Keep us posted how it works. I'm getting ready to do this job. Thanks!
Fixing the stuck odometer (with pics)
- Thread starter baas
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Another stuck odometer here...
But before I pull it apart is there some other trouble shooting that should be done to differentiate between a gummed up odometer versus a bad speedo cable? My odometer worked intermittently when I first bought it, but hasn't moved in a few years, however my speedo needle bounces at higher (55+ mph) speeds quite a bit so I suspect the problem may be the cable itself.
Can I pull the cluster out and put a drill in the cable port to see if it works? If so, can anyone provide specifics and how that's safely done?
But before I pull it apart is there some other trouble shooting that should be done to differentiate between a gummed up odometer versus a bad speedo cable? My odometer worked intermittently when I first bought it, but hasn't moved in a few years, however my speedo needle bounces at higher (55+ mph) speeds quite a bit so I suspect the problem may be the cable itself.
Can I pull the cluster out and put a drill in the cable port to see if it works? If so, can anyone provide specifics and how that's safely done?
There might be an easier way, and I'm sure someone more experienced than I will say so, but you could just change the speedo cable and see if that's it. Speedo cables are cheap. You could also detach the speedo cable at the speedometer and see if it turns, I think.
For those that have done this fix, was there much play in your worm drive or was it pretty solid? Mine seems to move around a bit to the point it will totally disengage from the diagonally oriented white gear between the worm drive and the metal gear of speedo cable. Are both ends fixed? Maybe years of trying to turn against resistance from a gummed up odo loosened it up?
Sounds like you've pulled it apart, then. I don't recall 100% whether there was much play in mine. I don't think there was. I fixed mine by following the threads that already existed on how to clean it up, so I took it completely apart, cleaned everything, put white lithium grease on the gears and reassembled. It's worked great ever since.
Yes, I pulled it apart and followed the instructions in this and other threads about cleaning and lubricating the odo. I unfortunately have the immovable double brass ends so I couldn't remove all the gears/wheels. I did my best to clean and lube like others with this feature.
Regarding the worm drive, if I physically hold it in place so the teeth mesh everything works great. My (guessing temporary) fix was to tie some silk suture around the worm drive to the housing. This keeps the teeth meshed but will likely break after too long. It doesn't seem to be moving when put I everything in motion with the drill on the end of the speedo cable (I had purchased a new speedo cable anticipating that I would be replacing it soon, just haven't installed it yet. Plus, no jumpy speed needle with the new cable!). Finger crossed.
Now to replace bulbs and repaint all the instrument needles fluorescent orange Testors.
Thanks to the OP and all contributors to an amazing guide to fixing the stuck odo.
S
Sounds like you've done what you could. I replaced my bulbs with 5watt ones, I believe they were (whatever is about twice the original ones in wattage). That's helped A LOT. Otherwise, visibility is terrible.
Sounds like you've done what you could. I replaced my bulbs with 5watt ones, I believe they were (whatever is about twice the original ones in wattage). That's helped A LOT. Otherwise, visibility is terrible.
Great post.
I cheated and took the spool out but used a little degreaser to free up the spool. Didn’t need to fully take apart. Seems to be working okay. Replaced the bulbs while I was theremwith LED. Still looks dim, indication flashers are super bright. I did break the tab on the opporsite side of the shaft when removing and jab welded it back in once done. On second look it had broken before and was glued back together.
I cheated and took the spool out but used a little degreaser to free up the spool. Didn’t need to fully take apart. Seems to be working okay. Replaced the bulbs while I was theremwith LED. Still looks dim, indication flashers are super bright. I did break the tab on the opporsite side of the shaft when removing and jab welded it back in once done. On second look it had broken before and was glued back together.
Early on ('60's), the OE dashlights were perfect for country driving. As population spread, so did Lights. I replaced mine with 5w, too, and they were better for city driving. But out in the mountains, they were just too bright. Thought about a dimmer, but changed beck to OE instead. Better IMO.
Curtice
SILVER Star
All, mine is a 78 and I have the cluster disassembled currently. It is actually in very very good shape. But the tenths wheel is not white...I assumed it was dirty, but then I saw a post earlier in this thread that said some were cream colored? Does anyone know? Below is the only pic I have at the moment before I took the cluster apart.
1911
chupacabra
Curtice
SILVER Star
Looks normal to me. White, cream? I'd have to ask my wife what the difference was.
Haha. Well they look very different to me, and the current color of it I thought was due to it being old and dirty. I didn't want to go to all the work of tearing this thing apart and cleaning everything, but leaving the tenths wheel dirty. But if it's normal, then thats fine.
Mine looks like that. Tenths is cream.
Curtice
SILVER Star
thanks!
GUGISMAN
"Bury me in my FJ40..."
I aced the cleaning and reassembly.... I thought!! Now my odometer is losing miles, it's going backwards. What did I do wrong??
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This post helped a ton! Works fine now! Thanks.
If you happened to of used some early model speedo parts it will spin backwards. My 10ths wheel spins backwards, because I used and early one and the numbers go the opposite direction.
Dyno
BTW if anyone has a 10ths wheel they wan to part with Ill take it.
Did you discover what happened with fuel gauge? I just did the odometer clean today and now fuel, temp and oil gauges don’t work!
I think I shorted it out. I ended up searching the classifieds here every day until I found an old cluster for cheap. Installed and voila, everything worked.
