56 Speedometer - No Needle Movement, but Odometer is Fine

[Mark P.]

My 56 speedometer seized up on me and I pulled it and lubed it and now the odometer works but no needle movement on the speedometer. Is this a fix that I can handle or do I need a rebuild?

Thanks,
Mark

[Steven B.]

Re: 56 Speedometer - No Needle Movement, but Odometer is Fine

Mark, years ago I looked at a '57 speedo to buy. It was stuck, needle would not move. The guy who bought it told me he gently tried moving it a few times and it did not break loose. He then took it apart and did a thorough cleaning and it worked fine. (He was not especially a good "fix-it" type but had no problem with this.) 'Worth a try. Steve

[Joe R.]

Re: 56 Speedometer - No Needle Movement, but Odometer is Fine

Sorry but "lube" is not the speedometers friend. Sounds like you have lubed the wrong parts in the speedometer head. If the odometer is working then the number one and number two gears are working. The pointer shaft is probably twisted from the speed cup.
You are going to have to select a speedometer repair shop to get you back on the road. Several advertise in "The Restorer". Any of them can fix your speedometer.

JR

[Gerry P.]

Re: 56 Speedometer - No Needle Movement, but Odometer is Fine

Mark - I had mine ('57) recalibrated a few yrs ago at a local shop in Denver. They took it apart and advised putting in a kit which as I recall contained a bearing (brass sleeve) and maybe the shaft which was scarred where it went through the bearing. The repair shop explained that the lube in the bearing gets dry causing the main shaft to hang up which in turn leads to a jumpy needle. The whole repair cost about $160. I'm guessing the bearing lube has dried out on yours causing the needle mechanism to hang up. You might be able to soak the speedometer parts (not the odometer) in solvent to free it up.
Gerry

[Domenic T.]

Re: 56 Speedometer - No Needle Movement, but Odometer is Fine

Mark,
I had my C2 apart and found a bad worm gear that was actually inexpensive. When I bench tested it, it wasn't the complete fix as I found another worm gear that I was unable to get.
I was able to locate one in Ohio at a speedo repair shop but I ended up sending the complete speedo there to calibrate it as the magnets were weak and the calibration was needed.

DOM