Speedometer Cable Lube

[paulo57509]

My old Acura Legend has a speedo cable sectioned in two pieces; meaning that the cable runs from the speedo head out to under the hood where there's a threaded coupling that connects the top to the bottom section.

The bottom section needed to be lubed but the cable can't be separated from the casing. I know what kind of product(s) to use on a cenventional speed cable where the cable can be removed from the casing. However, I'm at a loss as to what will work for a speedo cable assembly that can't be separated into the cable and casing. How does one get the lube down into the cable assembly?

I tried the cable lube clamp I use for my motorcycle cables and it works pretty well as I can flush (with Berryman B-12) and dry (with a canned air duster). The lube that I use for control cables will not work for speedo cables though.....I know because the cable lasted 87 miles before it snapped.

Prior to spraying in the control cable lube, I tried to using a can of white lithium grease, but the can pressure is too low to force the grease down into the cable. It did build up enough residual pressure in the clamp to spray my face with grease when I disconnected the little red tube from the clamp.

I guess after flushing with solvent and drying, gravity lube method is seems to be the best way to go. Either liquid graphite or perhaps engine oil?

If the replacement cable comes already lubed, I'm home free. However if it doesn't, what would you guys recommend?

BTW, the replacement cable is $35 shipped...not too bad for OEM Honda.

Thanks!

 

[punisher]

We used cable lube at the shop and it was a dedicated high teflon content speedo lube. Speedo lube kits (yes they are made) have a rubber "bulb" that is packed with the grease and screwed/attached to the cable/casing and squeezed forcing the lube into the cable.

 

[Jim 5]

I remember my dad buying speedo cable lubricating graphite at the ford dealer for his 1974 f150 truck.

I'd guess the graphite would work.

 

[wander2039]

I used moly grease on the aspires last time. It worked pretty good up till when I installed cruise control. I need to relube and quit messing with it maybe it would last longer the next time.

 

[jamesn]

honda and acura speedo cables cannot be lubed. i have tried on both an 89 civic and a 90 legend. no luck either time. those things are put together too tightly to get any lube into. it sucks because they are so darm expensive at the dealer.

 

[paulo57509]

Guys, thanks for the replies.

FWIW, half the speedo cable in my Legend is of the "conventional" type you'd see in an American car. To lube it, you just pull the cable out of the casing, lube it and stuff it back into the casing.

However, the bottom half of the cable has a swaged-on slotted head on one end (mates with a blade on the other half) and another swaged end that fits into he speed sensor the speed-variable power steering, making it impossible to remove the cable from the casing.

$35 (shipped to my door) for a genuine Honda replacement cable isn't bad at all and it should already be lubed. The first one lasted 362k miles before giving me any trouble. I doubt the replacement one will ever need to be lubed. The car will be gone long before the cable lube gives out again.