The symptoms you describe indicate the movement in the speedometer itself is
all gummed up-dry. A little clock oil in the right places should take care
of it. For the speedo cables the VW replacement is the one piece that
bypasses the emissions indicator mileage counter.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Glen Moon
Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2012 2:25 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Speedometer weird

1981 Westy 122K    speedometer acting weird.  It stayed a zero up until
maybe 30  then started to work.    Then when I slowed it dropped in steps,
when fully stopped it read 20  mph.    Later worked OK.   Pulled spare tire
and found the cable from left front wheel goes to a mid-point junction box
behind the front bumper and above the spare tire. Then a second cable goes
on apparently to the speedometer.
The first cable appears not to original as it is way to long and some one
looped it in an extra 20 inch diameter loop.  I added some support wires to
try and make all the curves smooth as one curve seemed very tight.  Hope
this works.
 Any way, looking up the replacement cable part, there is one described as
bye passing the junction box.  What is the function box for and what is the
best plan for keeping this 1981 going?

 Glen