How to service a Ford Model A speedometer 

Great work! Thanks for helping out Derek at Vice Grip Garage. Hopefully his Model A won't rot in his field with many of his other cars.

I take apart clockwork inside a Pyrex dish so no screws or springs can get lost.

I’d love for Astra-Werke to be my “guy” for speedometers! He seems to be an expert. Thanks for sharing! The more we know, the longer our Model As will stay on the road! Awesome, Paul!

A few years ago I got a speeding ticket while going down hill in my 1919 model T. The officer said I was going 50 in a 45. The judge laughed and said that’s impossible.

Part of my Saturday morning routine. Breakfast, coffee and tune in to the Shinn shenanigans!! Your videos are great Paul.

Props for lining up the dash panel screws - tells a good job has been done :) Next video: How to service a Ford Model A garage door ;P

Hey Paul. My speedo works ok but the mileometer doesn't roll over. Any ideas as to why? Thanks Mike

Yeah, never miss an opportunity to lube anything mechanical while you have it apart. You'll regret it later. Never enough time do it now, but you'll have to make time later! Cheers!

It’s great watching your videos all the way through Paul! I even love it when your “big fat hands” are in the way!.

How about a video on the ODOMETER? My ODO is sticking and turning over FOUR digits at once! For example, 2274 to 3385 ( a jump of 1111 all at once! ) Thanks 😀

Paul, very good. I enjoyed this. From what I can tell it's numbered to 80 MPH, but it'll read higher into the numberless area. Hair has a way of getting around. A half hour ago we pulled a dog hair out of the spaghetti water.

Where is that circuit breaker available. I would love to buy one. Thank you

Wow, I was impressed by the lighting, but glasses cam too! Watch out Stephen Spielberg! Another great video! 👏 PS. Maybe your shop door could use a little lubricant as well. 😉

80 mph? must be down hill with a 30 mph tailwind. two people I follow have bought Model As in the last month, and both follow you. You are a bad influence.

So what would be very helpful for me I finally got a speedometer for my 29 but it didn’t have a cable the one that was in it was not the right cable I purchase a new cable but I’m not sure about where it runs through the firewall it seems to me like it’s been too much and about the first time I drove it after I installed a new cable and the spoon amateur I hear a click click and I’m nothing works again

Sorry I have a 29 special coop is there a place you recommend finding information on this it seems like there’s a lot of information not available on the special cool

There's a reflection of another classic car on the door. What is the other car, looks cool

A suggestion which may save grief. I cover the dash area under the removable panel with masking tape before freeing it. This eliminates the chance of any paint scratches while working on the backside when disconnecting the wires or the speedo cable. Ask me how I learned that tip. 🙁 Visit Adrian at Astre Werk here on RU-vid for an excellent video detailing the refurbishment and repair of his Model A’s speedometer. I’m impressed with the glasses cam video quality. Details ? I may pick up a pair. Thanks, an excellent video as always. A final question, is your mailing address published? I see folks are often donating items. More than once, I’ve had something in hand and thought, I should send this on to Paul.

Great video as always! Your videos are sooo helpful as I am a first time model A caretaker. Just acquired an actual "Barn Find" 1929 standard coupe that runs like a sewing machine and moves under it's own power. Needs a LOT of TLC before she hits the road. Any hints on repairing/replacing the top and body wood? Thanks again for what you and Model T do.

Please consider doing a video on installing a temperature guage in a Model A. That will give me one more thing to watch and worry about while touring. Great videos as always 👌 👏

Thank you again Paul. I’m finding your videos very helpful, and finding myself looking forward to the next one!

Nice, straightforward look inside. Always good to see before doing the job oneself. Thanks, Paul.

That's funny Paul, framing a speeding ticket, I'm with you. Nice job on the cleaning and lubricating of the speedometer. It's great when you know how to fix these types of things. Gives a person knowledge of how to fix that issue and saves some money too. Great video, thanks for sharing. I wish you and Model T and the rest of your family an awesome weekend.

Nicely done! Looks a bit more fancy than our dash. The fuel gauge is attached to a bent piece of wire with a cork on the end :)

Nice simple fix. Nice to work on metal parts instead of plastic like modern cars.

Just bought a 29 model a. I’m so excited after years of looking. Can you recommend maintenance tech books or manuals to buy. And who you like for parts.

Mine doesn't "stick" but it doesn't read properly. If it reads 40, I'm doing about 45. It loses a bit of the sync as I pass 20. Does this repair fix every issue? Lube fixes all? Or for this issue do you have a different option? Thanks.

