Speedometer needle wiggles

[WhiteBroncoII2WD]

Need some help, anyone....I just installed a new speedometer cable and now the needle wiggles between 0 and 20mph....I didn't have a problem before the cable went bad, it just stoped. what can I do to fix this problem?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the cable needs lubed. pull off one end and spray some litheum grease down there.

 

[4x4junkie]

Mine did that for awhile after replacing the cable (it was well-lubed). I think it was the cable taking "memory" of being coiled up in the package. It slowly went away with time (at least I haven't been noticing it anymore, unless I just got used to it).

 

[WhiteBroncoII2WD]

It may very well have needed more lube, but now the cable is toast literally, one problem is that I didn’t position the new cable away from the header and y-pipe, so now it’s burned through.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

dang, sorry to hear that...i hate learning lessons the hard way

 

[WhiteBroncoII2WD]

the cable needs lubed. pull off one end and spray some litheum grease down there.

Well, since I need to get a new cable now, any suggestions on where to go, I went to Advance before just because they had it in stock, but I want one that's going to last and hopefully not cause this wiggle again.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

personally, the speedo cable isnt a real high wear item...i would have no problems with running a junkyard cable myself. just lube the crap out of it before you install it and make sure it turns freely and it probably wont give you any more trouble for a long, long time.

 

[WhiteBroncoII2WD]

personally, the speedo cable isnt a real high wear item...i would have no problems with running a junkyard cable myself. just lube the crap out of it before you install it and make sure it turns freely and it probably wont give you any more trouble for a long, long time.

you know I was actually thinking that samething, using a junkyard cable, you really think it would be worth a try?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

to me, my vehicles are all about reliability. i dont use junkyard items like starters, tie rod ends, ect because they already have a portion of their limited life used up. id rather replace those kind of parts with new because then my truck/car is that much more reliable.

i dont even like buying junkyard motors if i can avoid it.

but i would run a junkyard speedo cable. its not a high failure item, meaning chances of finding a good one are high...and chances of it failing after you install it are low. its easy enough to test in the junkyard...just pull the transmission end off and give it a spin..you should be able to see the speedometer twitch.

 

[WhiteBroncoII2WD]

to me, my vehicles are all about reliability. i dont use junkyard items like starters, tie rod ends, ect because they already have a portion of their limited life used up. id rather replace those kind of parts with new because then my truck/car is that much more reliable.

i dont even like buying junkyard motors if i can avoid it.

but i would run a junkyard speedo cable. its not a high failure item, meaning chances of finding a good one are high...and chances of it failing after you install it are low. its easy enough to test in the junkyard...just pull the transmission end off and give it a spin..you should be able to see the speedometer twitch.

so I got a cable and installed and I still now have the needle wiggle

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

did you lube it with white lithium grease before installing it? im sure, sitting in the junkyard, the grease inside the cables sheath has gotten all dry and crusty.

 

[WhiteBroncoII2WD]

did you lube it with white lithium grease before installing it? im sure, sitting in the junkyard, the grease inside the cables sheath has gotten all dry and crusty.

I did indeed

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i would run it for a while and see if it clears up. it might just be that the grease needs some time to work all the way through the sheath.

i cant imagine any part of the speedometer system other than the cable causing a bouncing needle...

 

[WhiteBroncoII2WD]

i would run it for a while and see if it clears up. it might just be that the grease needs some time to work all the way through the sheath.

i cant imagine any part of the speedometer system other than the cable causing a bouncing needle...

What about the plastic gears in the transfer case, could they be causing a problem as in maybe a worn gear?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

gears either spin or they dont. the speedo needle bobs up and down because the speedo cable is twisting and un-twisting..thus the speedo sees a speeding up and slowing down of the cable. i cant imagine anything else in the system causing the needle to wobble since its all solid mechanical connections.

ive never had the actual speedo head apart before..i wonder if it could be in the speedo head itself...