inner drive cable, or outer sheath) is broken, you'll need to replace it. The only lubricant I'd recommend is either one specifically for speedo cables--getting harder to find since most speedos now are electronic--or a colloidal graphite that's meant to lubricate locks. One brand name is "LockEze"--it's essentially finely ground up graphite suspended in a solvent.

Best way to lube a speedo cable--disconnect at both ends and squirt lube in the top 'till it drips out the bottom, then reconnect. Remember that US 75s and 76s have two piece cables, separated by the EGR service timer box, so you need to lube both pieces separately.

cheers

mike

[Dicks]

A new speedometer cable really isn't that expensive at all. Instead of going through all of the hassle of trying to repair and relube....just get a new one. There are a lot of sources out there.

[jimk]

If your cable was hanging from the the trans when you first looked, yu lost your cable retainer at the transmission. That's why it came loose from the trans.