1959 Speedometer accuracy

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old November 9th, 2019, 08:35 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
gkhashem's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: NH
Posts: 203
1959 Speedometer accuracy

The drum appears to work fine but as you go to higher speeds it becomes inaccurate.

So at 40 MPH, the drum may say I am going 43 MPH, but at 65 MPH, the drum says I am going 80 MPH.

Is this just the nature of the beast due to age or what? No shimmies, strange movement all is smooth.
gkhashem is offline  
Old November 9th, 2019, 03:17 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
Fun71's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 13,879
I don't know for certain this is your issue, but that is essentially what happens when the tire height or rear gear ratio are changed from the factory setup. The speedometer calibration will be off by some percentage, so it will read correctly at 0 MPH and as speed increases the MPH offset becomes larger. With shorter tires / lower gears the indicated MPH gets larger than the actual MPH; with taller tires / higher gear ratio the indicated MPH gets less than the actual MPH.
Fun71 is online now  
Old November 9th, 2019, 05:13 PM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
gkhashem's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: NH
Posts: 203
Thanks for the suggestion, I should have stated the car does have new Coker bias tires that are the correct factory size. So that should not be the issue and what was on the car when I got it was the same tires.

So that should not be the issue.
gkhashem is offline  
Old November 10th, 2019, 08:43 AM
  #4  
Registered User
 
Koda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 10,374
I think the speedo is run by a magnetic force from spinning, against a spring. Slower and jumpy means badly lubed cable or a hang up. Too fast, I presume, is a weak spring.
Koda is online now  
Old November 10th, 2019, 11:31 AM
  #5  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
gkhashem's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: NH
Posts: 203

No bumpy movement, so it must be a weak spring. Can you replace the spring or get a NOS drum?


I will probably leave it but curious.

Last edited by gkhashem; November 10th, 2019 at 11:35 AM.
gkhashem is offline  
Old November 10th, 2019, 05:17 PM
  #6  
Phantom Phixer
 
Charlie Jones's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Apopka, FL
Posts: 4,694
Hemmings Motor News lists several speedometer repair shops who can check and repair your speedometer .
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds...et=Instruments
Speedometer repair and calibration is not a DIY proposition .

Last edited by Charlie Jones; November 10th, 2019 at 05:24 PM.
Charlie Jones is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Phoenix8990
Drivetrain/Differentials
3
March 29th, 2019 07:21 AM
SHJohnson
Transmission
2
April 17th, 2014 11:15 AM
Gary's 2 442-S
Drivetrain/Differentials
3
October 2nd, 2013 07:10 PM
pcard
General Questions
16
July 30th, 2013 07:31 AM
art72
The Newbie Forum
3
July 1st, 2013 07:44 AM



Quick Reply: 1959 Speedometer accuracy



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:54 PM.