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Date:         Sun, 25 Feb 2001 16:14:00 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jhrodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jhrodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: Odometer Repair-Migrating Shaft
Comments: To: "Thomas D. Hanlon" <hanran@EARTHINK.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I had similar problems on my 88 GL Speedo. The mileage odometer quit turning, but the trip odometer kept working.

Upon disassembly of the unit, the teflon gear on the end of the shaft was disengaged from the teflon worm gear that is driven by the speedometer shaft from the left front wheel. As you have seen, the shaft has the teflon gear on the left and the pot metal gear on the right. The gear shaft works until it is moved to the left to the point it drops the pot metal gear end out to the shaft boss it rides in. When that happens the shaft kicks up just enough to disengage the shaft teflon gear from the worm gear, rendering the whole thing inoperative.

I discovered that there are actually two problems that need to be fixed.

1) Teflon Gear to Worm Gear To prevent the shaft from working to the left and allowing the right hand end to drop from its boss, I installed a metal finger that attaches to the flat metal cover over the counter wheels, and extends down over the end of the shaft to serve as a mechanical stop. It prevents the shaft from slipping out of the hole at the far end. This works!!

2) Pot metal Gear Slippage. This gear is on the same shaft as the teflon gear but at the opposite end. It is the drive gear for the mileage counters, and it will slip on its shaft. This is the one that many people have tried using a bit of everything on. Roughing the shaft surface and pressing the gear back on, super glue, spit and bubble gum, etc, etc. It's tough to fix. And I am still working on it. Wish I had an easy solution for a fix on it like the finger on the teflon gear end of the shaft, but I don't. I'm open to suggestions myself.

BTW, anyone attempting this should be very aware that the pointer needle on the speedo can easily be broken, and the tension on the tiny clock spring that returns the speedo needle to its resting stop can be very easily upset, then the bloody thing won't read right.

Latest price on a brand new speedo from Camelback is $150.

John Rodgers 88 GL Driver "Thomas D. Hanlon" wrote: > > Listees, > > I've removed the speedometer from my 84 Westy to evaluate a non-working > odometer. Upon removal of the unit from the case, I find that the shaft > on which is mounted the (beige) gear-which drives the odometer-shifts to > the left and disengages from the (white) gear which drives the (red) > worm gear. > > The beige gear is not loose on the shaft, a condition/problem which I > expected to find and about which much has been written on solving by > roughing the shaft, or using "Super Glue," and other suggestions. There > is not evident any connector or fastener which I would presume retained > the shaft to the mechanism. I conjecture that a "c" clip of some kind > would have been used. Not there or in the bottom of the speedometer > casing. > > For a "bench test," I have used a modified shaft (a nail Dremeled to > the dimensions of the cable end) to perform the speedometer cables' > function to turn the gears. I fastened the "shaft" to an electric drill > set at "reverse" to drive those gears which drive the road speed needle, > the odometer numbers and the mileage numbers. > > The shaft migrates to the left (facing the frontispiece) enough to > disengage the odometer gears. The speed needle continues to operate but > the mileage numbers stall, too. > > I've attempted to find 3m x 60 centimeter stainless rod, or even bolts, > with which to replace the shaft. No luck in any of the hardware stores > in my locale. Any sources or suggestions? > > Can anyone offer diagnoses and solutions? > > Tom Hanlon > Palm Springs, CA > 84 Westy


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