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MG MGA - Speedo Cable - lubricate?

I'm close to finishing the restoration of our 1962 MKII and now at the point of hooking up the speedo cable, using the original that I took off the car last year. Should I put some graphite or other type lube in it or just leave it as is?

- Ken
Ken Doris

Graphite would be original, if you can find it. I have not seen speedo cable lube in the Auto Parts Stores in a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time. The last time I asked at A**o Z**e, then told me to use WD40!! What a bunch of crap!!! Thanks to computers, these people who work in these stores for the most part know NOTHING, except how to work the computer. WHen I explained that when WD40 dries, it is actually STICKY and therefore a very POOR choice for a lubricant, I just got a blank stare. I think I stumped them by using the big word 'lubricant'.
Anyway, to answer your question, I would call NAPA and see if they have any graphite lube and put some down the speedo cable before assembly. It is much easier to do it now and you may have fewer problems in the future.

Dennis, Az
Dennis

Hi Ken. If you cant find graphite, I have used teflon based grease in speedo cables with good success. Cheers! Glenn
Glenn

You could check with your local sporting goods store in the fishing department... I have a tube for my fishing reels... Mike
mike

Hardware stores are a good source for powered graphite lubricant. I've also had success with white litium grease in a spray can. -M.S
Martin Straka

Try a bicycle shop or a locksmith for graphite lubricant.
John DeWolf

If you buy Lock-eze it is graphite. I don't remember whether it is graphite powder or graphite in isopropyl alcohol, it has been so long since I used it. If you want graphite, buy a motor brush from the local hardware and sand it down to powder. Put it into a bottle with some isopropyl alcohol, and it applies very nicely. The alcohol will evaporate off.
mike parker

Thanks for all the suggestions. I searched my shelves and found a small bottle of Lock-Ease, the liquid graphite product. The label claims that the liquid "carrier" quickly evaporates, leaving just the graphite behind. Sounds like the right thing to use!

As I hooked up the Speedo I found it didn't work. After some debugging such as checking that the cable was spinning I found the indicator needle was below the stop pin at 0 mph! How that happened I don't have a clue, but I'm now an expert at taking off the front rim and glass and easing the needle over the stop pin! The speedo now works as I remember it from 32 years ago, the last time it was operational - about 20 mph per 1000 rpm.

- Ken
Ken Doris

Or if you know someone in the Technical Drawing business ( Architect, engineer, Drafter) who still uses graphite lead on paper, you can probably get a lifetime supply free, by emptying their lead pointer.
John DeWolf


MicroTrains sells powdered graphite in a tube to lubricate their Z scale 1/220 locomotives. Check a local hobby shop.
R. L Carleen

Even Wal*Mart has powdered graphite. I got some a week or so back. It's commonly used in door locks. Just a "puff" deep into the lock will lube one for years. It's much better for the lock than WD-40 which will easily evaporate out, and attract dirt or dust into the lock before it does. Of course that's a different subject... I have used the aforementioned lithium grease in speedo cables, but never tried Lockease. It should work perfectly.
Chuck Asbury

AGS Co, Muskegan, MI makes a cable lubricant called KABLE-EASE. I picked up a tube recently at a local auto parts store. Marv Stuart
Marvin Stuart

This thread was discussed between 16/04/2005 and 18/04/2005

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