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Speedometer cable lubricant

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by oleskool, Apr 24, 2010.

  1. oleskool
    Joined: Feb 5, 2008
    Posts: 195

    oleskool
    Member

    :confused: What is the best lubricant to use on a speedometer cable?
    :)Thanks for your input.
     
  2. 29nash
    Joined: Nov 6, 2008
    Posts: 4,544

    29nash
    BANNED
    from colorado

    Just about any grease.
     
  3. bobscogin
    Joined: Feb 8, 2007
    Posts: 1,771

    bobscogin
    Member

    Don't know what's best. but I've always gotten good results from white lithium grease.

    Bob
     
  4. dmac620
    Joined: Sep 16, 2007
    Posts: 358

    dmac620
    Member

    Graphite in a spray can. Can be found in Lowe's or Home Depot. Just did mine a couple of months ago and had good results.
     

  5. brad chevy
    Joined: Nov 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,627

    brad chevy
    Member

    Xs-2 on white-lithium grease
     
  6. AAFD
    Joined: Apr 13, 2010
    Posts: 585

    AAFD
    Member
    from US of A

    Any Lithium-Based Grease will work best. Always clean the cable with solvent and blow dry (or air dry) it, then add the new Lithium grease.
     
  7. pauls fords
    Joined: Jul 7, 2009
    Posts: 183

    pauls fords
    Member

    Grease eventually hardens and the speedo will start to jump around, go to a parts store and ask for 30ND motor oil {non detergent} 30 weight, saturate the inner cable when assembling it. I use 30 ND because any multi visc oil 10-40 will dry up because it has detergent in it.
     
  8. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    +1 that is all I have used for the past 45 years.
     
  9. AAFD
    Joined: Apr 13, 2010
    Posts: 585

    AAFD
    Member
    from US of A

  10. Deuce Roadster
    Joined: Sep 8, 2002
    Posts: 9,519

    Deuce Roadster
    Member Emeritus

    O'Reilly's Auto Parts actually sells a SPEEDOMETER CABLE lubicant. It comes in a small tube ... costs about $2.50 or so and I just bought some a few days ago for the speedometer in my 32 roadster.

    After 15 years on the road ... the cable has a slight twitch and need lube.

    I plan to take care of that item tomorrow :D
     
  11. claymore
    Joined: Feb 21, 2009
    Posts: 896

    claymore
    BANNED

    Powdered Graphite comes in a nice little tube like a toothpaste tube with a nice small opening to put into the housing. Never dries out or leaks.
     
  12. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    The graphite lube that I used made for speedo cables came in a tube mixed with alcohol. The alcohol carried the powdered graphite all the way to the other end of the cable. The alcohol evaporates leaving the dry graphite inside to lubricate the cable. Disconnect both ends and pour it in from the top. When it comes out the bottom end, you know that the entire length got lubricated.
     
    -Brent- likes this.
  13. knotheads
    Joined: Jan 4, 2007
    Posts: 499

    knotheads
    Member

    graphite is what we always used when i worked at service stations. (remember when service stations did lube and oil changes?)
     
  14. burnout2614
    Joined: Sep 21, 2009
    Posts: 612

    burnout2614
    Member

  15. They have been using Grafite ever since Car's were Built
    so I like Grafite & have been using it on All my cars
    since the 50's
    Just my 3.5 cents
     
  16. 39cent
    Joined: Apr 4, 2006
    Posts: 1,569

    39cent
    Member
    from socal

    my Dad told me to use graphite, that was for my first car a Model A, [in 55] ggg
     
  17. 61bone
    Joined: Feb 12, 2005
    Posts: 890

    61bone
    Member

    Graphite or dry lube. Doesn't dry, gum or cause speedo to run slow when cold.
     
  18. Model A Speedster
    Joined: Jan 31, 2010
    Posts: 52

    Model A Speedster
    Member

    If you can get the cable and housing off the car, do so. Pull the cable out of the housing and clean it as best you can. Suspend the housing so that it hangs straight up and down with a coffee can underneath. Now pour some STP down the housing and let it drip into the coffee can. This will take a while. Reassemble. Enjoy. From an old Model A guy.
     
  19. 4dFord/SC
    Joined: Sep 12, 2004
    Posts: 837

    4dFord/SC
    Member

    Think I used Vaseline the last time I did mine, X years ago.
     
  20. Clik
    Joined: Jul 1, 2009
    Posts: 1,965

    Clik
    Member

    Many years with motorcycles taught me to NOT use anything but graphite on cables. Oils and greases get very stiff in cold weather. I use graphite spray with the alcohol carrier. The alcohol evaporates leaving only the graphite.
     
    Murphy32 likes this.
  21. They actually used to sell ( and maybe still do?) a spray in most auto parts called cable lube and that is what it was or is, a graphite lubricant in an aerosol can.

    grease is cool unless you live where it gets colder than a witches tit then it is not so good.
     
  22. 61Bone and Beaner are right on. Any lubricant will work as long as it hasn't gotten contaminated with dirt or water, but graphite doesn't harden in the cold. That's why its also used on door locks.
     
  23. Bert Kollar
    Joined: Jan 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,232

    Bert Kollar
    Member

    In the 50's we used dry Graphite on the cables and door locks
     

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