Morgan Wright Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Opened up the other 2 gauges and cleaned them up inside. Cleaned out the decomposed plastic pieces. Got the new speedometer in and cable attached, lights hooked up. When everything was dangling like this I thought I'd take it for a test spin to see if the speedometer worked...it worked, got it up to 20 MPH and then noticed my foot was getting covered with oil. Oops! Better wait until I hook up the oil line to the oil pressure gauge next time. But now I know the speedometer works!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Looking good, Morgan. Will the speedo be accurate with the different face, or will something have to be done to calibrate it? Ben . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Guess it depends on the internal calibration of the new speedo. My tires aren't that different. I got 205/70/16 the original called for 6.5/16 and the total tire height is within an inch of each other. Just saying. But I plan to do some highway speed tests to find out how accurate it is, and hope the error is small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 I think the 110 MPH speedometer which was unique to 1940 and totally different from 1939, was actually used for only part of the 1940 run and was changed to the 120 MPH model (1941-1947) during the model year 1940, I've seen some 1940s with it. So I think it will be accurate. The difference for me is, my old speedometer would go up to 32 and the needle would get stuck on deteriorated plastic grounding it. So I never knew how fast I was going. This new one goes to 120. I will have to see if I can bury that needle past 120 like I did in my mother's 1971 Plymouth Fury station wagon with a 440 and a 6 pack, when I was 19 back when when gas was $0.33 and cars got 3 gallons per mile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Hey I just took a second look. Check out the space between the 0 and 110 on both faces. It's the same! They just changed the face to go up to 120 by adding more numbers without changing the space between the numbers. They just extended the scale a little bit more to go up to 120. And by adding the 120 they ran out of room to put the words "BRIGHT LIGHTS" so they moved them to the top. So the calibration inside the speedo is probably exactly the same! Take a look: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Done!!!!!!!!! And it works. Took it to the store (a known distance) to test the odometer, and it was accurate!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 One good thing happened that was unexpected. My oil pressure gauge never worked before. When I was working on the gauges yesterday I absent-mindedly test drove the car with the oil tube disconnected, and oil got all over my foot and the mat and made a big mess, but it must have cleared out some gunk in the line because now the oil pressure gauge works!!!!!!!!!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 The new speedomoter worked for a few days and then started making noise and the needle started to jiggle. It got worse and worse until it was jumping to 120 at times. Then it got even worse, finally it just went to 120 and stayed there jiggling and making noise. I had to disconnect the speedometer cable. How do you lubricate these things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Sounds like the speedo cable. Since you have already put the dash back together, go underneath and unhook at the trans. Carefully pull the inner cable out (it's pretty stiff so it comes out easy) and make sure no kinks. If it has them time for a new one, I think Bob's has them. Anyhow, when reinserting don't overdo the lube or it can go up into the speedo. Use a small blob about the size of your thumbnail and lightly coat the cable as you reinsert. Cheers, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Also see Mike's post here: Cheers, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 How about I just squirt some graphite into the back of the speedometer where the cable connects, squirt some more on the end of the cable, and re-attach? The cable makes no noise when I drive around with the cable detached. And it made no noise with the old speedometer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 I fixed it!! I got an aerosol can of graphite that locksmiths use, it's graphite powder mixed with a volatile propellant in a can, the propellant causes the graphite to penetrate into tiny cracks, and then evaporated in about 5 seconds, and I also got a tube of dry powdered graphite. You can get both of these at the hardware store in the padlock section. I crawled under the dash and found the cable connector at the back of the speedo. I spun it counter clockwise and it squeaked, then I generously shot it with the can of graphite spray, and after two spins the squeak was gone. Not leaving well enough alone, I did it 4 or 5 more times to get an extra amount of graphite in there, and gave it a minute or 2 for all the propellant to dry. Then I opened the tube of dry graphite and sprayed a few dustings into the middle of the shaft where the cable goes, and the outside where the spinning part meets the cable connecting housing part. I think that's where the squeak was coming from. Then I found the cable and gave a generous dose of powder, basically filled the connector with it. Connected the cable and voi la. So this job was very productive: 1. Have a speedo that goes past 32 2. Looks brand new 3. Oil gauge works 4. Top speed of car is 120 instead of 110 in case I need to run moonshine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Graphite was good for 2 days and then squeek. So I unscrewed the cable again and gave a squirt of WD-40 and then a generous pinch of vaseline to mix with the graphite. Now