Grinding noises in my instrument

[Ibach73dart]

Hey Guys,

I have this weird grinding noise in my instrument and my speedometer needls is jumping up and down when the car is cold. The noise is by the headlights switch and i can feel it grinding. Any ideas? This is on a 73 dart swinger.

 

[DA69RT GT]

Did your speedo cable come loose from the back of the cluster??? Could just be resonating sound to a different area.

 

[Ibach73dart]

Did your speedo cable come loose from the back of the cluster??? Could just be resonating sound to a different area.

I think i will check on that this weekend because I did removed my cluster to repaint it. I might not have plug it in all the way. Thanks!

 

[Dart_Doctor]

Did your speedo cable come loose from the back of the cluster??? Could just be resonating sound to a different area.

x2 this

 

[RedFish]

Cable clean and grease should quieten it down for a time.

 

[TrailBeast]

Cable clean and grease should quieten it down for a time.

Yep.
Slide the cable out of the housing from the speedo side, clean and lube it then put it back in.
The housing is rubber on the inside and when the cable gets dry it sticks and releases causing the noise and the needle jumping around.
Think about it like this.
The cable sticks and winds up a little and suddenly releases causing the cable to turn the speedo faster for a second.

 

[RedFish]

Yep.
Slide the cable out of the housing from the speedo side, clean and lube it then put it back in.
The housing is rubber on the inside and when the cable gets dry it sticks and releases causing the noise and the needle jumping around.
Think about it like this.
The cable sticks and winds up a little and suddenly releases causing the cable to turn the speedo faster for a second.

Actually its more like inertia that causes the needle to twitch. The input needs be smooth rotation. There is a spot underneath the drivers seat where the cable turns a 90 degree curve. That's where the cable normally binds in the sheathe. Pulling the cable around that curve to remove it is easy. Pushing it back in around that curve , not so easy.
If the cable is disconnected from the trans , set out of the strap in the curve and straightened a bit first... Disconnect at the speedo allows chemical cleaning/compressed air flush of sheathe and cable and lubricating.

 

[Kikowillers]

How do you lubricate the speedo cable? What to use?

Just asking cuz mine also behaves strangely...

 

[OwdKasd]

FWIW: It's probably in the cable as stated above but if Lubing it don't help, The the Speedo head itself is the culprit. I sprayed some Dupont lube down my cable and problem solved.

 

[RedFish]

I pack a cleaned cable with white lithium grease on its way back into the sheathe.

 

[Ibach73dart]

Thanks guys, all i did was reach in the back of the cluster and push the speedo cable in..it was a little lose. I drove around the block and no more grinding noises. Thanks a whole munch!!!