Post to the EFV-8 Forum
Post Classified Ads
Shop the Online Store

User Login

Not Registered Yet? Click Here to Sign Up!

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

FORUM RULES: Users agree to these Rules when using Forum.

The site administrator reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the user agreement without prior notice to the user. It is the responsibility of the user to regularly review the terms of this agreement.

The user agrees to the following terms:

All information that you provide to us for your membership is correct.
You will not use your membership to spam, harrass, or exploit other members in any way.
Vulgar, Abusive, Racist and Sexist Language will not be tolerated.
Commercial-type sales postings will not be allowed.
No mass posting or flooding of the boards is allowed.
No Advertising of parts or cars; no Ebay or business/commercial ads (please use the "Classified" for ads Wanted or For Sale).
VIEWING MULTIPLE TOPICS ON SCREEN: You can choose to see more than 10 Topics at a time ... Log In and choose "Preferences" from the top bar on the Forum page. Scroll down and Change the "Default Topics Returned" parameter to 25 or 50, and save the changes. Since this setting is stored in your browser 'cookies' (if enabled), it seems to use that stored value even if you are not logged in. So, if you use a PC that you haven't logged into the forum from, the setting still seem to remain at the default.
EXTERNAL PHOTO LINKS ON FORUM: You can still use external photo links in your posts on the new forum. They follow the rules of any link in that they have to have the URL link qualified down to the full image file name (example: .jpg). The links will open in a new browser window, the same as an uploaded image attached to a post. Since an image attachment to any post does not display inline with the post, the results are the same. You can use multiple external links within a post. This link is from photos on a site from Don Clink's 'Deuce@75' albums:

http://donclink.com/deuce_75_1/images/dscn2950.jpg

Using links from photo sites such as Photobucket can help in "size" issue with uploaded attachment files. For best viewing in web browsers, photos should be around the 800x600 pixel range, and probably not more than 1024x768. Most cameras today store HUGE jpg image files, as the default settings are in the 7, 8, 10, and 12Mb image sizes. The image files that are then attached are very large, and the browser can't display the full image size without using the scroll bars. Use the re-sizing functions of your photo editing software to reduce the image to 800x600, which reduces the file sixe and the image load time in the browser. Don uses Google's free Picassa3 software, which is an excellent photo management product. All of the photo albums of the Deuce, Grand National, and Auburn that are links on the NORG site were built using Picassa's web creation functions. And it's free? (THANKS to Don Clink for the info!)
HOW DO I SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS ALONG WITH MY USERNAME? You can LogIn on the Forum, and select PREFERENCES. On this page Members can add optional information such as their City,State, Country; Occupation; Hobbies: list a Homepage; list AOL Instant Messanger Handle; Signature; "Make Email Address viewable to others;" and even change the number of Default Topics shown on a page. WHEN others click on your profile, they will see this information.

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / 39 Ford speedometer cable

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion

<< previous || next >>

Posted By

Discussion Topic: 39 Ford speedometer cable

mjdunn

06-14-2014 @ 7:20 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 4
Joined: May 2013

On my 1939 Ford, the speedometer needle sticks if I go over 60 mph. I have to slow down to around 50 mph for it to come unstuck. Would the problem be that the speedometer cable needs to be lubricated, and if it does, how do I do that? Or, does the cable need to be replaced. If so, How do I do that?

Michael Dunn

nelsb01

06-14-2014 @ 8:35 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 982
Joined: Oct 2009

Michael;
First I would try and lube the cable. Graphite is a good lubricant. You can reach under the dash and unscrew the cable housing from the back of the speedometer. Gently pour the graphite down the cable housing. You do not have to remove the cable from the housing. You may not need much graphite. You can always add more.
Re-attach the cable housing to the speedometer.
Test drive.
If it is the cable, you will need to know the length as it seems Ford cables were sometimes specific to each model of vehicle. Cables are available, but you will need the correct length.

40 Coupe

06-15-2014 @ 3:20 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1674
Joined: Oct 2009

It sounds as if there is some dirt preventing the needle from passing 60MPH. It does not sound like a cable problem. The cable rotates a magnet, the magnet rotates a cup with the pointer, the magnet and the cup do not physically touch each other. The magnet can rotate and the pointer stick if there is dirt in the bearings that support the cup and pointer.

mjdunn

06-15-2014 @ 3:50 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 4
Joined: May 2013

Thank you for all of this good advise. I should have said that the indicator will go past 60mph, it will just stop at the highest point and then will not come back until you drop to about 50 mph. Would that make any difference in your answer 40 Coupe?

Michael Dunn

trjford8

06-15-2014 @ 7:09 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 4214
Joined: Oct 2009

It still sounds as if the problem is in the speedometer itself. Many times the speedometer needs to come apart and be cleaned. Dirt and old sticky lubricant are usually the culprits.
See if you know someone with an extra speedometer and give it a try in your car to see if it does the same thing.

This message was edited by trjford8 on 6-15-14 @ 7:10 AM

mjdunn

06-15-2014 @ 10:36 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 4
Joined: May 2013

Thanks, very helpful.

Michael Dunn

supereal

06-15-2014 @ 7:47 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 6819
Joined: Oct 2009

Your problem isn't unusual. The rear of the speedo depends on the pot metal case instead of a bushing or bearing. When it wears. The cable pulls it out of line, causing the magnetic discs to collide. It is likely that no one expected cars to last decades, so no improvements were called for. We send them to Bob's Speedometer in Michigan they have a website. They will examine the speedo and give you an estmate of the repair cost.

<< previous || next >>

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

Merchandise Questions

Membership Questions