Noisy speedometer - 55 Fairlane

[Jim.UT]

My speedometer makes a rhythmic sound at low speeds...most noticeable below 20 mph. The needle pulsates along with the sound. At speeds > 20 mph the sound gets less noticeable and the needle smooths out.

Is this a lubrication issue or does the speedo need to be rebuilt?

The car spent 30 years sitting in a garage waiting for delivery of a roundtuit that never came. Then another guy bought it and restored it before I bought it.

 

[dmsfrr]

Starting with the simple and least expensive fixes... it's probably been several years since the speedometer cable and bushing in the speedometer head were lubricated.

While you're at it the distributor shaft also has an oil fitting.
Similar to these two example photos.
.

 

[paul2748]

While DMSFRR mentioned the oil cup on the distributor, there is another thing you should oil on the distributor. If you look into the top of the shaft, you should see a felt piece. This should be oiled as well - it provides some lubrication for the items down below

 

[dmsfrr]

While DMSFRR mentioned the oil cup on the distributor, there is another thing you should oil on the distributor. If you look into the top of the shaft, you should see a felt piece. This should be oiled as well - it provides some lubrication for the items down below

It looks like I unintentionally confused things by using an example photo of a '57 distributor in my previous comment.

The original Loadomatic style distributor in a '55 or '56 has no felt oil wick in the top center of the distributor shaft. But as with all points style distributors there is a lobe and rubbing block lubricant that should be lightly used.

 

[fordor41]

Our '41 speedo had same problem. Pulled the speedo out, found a small hole packed with some cotton like packing. Spun the speedo in correct direction with a battery drill while dripping light oil in and quieted right down, no noise or jumping needle

 

[rjlester]

Lube that Speedo asap. I kept driving my car for a few days after I started hearing noise and the speedo locked up. This resulted in taking out my speedo cable.

I should add that I was able to free up my speedo, and lubed it. I also took it apart and lubed some of the internals. That was three years ago, still works fine.

 

[skyliner 54]

Old school. Remove the cable from the sheath, clean it with a solvent, wipe it down with some powdered graphite and replace.

 

[Hot Rod Reverend]

Have you watched this video? I go through the exercise of replacing the speedometer cable... and lubricating.

https://youtu.be/kaJPfHet5ps

 

[rotorwrench]

The speedometers generally have a rotating magnet, driven by the cable, that pulls at the drag cup attached to the needle sweep arm shaft. The bearings are very sensitive since the needle clock spring has to be able to easily return the arm to zero at stop. If any of the bearings get out of spec due to wear then eventually the drag cup will stick to the rotating magnet so it's a good idea to service them now and then. A sticky drive cable will have a flex problem inside the outer housing tube so they need to be cleaned and serviced as well.