1930 Speedometer

[Jamie86]

We drove the car today and noticed the speedometer was not reading correctly, bouncing about 10mph one way and then the other way. It
will not give a steady reading. Does anyone have any ideas ?

 

[TinCup]

Some cables will slip down into the lower speedometer gear housing. Check to make sure it is firmly into the head of the speedometer.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

It could be a bind or kink in the cable, but first remove the cable from the speedometer to make sure the speedometer turns freely. Most do not and need a good cleaning and lubrication.

 

[1931 flamingo]

As tom mentioned AND it's also possible the cable itself needs to be removed, cleaned and re-lubed.
Paul in CT

 

[Mike V. Florida]

Look at the cable first as it is the easiest.

 

[ford1]

if the cable is lubed with no binding or kinks in the housing then its the speedo itself thats causing the problem, usually the shaft that the speedo numbers are atached to, the shaft gets dry, then it gets hard to turn, causing the speedo cable to wind up a little, when the cable gets wound up enough it releases the tension to the speedo shaft causing it to bounce, show a faster speed, then all the sudden tension is released the speedo slows down, then the process is repeated over again thus causing the speedo to show fast then slow speeds, clean and lube it, either at home or send it out, if that condition goes on to long it will destroy the speedo

 

[Jamie86]

Thanks to everyone for the info, I appreciate it. Jamie