Ovan Speedometer is hard to turn

[Al 29Tudor]

The speedometer stopped working and it turned out that it became hard to turn causing the crimped end to come off of the inner cable. I assume the fitting in the speedometer should turn with almost no resistance. In the past my first speedometer shafts became bound up in the white or zinc metal casting and could not be rebuilt.
Any experience with this issue?
Thanks Al.

 

[papanick]

yes most of the time I can free them up and rebuild them if you need that done let me know. jrnichols642@yahoo.com

 

[Al 29Tudor]

Thank you. I have attempted to oil it as best I can so we'll see how it works.
Al

 

[ronn]

speedos are cheap and easy to come by. replace it if yours fails............

 

[Jadknower]

I am installing a rebuilt speedometer and want to replace the speedo cable as well. My existing cable has a solid square fitting on one end and just a flattened square on the other end. Should there be solid fittings on each end?

 

[Al 29Tudor]

Jad, The square end goes into the speedometer. I have an overdrive in my car so the bottom end is different but I think on your car the flat end goes into the lower end - we call it "the turtle". Welcome to The Ford Barn.
Al

 

[katy]

The "solid" end should have a flange on it that holds the cable from moving in and out.

 

[Jim Brierley]

Try soaking just the stem of the speedo in engine oil overnight, it has worked for me!

 

[History]

Lubrication could possibly work but from what I’ve seen it’s usually the actual “drive shaft” to the magnet that is impinged by the pot metal of the speedometer housing. It swells over time and grips the shaft, lubrication usually don’t help this ( can’t hurt) and disassembly is required to correct the problem properly. I have been training with a fellow for many months now and I will soon offer rebuild services to any who are interested. I feel pretty good about being able and to provide a quality service to model A owners. This sort of fell into my lap and I hope to continue a service started many years ago that’s being passed to me.

 

[Al 29Tudor]

Update - On the suggestion from a friend - Just above where the cable goes into the speedometer, there is a 3/32 brass plug that covers a wick like fiber. That wick holds oil and contacts the vertical shaft that drives the magnet. I removed the plug and wick and filled the hole with a light oil and left it over night. It turns much easier now.
Now I wonder if adding a little honing powder to the oil if that would open the casting to free the vertical shaft.
Good to know another speedometer restorer will be doing repairs soon.
Thank you all for working through this issue.
Al

 

[rotorwrench]

It takes a few special tools to get the shafts out. Yellow time saver is good to lap the die cast housing but a person has to make the tools to do a good job of it. The tools are not reproduced anywhere that I'm aware of.