Before I start to chase the wrong problem i thing some suggestions are in order,

I have a 80 n/a 5 speed.

The issues I have is the sticking, jumping speedometer.

I know it can be 1 of 3 issues.
1. long cable under car (not this, I had to replace the cable)
2. pigtail under the dash. (I have not messed with it yet)
3. The cluster itself. (this is the one the scares me the most.)

On a hunch, I checked my odometer reading against my Phone based speed app.
On a 30 mile drive, the odometer is only off by 1/10th of a mile. This to me seems to indicate the issue is NOT with the cables, but with the cluster. If the cables were the issues, I would think the mileage would be off more than 1/10h.

If it is the cluster, is there anything beside replace it that can be done to try to fix the issue.

I have looked, but have not found anything about fixing a cluster for the 79-83 model.

Thanks

 

The bouncing speedo needle is usually always due to a dry or bent speedo cable.

 

what he said. if you want to verify pull the console and run the speedometer with an electric drill. see if it is steady. A battery powered drill with a kitchen match works pretty good.

 

finally weather and time allowed me to work with this some more.
I pulled the cluster and found that the PO had not fully reconnected the pig tail to the back of the cluster.

When I reconnected it corectly, I noticed that the part that the pigtail connected to spins freely.

now my speedo does not work at all.

Any ideas what the issue may be?

 

Time to replace the cluster with intact one,by time they get worn out and break from the connector!