lubing your speedo cable

Hi all-
I saw the relatively recent thread on lubing the speedo (at least I
think it was here), and tried to lubricate mine today. The problem I has
is that the housing on the end of the cable was sealed so that I
coudln't get any of the spray lube to go into the cable. Anyone have any
ideas on how to get the lube into the cable without removing the plastic
housing?? Or is there a way to remove and reinstall the plastic??
-alex-

Using spray lube of any kind on a speedo cable is a bad idea. A spray lube
will get gummy over time, and normaly does not spread down the entire length
of the cable if the lubricant is applied from the top end of the sheath.

The best lubricant for speedo cables and locks is powered graphite. I do not
know if it is possible to properly lubricate a speedo cable on a Miata. It
is a little messy if done properly because you must remove the cable from
the sheath, clean it, and wipe it with graphite lube.

"Alex M. Postpischil" <apost_@_copper_dot_net> wrote in message
news:437F820E.2060607@_copper_dot_net...
> Hi all-
> I saw the relatively recent thread on lubing the speedo (at least I think
> it was here), and tried to lubricate mine today. The problem I has is that
> the housing on the end of the cable was sealed so that I coudln't get any
> of the spray lube to go into the cable. Anyone have any ideas on how to
> get the lube into the cable without removing the plastic housing?? Or is
> there a way to remove and reinstall the plastic??
> -alex-
>

Well, I think I was the recent poster on this. I found several people who
said that they had successfully accomplished this. Gennerally something
like: disconnecting both ends, using a drill to spin it fron the tranny end
(no prob) and feeding some sort of lubricant from the up side. I gave it my
best shot but the cable seemed to have like a waxy substance pretty much
clogging the end of the cable. At least 2 auto parts stores looked at me
like deer in the headlights when I asked them about cable lubricant. So I
tried good ol WD 40! Not completely successful but I think a bit better, I
never heard anyone claiming to have removed the cable from the sheath.
Hhhmmm, could work I guess.

Let us know,
Chris
92n99

"lgadbois" > wrote in message
link.net...
> Using spray lube of any kind on a speedo cable is a bad idea. A spray lube
> will get gummy over time, and normaly does not spread down the entire
> length of the cable if the lubricant is applied from the top end of the
> sheath.
>
> The best lubricant for speedo cables and locks is powered graphite. I do
> not know if it is possible to properly lubricate a speedo cable on a
> Miata. It is a little messy if done properly because you must remove the
> cable from the sheath, clean it, and wipe it with graphite lube.
>
> "Alex M. Postpischil" <apost_@_copper_dot_net> wrote in message
> news:437F820E.2060607@_copper_dot_net...
>> Hi all-
>> I saw the relatively recent thread on lubing the speedo (at least I think
>> it was here), and tried to lubricate mine today. The problem I has is
>> that the housing on the end of the cable was sealed so that I coudln't
>> get any of the spray lube to go into the cable. Anyone have any ideas on
>> how to get the lube into the cable without removing the plastic housing??
>> Or is there a way to remove and reinstall the plastic??
>> -alex-
>>
>
>

Many years back, "Preparation H" was recommended to lube speedo cables. No
foolin'.

"Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote in message
...
> Well, I think I was the recent poster on this. I found several people who
> said that they had successfully accomplished this. Gennerally something
> like: disconnecting both ends, using a drill to spin it fron the tranny
end
> (no prob) and feeding some sort of lubricant from the up side. I gave it
my
> best shot but the cable seemed to have like a waxy substance pretty much
> clogging the end of the cable. At least 2 auto parts stores looked at me
> like deer in the headlights when I asked them about cable lubricant. So I
> tried good ol WD 40! Not completely successful but I think a bit better,
I
> never heard anyone claiming to have removed the cable from the sheath.
> Hhhmmm, could work I guess.
>
> Let us know,
> Chris
> 92n99
>
> "lgadbois" > wrote in message
> link.net...
> > Using spray lube of any kind on a speedo cable is a bad idea. A spray
lube
> > will get gummy over time, and normaly does not spread down the entire
> > length of the cable if the lubricant is applied from the top end of the
> > sheath.
> >
> > The best lubricant for speedo cables and locks is powered graphite. I do
> > not know if it is possible to properly lubricate a speedo cable on a
> > Miata. It is a little messy if done properly because you must remove the
> > cable from the sheath, clean it, and wipe it with graphite lube.
> >
> > "Alex M. Postpischil" <apost_@_copper_dot_net> wrote in message
> > news:437F820E.2060607@_copper_dot_net...
> >> Hi all-
> >> I saw the relatively recent thread on lubing the speedo (at least I
think
> >> it was here), and tried to lubricate mine today. The problem I has is
> >> that the housing on the end of the cable was sealed so that I coudln't
> >> get any of the spray lube to go into the cable. Anyone have any ideas
on
> >> how to get the lube into the cable without removing the plastic
housing??
> >> Or is there a way to remove and reinstall the plastic??
> >> -alex-
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
> Well, I think I was the recent poster on this. I found several people who
> said that they had successfully accomplished this. Gennerally something
> like: disconnecting both ends, using a drill to spin it fron the tranny end
> (no prob) and feeding some sort of lubricant from the up side. I gave it my
> best shot but the cable seemed to have like a waxy substance pretty much
> clogging the end of the cable. At least 2 auto parts stores looked at me
> like deer in the headlights when I asked them about cable lubricant. So I
> tried good ol WD 40! Not completely successful but I think a bit better, I
> never heard anyone claiming to have removed the cable from the sheath.
> Hhhmmm, could work I guess.
>
> Let us know,
> Chris
> 92n99

I have a spare speedo cable that I just took off of the car tonight,
(Mr. Saturday night party animal that I am). I will see if it can be
taken apart without damaging it and how hard it is to do. It won't be a
big deal if I ruin it in the attempt.

