I had a problem on my '73 Dart a few months ago where the speedometer needle was dead. I asked about it here and eventually pulled the cable which was frayed apart inside. I went to Napa and got the right one (it fit perfectly) and all was well until last week. Now, the needle bounces from 0 to 100 (or higher) regardless of my road speed. It's as if the cable were rapidly hanging up then letting go inside it's tubing (I can sort of hear this). And sometimes the needle will stick at some mph when I shut it off. Usually tapping on the dash will drop it back to 0.

Are these Napa cables lubed inside, and if not, what's a good lube to use? Thanks!
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XS-1

Take a look at

http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic ... 926#161926

CJ

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Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

If lubing doesn't help: I've found that it was easy to accidentally stretch my '74s cable slightly and make it a just tad too long, causing it to bind. The test is to not put it on quite all the way (giving it a little extra slack) and see if it stops binding.

I shortened my cable at the speedometer end slightly using a Dremel tool with a #409 cutoff wheel and all was well.

Interesting! I'll try the lubing this weekend. KBB, how much do you figure that you cut off?
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Jaguar XJR-9

The same thing happened to my 73 Dart. Speedometer needs rebuilt.

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I broke my needle back in January. I was running about 80 and it was doing the bouncy thing and snapped.

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'72 Duster 198 stock cam, 3:23's Hookers on jack stands for 8 years in the driveway
'79 Maxivan 360 Offy Qjet Comp RV cam/rusting in the driveway.
93 D350 160HP Cummins Auto Dually Clubcab needs a injector pump
2005 Golden Couch Buick

I cut off about 3/16"; the #409 wheel made it a nice clean cut. I had pulled on the cable (not all that hard, or so I thought) getting it out and it stretched out but didn't return to its original length as I'd expected.