The Ford Barn

green30coupe · 04-19-2013, 12:38 PM

What do you use for speedometer lube? I am replacing another entire cable assembly after 2 years. I used the very thin graphite oil sold by most of the suppliers on the last one, but would white lithium or some other grease be better?

Smurkey · 04-19-2013, 12:51 PM

Graphite powder works good for me.

Tom Wesenberg · 04-19-2013, 12:53 PM

I put some grease in my left palm then drag the cable through it as I insert it back into the housing. I also give the housing a few squirts of oil as the cable goes in. I've always done it this way and never had a dry or broken cable.

green30coupe · 04-19-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I put some grease in my left palm then drag the cable through it as I insert it back into the housing. I also give the housing a few squirts of oil as the cable goes in. I've always done it this way and never had a dry or broken cable.

Tom,
Do you just use Mystik Jt6?
Disregard, Tom. I found your previous post by searching (as I should have done to begin with!)

MikeK · 04-19-2013, 12:55 PM

I've always used 3% Moly lithium base grease in speedo cables. It's black, not white. Never had a replacement cable done with it fail. Your results may vary!

H. L. Chauvin · 04-19-2013, 01:21 PM

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For new cable, first used the recommended graphite in a tube -- appeared thin, so in addition, put a glob of white lithium grease on one end & pulled new cable through same -- probably won't live long enough to see it fail.

Speedometer was erratic, gear inside difficult to rotate when turned by hand -- removed hard caked grease inside & replaced with same white lithium -- gear now rotates freely.

tdlmomowers · 04-19-2013, 01:28 PM

Flex shaft grease, that is used on string trimmers shafts works good. I get it at my lawn and garden equipment dealer.

FL&WVMIKE · 04-19-2013, 01:41 PM

I have always used good ole VASOLINE. It does not get stiff in cold weather and it doesn't run when warm.
MIKE

RonC · 04-19-2013, 02:46 PM

I had asked the Lubriplate Lubricants Company that question; What type of grease should be applied to automobile speedometer cables? There response was "we recommend LUBRIPLATE Aero".

AL in NY · 04-19-2013, 02:56 PM

I use liquid graphite lock lubricant, flows through the cable end to end.

Tom Wesenberg · 04-19-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL&WVMIKE

I have always used good ole VASOLINE. It does not get stiff in cold weather and it doesn't run when warm.
MIKE

That hasn't been my experience using Vaseline. I used to put it in all the light sockets (important for salt states) but when the bulb got warm the Vaseline would run all over the bulb. Now I use a high temp grease in the sockets.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 04-19-2013, 08:24 PM

I use Delco distributor cam lube. Bill W.

spdway1 · 04-19-2013, 09:30 PM

I just replaced my Speedometer and cable on Wed., Should I have lubed the cable, it seems quiet.

Tom Wesenberg · 04-20-2013, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdway1

I just replaced my Speedometer and cable on Wed., Should I have lubed the cable, it seems quiet.

Yes, I'd pull it back out and lube it.

green30coupe · 04-20-2013, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdway1

I just replaced my Speedometer and cable on Wed., Should I have lubed the cable, it seems quiet.

I would definitely pull it back out and lube it. Any lube would be better than running it dry.

04-19-2013, 12:38 PM	#1
green30coupe Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Coastal Mississippi & Central West Florida Posts: 206	What do you use for speedometer lube? What do you use for speedometer lube? I am replacing another entire cable assembly after 2 years. I used the very thin graphite oil sold by most of the suppliers on the last one, but would white lithium or some other grease be better? __________________ Ed LAW OF MECHANICAL REPAIR ONCE YOUR HANDS BECOME COVERED WITH GREASE, YOUR NOSE WILL ITCH AND YOU'LL HAVE TO PEE

04-19-2013, 12:51 PM	#2
Smurkey Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Esko, MN Posts: 257	Re: What do you use for speedometer lube? Graphite powder works good for me.

04-19-2013, 12:53 PM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: What do you use for speedometer lube? I put some grease in my left palm then drag the cable through it as I insert it back into the housing. I also give the housing a few squirts of oil as the cable goes in. I've always done it this way and never had a dry or broken cable.

04-19-2013, 12:55 PM	#5
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Re: What do you use for speedometer lube? I've always used 3% Moly lithium base grease in speedo cables. It's black, not white. Never had a replacement cable done with it fail. Your results may vary!

04-19-2013, 01:21 PM	#6
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: What do you use for speedometer lube? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) For new cable, first used the recommended graphite in a tube -- appeared thin, so in addition, put a glob of white lithium grease on one end & pulled new cable through same -- probably won't live long enough to see it fail. Speedometer was erratic, gear inside difficult to rotate when turned by hand -- removed hard caked grease inside & replaced with same white lithium -- gear now rotates freely. Last edited by H. L. Chauvin; 04-19-2013 at 01:22 PM. Reason: typo

04-19-2013, 01:28 PM	#7
tdlmomowers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mansfield, Ohio Posts: 409	Re: What do you use for speedometer lube? Flex shaft grease, that is used on string trimmers shafts works good. I get it at my lawn and garden equipment dealer.

04-19-2013, 01:41 PM	#8
FL&WVMIKE Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl & Spencer, W. Va, Posts: 4,442	Re: What do you use for speedometer lube? I have always used good ole VASOLINE. It does not get stiff in cold weather and it doesn't run when warm. MIKE

04-19-2013, 02:46 PM	#9
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,868	Re: What do you use for speedometer lube? I had asked the Lubriplate Lubricants Company that question; What type of grease should be applied to automobile speedometer cables? There response was "we recommend LUBRIPLATE Aero".

04-19-2013, 02:56 PM	#10
AL in NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Upstate New York Posts: 1,160	Re: What do you use for speedometer lube? I use liquid graphite lock lubricant, flows through the cable end to end. __________________ AL in NY

04-19-2013, 08:24 PM	#12
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: What do you use for speedometer lube? I use Delco distributor cam lube. Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

04-19-2013, 09:30 PM	#13
spdway1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 1,402	Re: What do you use for speedometer lube? I just replaced my Speedometer and cable on Wed., Should I have lubed the cable, it seems quiet.