Well again, Paul never disappoints, bringing us a wealth of knowledge, tips, entertainment, motivation and encouragement to stay in touch with our Model A's. Thanks Paul.

I think you have Derek from Vice Grip Garage as your best friend now!

Paul, New subscriber here, but nearly as old as these wonderful cars. Afraid to say I've never had any inclination to own an old car. Since surviving several anxious years with a 1964 MG in the late 60s, when every trip was a gamble on whether or not it would start, i grew accustomed to (ie spoiled by) cars that just start and go every time theyre asked, and theres a lot to be said for that. Nevertheless, cars of this vintage have so much damn CHARM that since discovering your channel recently i have actually started to fantasise about swapping my Toyota Hilux and Lotus Elise for one of these late 20s machines so i can make my escape from the bank in proper style each week, albeit without the Tommy gun. The idea of actually being able to recover from a breakdown with nothing more than a hammer, a screwdriver and a piece of sandpaper is very alluring. Sad to say, the number of Model A's for sale here in Australia is as limited as my mechanical skills, with only 6 on offer right now, and all of them at ridiculous prices and glitzed up to billy-o. So for the time being, I have to content myself with some of your many videos, which are thoroughly enjoyable and educational. At ths tender age of 75, I am finally discovering what my old man took for granted, and wondering why it has taken me so long to see the light. Thanks for the many idle hours of learning and dreaming. Keep 'em coming!

Glasses camera?? That's some real youtuber stuff ha ha Those are some tiny inaccessible screws, my least favorite!!

Derek sent me. Not dissapointed. Absolutely love these ol pieces of art.....great content. Glad to find ya

At 13:58 you said it was an OCD thing but you like to line your screws up. Do you like the Horizontal or Vertical....just curious.

My speedometer is stripped where the cable goes in. I made it work by enlarging the cable with solder. Sure would be nice to be able to order the part that goes in the speedometer. I have not found anybody that has that part

@Paul Shinn, What if a person does not have a small green screw driver? HA!HA!

Hey Paul just wanted to let you know that I found you through Derek and vice grip garage he plugged you I checked out your channel and subscribe just wanted to share the love I’ll be checking out your videos as well be safe keep on wrenching

I’m having trouble with my speedometer cable, I noticed that in this video the cable end is pretty much flush with the cable housing, mine slips down into the housing and then doesn’t engage the speedometer. Am I missing a washer?

Hi Paul. Got a 30 model close can pickup. Just starting the process. Not a hot rod but hydraulic brakes and gos shocks so far. I will do some updates but not much. Thanks for your vids. Check it out.

I enjoyed that video but I was very puzzled when I noticed it has 2 shifters and a hand brake so if you could explain why I would appreciate it also I am curious you have a temperature gauge which causes me to wonder did the model A have a thermostat and where is it located if it does I have a Ford 8N tractor and it has a thermostat in the radiator hose so if I put a temperature gauge on it I have to remember to push the thermostat inside the hose first and then my temperature gauge housing inside so it reads the temperature at the hottest point so I am curious if Ford did the same thing on the model A thermostat? Thanks from 🇨🇦

In this video you showed a circuit breaker on your fuse block. Are these resettable in case it trips? Where can one be purchased? Thanks and love the videos.

great now i know how fix a Speedo

Paul I be send u a vide by Facebook,please have a look tell me what you think 🙏

Where can I get a letter kit for my 1931 speedometer?

I thought one should only use graphite powder in a speedometer ?

Paul, New subscriber here. I recently bought a 29 Tudor and your videos have been very helpful to me. I got my speedo working well but it reads about 8-9 mph high. when the speedo reads 50mph I'm actually only running about 42mph. Is there a way to adjust it?

That was really useful Paul! I've just bought a 31 Fordor, and the Speedo sticks, and only wakes up by tapping it when on the move! Also it's missing the odometer! Not too sure how to solve that though?

Hello Paul and Model T. My Name is Bill Harte and I live in Ashburn Virginia. My wife (Nadia) and have been watching (subscribed to) your channel since forever. We are about to take possession of a 1930 Fordor this Friday Oct 28. My passion is vintage cars (although this 1930 will be my oldest). This Model A will be my daily driver (I dont do modern cars). Paul, I was wondering what your background is as you have many skills. I myself have an engineering background, but it gets in the way from time to time. I always wish to be better. P.S. Nadia does the modern car thing. I dont want her to pick me up all the time.

