5 replies to this topic

[Ratkiller]

What causes this? And can it be fixed?
As you can tell I was sitting in the driveway with the motor running. (it's a video)

Edited by Ratkiller, 12 October 2012 - 03:49 PM.

[jaydee]

sounds like a broken spring in the speedo and/or bad speedo cable connection

[dklawson]

I saw the picture and assumed your car had flipped onto its side. I was going to suggest alcohol caused the problem. Then I saw it as a video link.

OK... if this is not a joke, your speedometer is toast. There should be stop pin to prevent the needle from going all the way around the gauge face. Your needle did about 2 laps. That means: There is no stop pin and the hairspring that returns the needle has been ruined.

As for what causes the problem... the stop pin had to have been removed which means someone took the gauge apart. OR the gauge could have become very wet at some point and the stop pin corroded in half and fell away. If someone opened the gauge they MAY have tried to adjust and lubricate it. The needle is attached to a spindle. The front of that spindle is simply supported by passing through a hole in a metal plate. The bottom/back of the spindle is supported on a needle bearing in the part the cable spins. People who don't know better often try to oil those contact points. Oiling the needle bearing is a particularly bad idea. When the oil starts to thicken with age it eventually makes the parts stick together causing problems like your gauge has.

Again, if it's not a joke... I'm sorry. I rather enjoyed watching your video and smiled the whole time.

[Ratkiller]

Thanks guys. Yea, it's not a joke. I was holding the camera on it's side, thought I would be able to fix it befor I posted it. But no such luck.
The water corrosion is probably what had happened. I just bought the car a few weeks ago and the previous owner side there is a leak where the windshied gasket meets and that happens to be right above the ash tray and guage. He said when it gets bad you can see water dripping down the face of the guage. So....it looks like I need to reseal the windshield and buy a new guage. Thanks again for the info!!!

Edited by Ratkiller, 12 October 2012 - 03:50 PM.

[Ratkiller]

_{So I bought a new 130mph speedo fom mini spares. I thought this would be an easy install considering the one thats in the car now is original and the wires have not been messed with. But I noticed all the wires go to the inside of the speedo, and with the new one all the wires mount to the out side. Does any body have a schematic on how to wire this up? I also noticed that the original does not have a resister. Do I still have to hook the resister on the new one?}

Edited by Ratkiller, 21 November 2012 - 06:03 PM.

[dklawson]

I have responded to your offline message. However, comparing your question here to the one in your message I am a bit confused.

By resistor, do you mean the voltage stabilizer on the back, top, left of the speedometer? If that is what you mean, yes you need the one from your old gauge. Simply move it to the new one making sure that it has a good electrical connection (mounting tab to gauge) when installed.

You said the wires on the old gauge go "in" to the old speedometer. They shouldn't. The center binnacle speedometers used "push in" bulb holders for both illumination and the various indicators. Can you post a picture of the back side of your old gauge?