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Date:         Sat, 1 Apr 2000 11:36:09 -0700
Reply-To:     Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject:      Re: Rebuilding Odometer- Fair Price?
Comments: To: David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>

Over countless revolutions, the little gear has a tendency to gradually walk up the shaft. I've found you can prevent it from doing this (if it isn't broken) by putting a slight crimp in the shaft with a pair of sidecutters. Doesn't take much of a crimp.

Karl Wolz ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Beierl" <dbeierl@IBM.NET> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2000 11:27 AM Subject: Re: Rebuilding Odometer- Fair Price?

> 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" >


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