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TR2/3/3A Speedometer Rebuild

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S

Skidude

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The speedometer needle in my 59 TR3A bounces when driving - it will bounce between 50-60 mph instead of remaining at a steady speed.

Anyone have any recommendations on how to repair - or a good service to send the unit for repair?
 
Most of the time bouncing is caused by the drive cable. Either lubing or replacing it usually fixes it.

The second cause would be dried oil in the head unit that pumps up from the tranny through the cable, and often hardens to a wax like consistency when the car sits for a long period. That requires taking the bezel off to access the inside of the unit to clean it.
 
When you get a new cable, get a good one either some kind of NOS deal or something. I have had bouncing needles that bounced with new aftermarket cables. Most cars today are digital, but around here we still have a shop that will build you a copy of your cable for 30.00. The gauges are re-buildable by DIY or by a few contractors on the USA market.
 
I have the same issue. I haven't really addressed it yet, my plan is to try the new cable first. If that doesn't take care of it I'll check to see if Nisonger Instruments does speedo's. They've done temp gauges for me before. I'm pretty sure they also do other gauges, tachs, and speedo. Don't have the number handy but they can be found with on line search. If you don't find them lmk and I'll find their card for you.
Located in New York. I may check what CDJ mentions and check the inside before spending money to send it out though. Seems like a good project for winter months.
 
Nisonger does speedometers. They also sell the O rings for all the gauges, one or a set. I took mine apart and cleaned the dried grease around the wheel and replaced the cable. Works good now. There is a set of paper gaskets that sandwich the glass. Couldn't find replacements so I used thin rubber rings. Be careful when you bend the tabs on the chrome bezel, just enough to pop the glass out. Of course you don't have to play with the glass to get the speedo unit out. The tricky part is the odometer reset twizzle, but it's doable.
 
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