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Speedometer Cable Lubrication-Triumph/Dash Gauges

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KVH

KVH

Obi Wan
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How do you "lubricate" a speedometer cable. Simple grease? Lithium Grease? Not oil?

And those dash gauges--are you supposed to have little lock washers behind the knurled finger nuts that hold the gauge brackets on? I note that one of my gauges does; the others don't. And there's barely enough clearance for any.

Thanks, all.
 
Re: Speedometer Cable Lubrication-Triumph/Dash Gau

Which TR do you have? In general, they do have the knurled nuts holding the gauges in place so you can line them square to the fascia.

Usually you use a graphite spray or powder lubricant for speedometer cables. You can get it at any auto store. Undo the cable from behind the speedometer and spray it down the cable. It will be messy but it works.

Jeff
 
Re: Speedometer Cable Lubrication-Triumph/Dash Gau

I've had best results using wheel bearing grease on speedo cables. I just get a hand full in one hand, and feed the cable thru that wad of grease working it with my fingers as to not over apply,... and slide it into it's casing.
 
Re: Speedometer Cable Lubrication-Triumph/Dash Gau

I take the cable out (leave the housing attached to the gear box and withdraw the cable from the drivers seat) lay it on a couple of newpapers and spray it with powdered graphite. Roll it around in the excess a bit, then refit. This stuff is real messy so wearing latex gloves and covering the interior are in order.

Yes, originally there were toothed lock washers under those knurled nuts behind the gauges though they often disappear over the years. My '4 still has them, probably because it has no heater making it dead easy to get at the back of the gauges.
 
Re: Speedometer Cable Lubrication-Triumph/Dash Gau

I have never used dry lubricants on speedo cables. I take out the core and clean it with WD-40 and paper towels. Once clean you can inspect it for excessive twisting and broken filaments. I always coat them heavily with 90W gear oil and put them back in to a fully inspected outer sleeve. If you find any breaks in the vinyl on the outer sleeve, you can use vinyl cement to recoat the damaged areas. The most important thing is to keep water from getting inside the outer sleeve.

I'd avoid grease as the stuff is just too thick at low temperatures.
 
Years ago while wrenching at a Chev/Olds dealer, I got a tube of AC General Purpose Lubricant (AC #25033356) that everyone used for speedo cable lube. Like mentioned above, pull inner cable out, clean, wipe with lube and install.
Lube is only good between -40F to +140F.
 
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