Bill Stoneberg Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 My Speedometer on my 64 Riv bounces and flutters and basically drives me crazy. Its worse at slow speeds like 5 mph, it goes to 0 and pegs the meter so hard, you can hear it click.I have checked the normal stuff, lubed the speedo cable, moved the odometer reset knob in case that was binding and still no luck. I was talking to an old GM mechaninc and he said that they used to have a tool to oil the innerds of the speedometer. Do you think this would help and would it mess up the electronics of my cruise control ?Any other suggestions besides taking it out and sending it to be rebuilt ?Also, by looking at a speedo how can you tewll if it has cruise or is just a speend minder version ? Maybe I will find an old one and get that rebuilt was my thinking.How hard is it to remove the speedometer ?Lots of questions I know, thatnks for any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 On your '64, there will be an auxillary switch for turning the cruise on and off. If there's no switch, you don't have cruise. Is this one of your questions? There's also the cruise stuff under the hood. There is still a first gen cruise set up for sale on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130265481545&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&viewitem= If you already have cruise and are looking for a new speedometer head, I don't think you can tell with out removing the head.My dad, a long time old timey Buick mechanic, told me that liquid graphite is the best speedometer lubricant. To me is sounds like your cable is in a bind.Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted November 4, 2008 Author Share Posted November 4, 2008 I know I have Cruise control and it works except for the bouncing speedometer. So If I find a new speedometer to get rebuilt, how can I tell it has cruise ?I thought it was my cable too but I pulled it out and lubed it and checked it. It seems fine but will look again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest simplyconnected Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Sometimes the outer casing wears a groove on the inside, causing the flexible cable to 'dance' (bind) inside. Every speedometer cable I ever saw used a light grease, not a dry lube. The grease stayed-put because of its viscosity.Anyway, buy a cable assembly and your bouncing problems should go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BJM Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 I too would start by purchasing a new speedometer cable. Although this sounds like overkill and may not be the problem, I believe the speedometer is "reacting" to inputs from the cable rather then the speedometer being internally defective. I hate removing the instruments on the early Rivieras. I always have trouble with the trip meter and getting everything removed and back together without breaking, so I avoid disassembly if possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Riviera Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Hi Bill , A Cruise speedometer will have two wires coming from it. No Cruise/buzzer speedo will have one wire . I may have a cruise speedo if needed . Email me off line if so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 I remember reading speedometer diagnostics for the wavering needle situation years ago. It mentioned taking the cable out of the casing, laying it on a flat bench and then slowly turning it, looking for kinks in the "chain". If it rolled over smoothly, then you usually lubed it and reinstalled it. Graphite was a popular lube back then, but the newer choice is "grease", of which AC-Delco had a special one just for speedo cables. Where the cable can wear against the inside of the casing can also be an issue and cause the needle wavering issue as the cable can "drag" against the wear part and then "release" after it touches it. The speedometer needle has a "clock spring" which returns it to "0" as the vehicle slows and stops. Not much damping against a cable that is hanging and then releasing against the innards of the cable casing as it turns.Regards,NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatbuick Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Mine wavers a bit at low speeds but not very noisy.What is the easiest method of removing the inner cable so I can check it and lubricate it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Curran Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 My 64 would bounce and make noise, particularly when it was cold. I was able to make it better with lubricant but not completely cure it. Much of the speedometer can be serviced without taking the dash completely apart. The cruise/speed minder knob must be removed first. Just loosen the allen nut and pull off. There is a tiny fabric washer that is just behind the knob which prevents dust from getting behind the face plate although most of these have disintegrated with age. Remove the allen nut that holds the face plate on. This is located on the bottom of the chrome ring. The face plate is also held in place with metal spring clips but will pull off with no problem. The speedometer and cruise/speed minder needle will pull straight off. Pull them by the base to avoid bending the needles. You can then remove the face of the speedometer and have access to a portion of the mechanism. If you elect to pull the entire speedometer, don't forget to disconnect the cable as well as the trip odometer cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Sometimes the outer casing wears a groove on the inside, causing the flexible cable to 'dance' (bind) inside. Every speedometer cable I ever saw used a light grease, not a dry lube. The grease stayed-put because of its viscosity.Anyway, buy a cable assembly and your bouncing problems should go away.This observation re speedo cables and casings is right on Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I just purchased a new one for my '64 from Rock Auto. $9.29. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64Rivvy Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I just bought one from Rock Auto also. Mine is not working at all so I'm hoping it's either the cable is bad or the speedo gear on the transmission side. I really, really, really hope it's not the speedo itself. do not want to have to tear into that and pull the instrument panel out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 I just cured this problem on a '63 Riv. with cruise. Turns out the inner cable was TOO long by 1/4". Took a dremel & removed 1/4" & now all is mostly OK. Tom T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatbuick Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Is it possible to remove the inner cable at the transmission end? This would be much easier to lube it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 One word, NO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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