So if you had to spray cleaner in it, what would it be? Also, is Hyper-lube available in all lower 48? I live in Minnesota, so looking for an equivalent lube. Don't really need it, just want to do maintenance that may have been neglected in the 60 years before I acquired my '31 standard Coupe.

Hi Paul why did you not lubed the speedometercable while it was open and looking you right in the face. Great job and very educational Kind regards Filip from Belgium

I'm an old school instrument guy from way back. I finished my apprenticeship at Flexdrive Instruments in Melbourne Australia back in 1980. Flexdrive was the Australian arm of Stewart Warner. I've been repairing and restoring instruments for 40 some years and a year or so ago I was given a pretty shagged out speedo and switch set from a '24 Studebaker. It had Stewart Warner on the dial but it was made by someone else, don't remember who. I'd never seen the insides of this type of speedo before though the Studebaker speedo was much bigger than yours and included a trip odometer. When I took the Studebaker apart I have to admit, I was taken aback at how unnecessarily complex a machine it was in relation to the work it had to do. The body of both the switch set and the speedo were made of die-cast, I think you Americans call it pot metal, and it had swollen and cracked. Suffice to say that it required a major rebuild that tested my skills. In the Studebaker the speedo's main shaft was driven at an angle, not straight down like your model A. So I was kinda hoping you were going to take it apart more deeply so I could see the internals. But I saw enough while you had it in your hands spinning it up with the drill. In the Studebaker the angled main shaft had a small pinion gear at the top driving a die-cast crown gear attached to the magnet which would turn the speed-cup. (dial). This seemed to me like a major week point in the design since the pinion gear was steel and the crown gear was die-cast. So I was going to warn you to check the crown gear for wear and lube it also. But the design of this speedo is different to the Studebaker so you don't have that weak crown gear. Anyways, when I saw the title of this video my eyes opened wide and I rushed to check it out because it's what I do. BTW, even though I'm in Oz, that email address for your speedo guy might come in handy if he's willing to help a fellow speedo guy across the pond with spares or wisdom.

Paul, Good on you for showing the lube of a speedometer. But isn't there a little felt plug you can remove with tweezers and oil? I also have a 1931 Sport Coupe and I seem to remember a felt plug. If you have a spare you could check this and not remove the one in your car. I have driven my car 60,000 miles since a 1980 restoration and sad to say it does not look nearly as nice as your car. However it is still my favorite and fun to drive. David Adair

Would you recommend installing a temperature gage for a daily driver? Or are you fine without. Also what about installing a oil filter because I have been changing the oil every 500+ miles. I’m driving a 1931 Ford model A fordor. I only drive about 80 to 100 miles a week.

You have a very good dose of common sense. You can use a very very small drop of Gun lock tite on to keep things in place and still get them loose again 🎉 with relative ease it is not a super glue at all. If careful mild Loctite is very good.

Nice Job Paul, that Green Screwdriver is one of my favorite sizes good old Xcelite !!

Great video, as usual. I'm still tying to watch all your older videos. The speedometer on the 30 Fordor I drive doesn't work. I've used Speedbot but it really drains my battery. I'm nervous about taking it apart, I'll probably get a "Guy" to restore it. Stay well and safe. Et

Great video, I was wondering if you could sometime show a video or mention how to wire the under dash panel lite. Thanks Greg Happ from Freedom Pennsylvania

As i'v said before you are an Excellent Man. Dwight.

Paul, any reason why you aren't running engine pans on your Sport Coupe?

You need a guy for your garage door!😅

Pretty cool you helped old deeick at vice grip garage. He picked up a nice old a. Needs some work but it's all there. I want a body like he's got. Nice ride!

Paul, so glad Derek found out about you and reached out for help. When I saw this video was in my que, I wondered if he knew about you and your channel. And he did, mentioned you in closing out the adventure. He is entertaining with the adventures he puts himself in. Glad another A will be revived.

why didn't you lube the speedo cable?

My speedometer does the same thing, so I'm going to take it partially apart to regrease it too. Thanks a bunch, paul

If I remember right my Speedo stops around 35 mph. Thanks for the video

My odometer stuck tonight. We'll find out tomorrow

What do you recommend to cure a noisy cable that's in good condition? What Lubricant?

Thank you my 30 has quit altogether and I'll do this when I check the cable.

Thanks for your informative videos, where do you go for parts thanks buddy 😊

Who is you speedometer rebuild guy?

Hello Paul. Derrick sent me!

☝👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍☝

I would use a GPS as a speedometer until is brakes in and reading right.

