Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2000 13:27:39 -0500
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Subject: Re: Rebuilding Odometer- Fair Price?
In-Reply-To: <00a501bf9bee$95c99100$36c385cc@oemcomputer>
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At 10:25 4/1/2000, John Andrew wrote:
>scoured junkyards for these and all of them seemed to be cracked. It seems
>to be quite a common problem. Probably the combination of 20 year old
>plastic and the sun beating down on the dash. If anyone knows of a source,
>I need one for my 1980 Westy. And I have tried the super glue trick.
I suspect the combination of 20 year-old plastic and improper stress
analysis by the plastics engineers at VDO -- though it's also been pointed
out that resetting the odo while driving will cause problems if you hold
your finger down.
Worth a try: take the best one you have, put some 90-minute epoxy (not
filled stuff like JB Weld) inside and outside the cavity. Place the gear
and tightly wind one layer of sewing thread (cotton-polyester) or similar
around the hub. Paint on a little more epoxy if the thread isn't
thoroughly saturated. If this works, you won't be getting the gear off
without destroying it, but I don't imagine that's an issue in this case
(ten years ago my Dad fell in love with epoxy and has used it to secure the
most amazing things that I have had to later try to remove *without*
destroying them. Bah!).
PS -- I don't know what the access is for string-winding with gear in
place. You can do it first and then install while epoxy still
fluid. You're going to have epoxied fingers; watch out for the gear teeth
and wash thoroughly afterward. I'd recommend a film of vaseline on the
teeth just in case, but the glued portion has to be greaseless. Brake
cleaner will get the grease off but may attack the plastic, so keep it away
from the teeth.
PPS -- now that I'm thinking in that direction, PVC plumbing cement may
work. If it does (try a touch of the primer to see if it makes the plastic
sticky -- if so you're good) you'll get a solvent-welded joint that's
essentially one piece again. Pressurize it by winding with thread as
before, but maybe not so much tension. Think this one through carefully
before you do it -- the gear needs to be straight on the shaft etc, but
still enough goop on the inside to grab.
Steady hands help with all of this :)
d
David Beierl - Providence, RI
http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"
