"Bouncing" speedo needle

[halfjap1980]

Hey guys,

I've noticed the needle on my speedo bounces when I am accelerating from a dead stop through 60 km/h.

I've seen a couple other posts on here that make reference to this issue, but no resolution. Anyone had this problem and successfully fix it? It's not a major problem obviously, but it just irks me. lol

Thanks!

-Kenji

[bellis_GTR]

Mine also does that but only when Im slowing down from 20-0. Maybe its just the old sensors?

[Micho]

Have the same issue but only from 1st to 2nd, generally around 0 to 20km/h.

[TrevoR32]

me too.... never really bothered me tho, i tend to not look at that gauge.

[DougTaylor]

My tach does that quite frequently, sometimes to the beat of the music even. I try to shift by the sound of the engine..

[Bossman]

http://www.speedometershop.com/faq.html

I had this problem before, it was not my Skyline but it was a Nissan with analogue gauge and mechanical cable. At first I thought it was a lubrication issue with the cable so I tried lubricating it with a light liquid lubricant but it made it worst. I then clean the cable with electric circuit clean and it was better. After a close inspection I notice there was a crack on the plastic collar where the cable is attached to the unit behind. I surmised that some of the lubricant from the cable had came out and contaminated the gauge mechanism (mainly the clock spring), so I clean the gauge with the circuit clean and fixed the problem. This was quite sometime back so I'm not too sure if I've used graphite to lubricate the cable, but I do remember that I used electrical tape to wrap the collar.

[halfjap1980]

Thanks for the info and the link. I think it might be a kink in the speed cable as per the web site faq. I have installed different clusters and still noticed the bouncing needle. It wasn't as noticable on the MiNE'S cluster, but spacing is a lot smaller between 0 and 60 km/h on that one. I'm going to inspect the cable and see if there is anything noticable.

Also, there is a crack in the plastic on the back of my speedo, but nothing looks loose. I tried to squeeze it together but it won't move. I don't think that tape will be able to hold it together.

-Kenji

[Bossman]

I should have explain it more in detail, the tape is to prevent the lubricant or fine dust/derbies (metal grinds) from reentering and not to hold the collar together. You could try cleaning the cable first and lubricate it with graphite dust, you should be able to find the graphite where they sell locks or at crap tire. This is cheaper then spending $100 or so for a new cable.

[halfjap1980]

Ok I see. So what did you use to clean the back of the gauge? What is "elecric circuit cleaner"?

-Kenji

[Terrh]

electronics cleaner is the same (but a lot less harsh I bet) as brake cleaner.

[halfjap1980]

Can I find electronics cleaner at a Canadian Tire or do I have to go to an electronics store?

-Kenji

[Bossman]

electronics cleaner is the same (but a lot less harsh I bet) as brake cleaner.

Brake cleaner eats plastic, electrical circuit cleaner does not. I bought some electrical something cleaner at a local auto part store long time ago, I can't locate the can ATM but I remember it said it is safe to use on ABS circuit/system. I got the cleaner from Radio Shack but I can't say if Crab Tire has the 'auto' electrical circuit cleaner for sure.

[halfjap1980]

Yup! Found everything I needed at Crappy Tire. Graphyte grease and electrical contact cleaner. I'll give it a shot and let you know how it goes.

Thanks for the help!!

-Kenji

[halfjap1980]

Finally got my stock odometer rolled forward to match the MiNE'S cluster I took out (speedo was off by 12 km/h). I cleaned the back of the stock speedo and the inside of the speedo cable with the electrical contact cleaner and then applied the graphyte lubricant (didn't realize it was a powder lol). Installed the stock cluster and.....needle is still bouncing. Once my ebay LED set arrives I'll install my "new" NISMO cluster and see if I have the same issue. Looking more and more like it could actually be the cable...but how could it get kinked in the first place??? Wierd. :s

-Kenji

[skaG]

two of my customers and I had the same problem on skylines(gts/gtr) what Bossman is saying is true but most likely the speed cable is getting closed to the end of it's life. it's been almost 20 years so it's time to change.