it's good again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 My theory is that the squeak was more from some sort of sticky residue on the metal surfaces, resulting from decades of desiccation of the original lubricant. The graphite did lubricate but did not dissolve the old residue. Therefore the Vaseline and WD-40 were needed. The graphite mixed with the Vaseline, the combination of which was Thomas Edison's favorite lubricant. Unlike grease, Vaseline never dries out over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth Carr Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 This thread and a couple others have been very helpful to me with the removal of the instrument panel in my 1941 Buick. I wrote a blog post that may be helpful to someone who has to do the same job. Just click on the link above to arrive there. A couple other related threads that may be useful: Removing the trip odometer knob Removing the fresh air vent Thanks to all the good folks who participate in this forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Thanks so much for posting the link to your blog! This is very helpful to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth Carr Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 (edited) My Pleasure, Neil. Today I removed the ammeter/water temp. gauge from the car. I needed to remove the wiper vacuum hose to get the end of the temp. sensor through the firewall. I also had to remove the grommet in the firewall. That just fell apart. I took the gauge cluster apart by uncramping the bezel that goes around the glass front. Then I replaced both meters with NOS units. I still have the old water temp. sensor stuck in the block. I will be draining the radiator soon and begin work on that. Next is the speedometer. I need to put in a new cable. When all that stuff is done I need to either close it up or buy an entire new front end wire harness and go for broke. At present I am inclined to put in a new harness. If I don't do it now I will be taking this stuff apart all over again in the future. I attached a couple of photos. 1 Gauge cluster with bezel removed and water temp. gauge removed - note plastic turn signal bulb mask which is repeated matches front of gauge. I had to re-glue this in place on its cardboard perch 2 Close up of ammeter showing needle stuck due to warped plastic 3 Gauge reassembled Edited July 17, 2018 by Roadmaster71 added text (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Hi Ken: You are blazing a trail for me as I will eventually be doing the same project, including a new front harness. A few comments: (1) Have you seen Dave's excellent thread on rebuilding the instruments in his '40 Coupe? If not, you should take a look at it. And (2) did you know that Skip Boyer makes very nice reproductions of all the cream-colored plastic pieces in the gauges? Your reconstructed gauge would look even nicer with a new "bowtie" piece, and Skip's prices are very reasonable. If you PM me with your email address, I will send you a pdf of Skip's current price list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth Carr Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Neil ....I read the speedometer thread quite a while ago. Just now I went out in the garage and disconnected the speedometer cable from the dash end. My plan was to next go back and study Dave's thread. We are thinking alike! I have bought some really nice stuff from Skip Boyer before. I contacted him a few months ago and he said that production was suspended for a couple of months due to recent deaths in the family. He asked me to contact him again in 3 months or so when he hopes to resume production (one at a time). I will do that. I need a bunch of stuff. I may have the current price list ... don't know... will PM you if I can figure out how. Love this board ... just not sure on PM. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrudy Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 I have rewired my car including everything behind the dash and at the time I noticed that the speedometer cable is missing, so I bought one through CARS. I should have take care of this when the dash was apart, but that ship has sailed. Could some one tell me where the cable connects to the transmission? I have a 1940 Buick. Thanks, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth Carr Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 10 minutes ago, kingrudy said: I have rewired my car including everything behind the dash and at the time I noticed that the speedometer cable is missing, so I bought one through CARS. I should have take care of this when the dash was apart, but that ship has sailed. Could some one tell me where the cable connects to the transmission? I have a 1940 Buick. Thanks, Mike, I know where it attaches on the 1941. It may be the same for the 1940. You have to get under the car on the driver's side. Then get yourself right under the side of the transmission. I had to put the car on jack stands because I could not fit my body close enough to see or feel anything. Follow the speedometer cable with your hand. I think it goes almost to the top (floor pan side) of the transmission. You will be able to feel the connector with your hand. Unscrew it by hand or if you cannot go at it gently with an adjustable wrench. It should release easily if your transmission leaks as much as mine does. In the photos I have attached you will see the place where it connected after I removed the cable (cable in foreground in one photo). In some older cars there was a trap door in the floor pan that was used to access this. Not in the '41. Note: The cable I bought from CARS was a bit too long. I mounted the curve on the driver's fender to take up the slack. The speedometer didn't work so well. I moved it