speedometer

[hotrod ford]

has anyone had a speedometer make sounds before? i starting to think that i might have a defective gauge

[FORDification]

While nothing is impossible, I'd be more inclined to think the noise you're hearing is coming from a dry speedometer cable.

[hotrod ford]

first what do you mean dry? second i've been having a noise and i think it is the c6, but it sounded like it was coming from behind the gauge panel. maybe i'm just hearin things.

[19674x4]

well does the speedo work, or is it just making grinding noises? because i put a brand new cable on mine then the actual speedo went down the drain. all it would do is make horrible grinding noises. so i just unhooked it and use my tach for a speedo.

[hotrod ford]

the cable is original, but the inst. panel is from a f600.

[4th effie n counting]

i believe you can just shoot some lithium grease into the cable from the speedo end,(never done this myself) temporary fix.
the only bad speedo cable i had made like a chirpy kind of sound, and the needle moved erratically,

[fordman]

i thought you were suppose to use graphite inside the cable. i could be wrong.

[FORDification]

When I say dry I mean unlubricated. You should never use grease, oil, etc. for the speedo cable. It WILL gum up and cause all kinds of problems. A speedo cable needs to be lubricated with powder graphite.

[hotrod ford]

so when i hear this noise its right in front of me. i would have swore it was comin from the tranny until today. when i thought about why can i hear it with my left as good as my right i started to wonder if it is the tranny.

[fordman]

a little graphite couldnt hurt the cable. at least it would rule out a rubbing cable.

[FORDification]

The quick way to check would be to disconnect the speedo cable from the speedo gauge itself, so that the cable will still turn when the truck is driven, it just won't spin the speedo. If you can't hear the noise with the cable disconnected there, it's definitely the speedo. If the noise disappears, reattach it to the speedo and disconnect it from the transmission and test drive the truck again. If the noise disappears, it's definitely the cable. If it's still there, then it's in the transmission.

[4th effie n counting]

oops my bad... that might explain why i have been lugging a tube of graphite around for 15 years

[hotrod ford]

well diconected the cable before i came home today. heard the noise but it did'nt seem as loud. will take it off of the tranny side tomorrow. now, will i lose any fluid when i drive like that?

[fordman]

no you shouldn't if you just unscrew the cable from the gear holder on the transmision.

[hotrod ford]

so it will be safe to drive to work tomorrow morning with out any mishaps?