I'll let you know what I find out.

Chris, did you change your e-mail address? I put you in my killfile and
yet I still see your posts. ;-)

Pat

On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 20:11:56 GMT, "lgadbois" >
wrote:

>Using spray lube of any kind on a speedo cable is a bad idea. A spray lube
>will get gummy over time, and normaly does not spread down the entire length
>of the cable if the lubricant is applied from the top end of the sheath.

This is a pretty broad statement, given the number of spray lubes on
the market. LOTS of spray lubes won't EVER turn gummy. Triflow would
work well. LPS3 would be fine.
>
>The best lubricant for speedo cables and locks is powered graphite. I do not
>know if it is possible to properly lubricate a speedo cable on a Miata. It
>is a little messy if done properly because you must remove the cable from
>the sheath, clean it, and wipe it with graphite lube.

Dri slide would be a decent choice. It will make it all the way down
the tube.

Take a look at this link for several products made especially for
lubing speedo cables.

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=...ubricant&hl=en

In article >,
Natman > wrote:

> Dri slide would be a decent choice. It will make it all the way down
> the tube.

Dri Slide would be my recommendation as well. I still have a can from my
old motorcycle racing days. Graphite lock lubricants are essentially the
same thing.

--
Lanny Chambers
'94C, St. Louis
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

I have a mostly annoying problem that happens only in the colder months
and goes away after some time of driving the car, but will return
without fail when the car is cold again.
It sounds like a plastic bag that is tied on one end and is being blown
by a decent amount of wind. The faster I drive, the louder it gets.
I've had this problem the whole time I've owned the car, could this be
a speedo lub issue?
The car now has 226,000 miles on it, I bought it with 112,000
Full maint. history is at http://mechlogs.com/maverik if that helps.

Thanks,
Karl Kittler

Karl,

That sounds like a funny way to describe the sound I've heard from mine but
I suppose one's imagination could come up with that comparison if one's
imagination was .............imaginative enough!

Seriously, it could be the same problem. I'd try clearing my head of the
plastic bag in the wind theory and listen to it new again trying to imagine
it being that pesky cable spinning. Might be.

Good luck,
Chris

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>I have a mostly annoying problem that happens only in the colder months
> and goes away after some time of driving the car, but will return
> without fail when the car is cold again.
> It sounds like a plastic bag that is tied on one end and is being blown
> by a decent amount of wind. The faster I drive, the louder it gets.
> I've had this problem the whole time I've owned the car, could this be
> a speedo lub issue?
> The car now has 226,000 miles on it, I bought it with 112,000
> Full maint. history is at http://mechlogs.com/maverik if that helps.
>
> Thanks,
> Karl Kittler
>

Well it's a moot point now - sold the car this past weekend and got a
2005 Nordic Green LS... But thanks for the feedback anyway!!
-alex-


Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
> Well, I think I was the recent poster on this. I found several people who
> said that they had successfully accomplished this. Gennerally something
> like: disconnecting both ends, using a drill to spin it fron the tranny end
> (no prob) and feeding some sort of lubricant from the up side. I gave it my
> best shot but the cable seemed to have like a waxy substance pretty much
> clogging the end of the cable. At least 2 auto parts stores looked at me
> like deer in the headlights when I asked them about cable lubricant. So I
> tried good ol WD 40! Not completely successful but I think a bit better, I
> never heard anyone claiming to have removed the cable from the sheath.
> Hhhmmm, could work I guess.
>
> Let us know,
> Chris
> 92n99
>
> "lgadbois" > wrote in message
> link.net...
>
>>Using spray lube of any kind on a speedo cable is a bad idea. A spray lube
>>will get gummy over time, and normaly does not spread down the entire
>>length of the cable if the lubricant is applied from the top end of the
>>sheath.
>>
>>The best lubricant for speedo cables and locks is powered graphite. I do
>>not know if it is possible to properly lubricate a speedo cable on a
>>Miata. It is a little messy if done properly because you must remove the
>>cable from the sheath, clean it, and wipe it with graphite lube.
>>
>>"Alex M. Postpischil" <apost_@_copper_dot_net> wrote in message
>>news:437F820E.2060607@_copper_dot_net...
>>
>>>Hi all-
>>>I saw the relatively recent thread on lubing the speedo (at least I think
>>>it was here), and tried to lubricate mine today. The problem I has is
>>>that the housing on the end of the cable was sealed so that I coudln't
>>>get any of the spray lube to go into the cable. Anyone have any ideas on
>>>how to get the lube into the cable without removing the plastic housing??
>>>Or is there a way to remove and reinstall the plastic??
>>>-alex-
>>>
>>
>>
>
>