Endangered Species - Speedo Cable Lube

[paulo57509]

I had a difficult time finding speedo cable lube this weekend. All the DIY places wanted to sell me either chassis lube, bearing grease or white grease.

I've had bad luck with non-speedo specific lubes working their way up the cable and into the speedo heads, even when I leave 6" of the cable on the speedo end dry.

Anyway, I finally found some at a "real" auto parts store. The counter person told me it was "old inventory" and they couldn't get it anymore. I bought enough of the little packets to last me a while.

 

[mechtech2]

What is in that stuff that makes it NOT creep like any other lube on a rotating spiral wound cable?

 

[cryption]

time to stock up!

 

[JHZR2]

Please discuss how to apply, my 82 MB speedo gets a bit bouncy within a speed range which I assume is due to lack of lube...

 

[paulo57509]

I have no idea what's in speedo cable lube. The stuff I bought is green/gray colored grease that's really tacky/sticky. It smells like differential lube too.

Hey, I just found it:

http://www.autoparts2020.com/rsdev/part_detail.jsp?PART_HDR_ID=28515

I didn't know it was an ATP brand.

As far as lubing a speedo cable, I remove the cable and clean it in mineral spirits or some other kind of solvent. I then clean the casing with some type of spray cleaner like brake cleaner; something that won't leave residue behind.

I then smear lube onto the cable, leaving 6" or so of the speed end free of lube. Thread the cable into the clean casing and re-connect.

 

[nfs480]

I gave up trying to find the lube and just bought a new speedo cable (only ran $27 anyway).

 

[Rick in PA]

I saw a device for lubing cables in one of those home repair magazine that looked interesting. You clamped it over the end of the cable and injected aerosol lubricant into the cable. It seemed to be targeted for motorcycle (?) cables if I remember correctly. Sorry I'm a little thin on details.

 

[Scdevon]

I've always had good luck with Lubriplate white grease. My Toyota's cable is still original. (231k miles).

 

[ffhdriver]

The last time I had a cable replaced was at a speedometer repair shop in Atlanta in 1975. They used wheel bearing grease (remember that stuff?) to lubricate it. It was still working fine when I traded the car in 1978.

 

[mechtech2]

Some cables can be extracted. Some can not.
An old trick from the motorcycle shop is to make/tape a funnel at one end, and let let it hang. You put ATF or oil in the funnel and the next day, it it lubed real nice!
Works for throttle , speedo, and clutch cables.