What do I use to lube my tach cable?

02Lightning · #1 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 08:32 AM

I was going to use graphite, any suggestions? I assume I can pull the cable all the way out from under the dash?

**AlfaVeloce** · #2 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02Lightning

I was going to use graphite, any suggestions? I assume I can pull the cable all the way out from under the dash?

**flivesay** · #3 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 08:52 AM

I usually pull the cable from the sheath, rinse inside the sheath with some spray (wd-40 or PB) to clean out the gunk then wipe th inner cable with lithium grease. Again--gtvs and spiders

**Peter** · #4 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 10:06 AM

I used Lithium grease last time...seemed to work fine

**Gordon Raymond** · #5 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 10:13 AM

Frank's system and mine are much alike. After disconnecting both ends, I pull the drive cable and wash it in my solvent tank. I spray and re-spray the cable sheath inside with Brakeclean, until it comes out clean at the transmission end, or until I've used up a can of Brakeclean, which ever happens first. I dry the inner drive cable, and coil it up and sit it in a can of Mobile 1 synthetic overnight. Pull it out and reinstall from the transmission end (NO mess in the car!) and reassemble to transmission and speedometer. It now runs quiet and is lubricated forever!

**AlfaVeloce** · #6 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 06:08 PM

Gordon
once again you are confused and incorrect.

Man am I LOL right now. sorry, could not resist in spite of a solid effort not to say it.

Anyway, the subject was tach cable. But really the same thing only different on the tach and the tranny. So, you are only confused, not incorrect this time.

Once again, here to help you out of this jam.

**flivesay** · #7 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 06:26 PM

Your method is better Raymond

same priciple to a better degree but it depends on the condition of the cable assembly--but I do like the soaking it in Mobil 1 idea. may be better than lithium--not sure how the speedometer properties compare over time. maybe put a coating of lithium over the mobile 1? either cable

**Gordon Raymond** · #8 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 07:17 PM

Thank GOD you are standing by Larry! ONLY YOU could help me out of this jam! (LOL!!!)
Best, G.

**AlfaVeloce** · #9 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Raymond

Thank GOD you are standing by Larry! ONLY YOU could help me out of this jam! (LOL!!!)
Best, G.

02Lightning · #10 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfaVeloce

Gordon
once again you are confused and incorrect.

Man am I LOL right now. sorry, could not resist in spite of a solid effort not to say it.

Anyway, the subject was tach cable. But really the same thing only different on the tach and the tranny. So, you are only confused, not incorrect this time.

Once again, here to help you out of this jam.

**AlfaVeloce** · #11 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 08:07 PM

Like I said, I just could not resist. And I am still laughing. This all started on another thread, and Gordon and I shared a joke about it on still another thread. So, it's kind of been like the STD of the BB here. It seems to be spreading by casual contact.

Now, if we still can...
back to lubricating tach (and speedometer) cables!

**AlfaVeloce** · #12 (**permalink**) 04-18-2009, 07:27 AM

So, I woke up this morning and there was my wife without any clothes on and she said "what's the first thing you want to do today?" I told her I had just thought about something I need to post on the lubricating tachometer cables thread on the Alfa BB. She said "Why don't you make that the second thing you do today?"

So, I got up and moved her clothes from the washer to the dryer. HEY, I'm no dummy. Quick on the uptake, that's me, brother.

Now, the second thing today, what I thought of...

Some of you were saying you used brake cleaner to rinse out the cable sheath and get the gunk out. There was one project that would have been a help to me on. I'll remember that if there is next time. But be careful, too as I have found that, particularly the Valvoline brake cleaner, will eat the crap out of some plastics and make them sticky like a 164 overhead console. It'll clean brakes like no ones business but not good for anything else. I use just the generic Advance Auto Parts house brand on most stuff the needs a good cleaning. Seems to be a bit more benign but still cleans well. Also there is a thing, if you ever played in the band back in school, called a trumpet snake:

Now it is not long enough to go all the way end to end, but you could use it on both ends or you might push it with a dowel rod, or pull it with a string, and along with the solvent, you could speed up the process and be sure to really get all the gunk out. Those snakes are available probably any music store anywhere in the world for $5 to 10 USD.

**Gordon Raymond** · #13 (**permalink**) 04-18-2009, 09:18 AM

Larry, the Wurth Brakeclean also works well. ANY carb cleaner is BAD! Way to nasty for this job.

BTW what happens if you connect your bottom end tach cable to the transmission and the transmission cable to the water pump tach drive? (This from the incorrect and confused)
Oh Yea! DO NOT squirt ANYTHING into those cable sheaths with the far end connected to trans or water pump. I know, there is a seal there, but do you trust that seal to protect your transmission or engine from glop and solvent, pushed against it backwards? Uhhh.. , not me!

**AlfaVeloce** · #14 (**permalink**) 04-18-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Raymond

...BTW what happens if you connect your bottom end tach cable to the transmission and the transmission cable to the water pump tach drive? (This from the incorrect and confused)...

nonstop26 · #15 (**permalink**) 04-21-2009, 12:43 PM

I once owned a 1600 Guilia Spider Veloce that I bought new in 1966. After several years the tach stopped working so I took out the instrument cluster to see if the cable turned when the engine ran. I didn't think about the fact that the oil pressure gauge was a direct read. Didn't think about it until I started the engine and anointed myself with hot engine oil.
The cable was broken near the other end but I soldered in a piece of mild steel, shaped it with a file and stuck it back in. Worked like a charm. That's what happens when you don't lubricate the cable.