back to the original clamp on the steering column and after some 100 miles or so it is working pretty good up to 60 mph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrudy Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 Thank you very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth Carr Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 Some of my posts on this thread and additional details are now in a blog post I put on our region website. It includes removing the speedometer, installing the speedometer cable, breaking the ammeter and repairing another, and getting ready for a new wiring harness. If you are interested please visit the Westerly-Pawcatuck Region website for the short blog post and photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 Hi all, I'm the new owner of a '41 Super. Thanks to this thread, I have my gauge panel loose, the speedo cable disconnected from the back of the head and I would like to lightly lubricate the inner cable (core). It seems like it may not come out in this direction and I do not want to break anything. Can anyone tell me if it should come out in the direction and I just need to pull a bit harder or should I actually be under the car at the transmission side? Thanks, Ivor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 (edited) It should come out from the speedometer end but you probably need the other end unscrewed from the transmission. REMEMBER when you lube it only lube the bottom third. If you over lube it or lube it all the way your lubricant may migrate into the speedo head and you do not want that. Edited January 25, 2021 by Guest (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 In my experience, it comes out from the dash end. The transmission may need to be unfastened. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 Thanks so much guys! I'll get her up in the air and get the transmission side unfastened. Ivor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 I got the cable-core out, then cleaned & lightly lubed the bottom third. I put it back together and it's the same. Even going as slow as 25 or 30MPH the speedo makes an intermittent shrieking noise and whips up to 120 and back. It is a little worse actually as before I had to be on the fwy to notice it. There is a mild 'kink' or bend to the outer cable about 7" from the transmission (I could feel a resistance here as I fed the lubed core back in). What I'm wondering if based upon other's experience, if it is time for a new cable or to take the speedo out and clean/lube/recondition. (probably should have asked this question before I chased after cleaning the cable...) Thanks again, Ivor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Can anyone conjecture on the most likely cause of the speedo in my '41 Super to make intermittent noise and whip to 120mph and back down repeatedly? Is the issue inside speedo or small kink in cable? Thanks, Ivor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I have no expertise in this area, but it seems that your question contains the possible answer. The "small kink" sounds like suspect #1 for sure. Why not get a new cable and see if that solves the problem? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 I have taken apart 3 speedo heads from this era. It's a bit daunting but I also work on clocks, so some similarities. But I would look at the speed head *last.* If it were me doing this: 1. Inspect and lube inner cable. If any rough spots, replace. Sounds like you have done this. 2. Try and straighten out the kink. Using the unconnected trans end, put a variable electric drill on the cable and spin up and down in speed while "massaging" the kink and see if any difference. If so that is your issue and you may have to replace the outer cable housing if you can't straighten the kink. Don't know where to find these, maybe Dave Tachney? 3. If no joy then try to put the lube farther up the cable housing to see if the issue is there. You may be able to feel where the problem is in the cable while running your hand along it while the drill turns the inner cable. 4. If all looks good at this point but the issue remains, then you are into the speedo head. The speed cup is aluminum and is closely set to the the spinning magnet. The cup pivots are very small as are the bushings. The cup should move smoothly as you turn it by hand but be careful, you don't want to stress the hairspring. After you pull the speedo, you can use an electric drill with a square bit to turn the magnets and see what you have. No point in going into more detail until you get to this point. Cheers, Dave 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 15 hours ago, Daves1940Buick56S said: If so that is your issue and you may have to replace the outer cable housing if you can't straighten the kink. Don't know where to find these, maybe Dave Tachney? Complete new inner and outer cables are readily available for $30 or so from a number of suppliers. Here's Bob's, for example: https://bobsautomobilia.com/transmission/speedometer-cable-1937-56-sc-374/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 Best way to fix a speedometer bounce is to replace the cable & casing. Just be careful to not bend/kink the cable & casing on installation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Thanks Guys! I did get under the car last night and massaged at a few visible kinks with the inner cable pulled out the top. It must be the cable as everyone suggests, as now it is much better. Will probably buy a new cable from Bob's when I put together a wish list of other items. That way when I have hoist space (much easier than laying on the ground) we will replace the cable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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