Need to lube your garage door Paul 😂

Nice job. Next project, fixing your model A squeaky garage door 🤣 All kidding aside, your A in this video looks really sharp under the shop lights 😎👍

@Paul Shinn, you need to get over to the Ford Barn, you've been away so long folks think you've crossed the River Jordan! No joke, a guy just lamented your passing!

Hi Paul Usefull video, like usually. I have an 1930 Model A. I use my car every Sunday. Please tell me a tip how can I easily disconnect the auto’s electricity of my battery without take off the car terminal. I need to know this for protecting against the discharge battery. Sorry for my english and thank you!

Thanks for the video. Always good to learn something new

Ok, the rebuild of VGG's distributor brought me here and got me subscribed, now to enjoy watching more Model A tinkering!

Very interesting and informative, Paul. Using your and Tina's videos, I'm having a ball sorting out my "New To Me" 29 Tudor. One item at a time! 73 OM!!

Recent subscriber. Great channel I have a 1928 AA Dump Truck. Been working on it for 45 years. Wood Industries hydraulic dump. A cool thing I did with it once. Jacked up one wheel, flat belt on the tire and ran my cutoff saw to cut fire wood. The old truck has retrieved many a Christmas tree. I built it from scratch using salvaged trucks and parts.

I followed the advice of Vice Grips Garage and visited your channel. I am glad I did. Well done. I am subscribed, thank you for showing us what you do. I always wanted to purchase a model A, perhaps you will get me off my a** and get to looking.

Thank you again. I knew the fame from being friends with Derek wouldn't change the quality of your content or your friendliness towards us common folk.

My speedo operates but it is not accurate -its off by about 5 mph- is there an adjustment? Also I asked a police officer at a Model A day last year if he would just write me a speeding ticket for the sole purpose of framing it - he looked at me like I was crazy and walked away ! Haha………..

Nice! Is the process similar for an early 1930 oval Speedo? Mine bounces around a lot. Also it was fun to see you help our Derek at VGG with his A!

I love the colors of that car! Thanks for video!

Well Paul, the speedo in my 95 Mercedes stopped working so, after a 1/2 a day I had it on the bench but had no idea how to fix it.. sooo, I sent it to an electronics fella that wanted a fortune for a chip to put in it. So I bought a 2nd hand one.. now I use the GPS on my phone for my speedo. Thanks Paul, god bless you and yours.

THAT SPEEDOMETER IS NOT LIKE THE ONE ON MY 1928 A FORD, NOTHING LIKE IT !

Hi Paul - if you're ever looking for a topic, how about a video on how to downshift a Model A? I've seen descriptions but never a video. As one who cannot downshift one, I know I'd appreciate it! Please keep up the good work!

Awesome video Paul. That little long-nosed oiler bottle is just too cool! Lovin' the temperature gauge.

Great job, how you are feeling, better?

Hey Paul, a fella named Derick Berrie gave you a shout out and said to check your channel out! This was a great video.

Hi Paul, had a tight oval speedometer, so much so it broke the cable, pulled the speedometer out and found it was very tight in the main shaft, the bevel gear is pressed and peened on the shaft so I made a special press jig to remove the shaft. Found it wasn’t so much the tightness of the shaft but the pot metal frame had grown over time binding up the shaft, a little reliving and I pressed it back in with the same jig and a little loctite and now it spins smooth. Love your videos keep them coming.

Good vid Paul, although you may need to lube up your overhead garage door. Sounds alittle noisey, lol. Stay safe, Terry.

I'm glad i'm not the only guy who hates messing with that dash panel! I tape around mine before I mess with it. That way when the screwdriver slips and rips the tape and scratches the dash, I can take the tape off and remove more paint!

Very interesting episode Paul and I know you’re a fellow broadcast engineer when you reached for your “greenie”.

I was meaning to take apart my speedometer because mine sometimes fluctuates a lot. I’m thinking it’s the coil spring that’s bad or like you mentioned, it needs a little cleaning and oil.

I have never seen a breaker like that where your fuse is next to the starter. Can you please give us a little more info on that?

Paul it looked like the temp gauge wasn't working. I don't see the link for your speedo guy...Pat

Why not super glue the nuts in place?

Hi Paul, great video as always :) I replaced the cable on mine and it didn't read miles or anything else that made sense (I don't recall if it read 'under' or 'over').... then the new cable snapped not long after that.... so I just put a little GPS behind the steering wheel on a bracket (i.e. I cheated). Are their gears etc maybe down the bottom end of the cable that can be changed or is the problem of the wrong reading more likely to be in the speedo? Thanks, Antony. p.s. Love your channel!