Date: Sun, 13 May 2001 02:07:26 -0000
Reply-To: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@hotmail.com>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@hotmail.com>
Subject: Fun With My Speedometer
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Volks -
My odometer stopped working last month, just as I drove the van home with
the new engine. Not the best time, because I wanted to keep track of
mileage while I broke it in, but I didn't have time to deal with it, so I
made do with a map and notebook.
Several people very kindly supplied information on how to fix the problem,
so today I girded up my loins and pulled the speedometer.
The first thing I noticed was that it is different than the one described by
the info on the list. Mine doesn't have a back to remove to get at the
innards, it's all molded plastic, and you have to remove the round front to
get at the gears.
I thought about calibration problems, so I took off the cruise control
sensor from the back, and taped down the rotor that the needle swings on.
Unfortunately, I didn't think the next step through.
The pin the needle swings on has a brass split washer attached to a very
fine spiral spring. It also had to be removed, and when I did, I didn't
note where it went.
The gears under all of that seemed to be working fine. The metal gear was
tight, as was the gear on the end of the shaft that is turned by the worm
gear from the bottom. (Sorry, not a good description, I realise). The shaft
seemed to be able to move too far in, which seemed to allow it to stick, so
I fabricated a small plastic washer and put it between the brass washer and
the case. After that it seemed to work, so I reassembled it.
Of course, I got the angle of the spiral spring on the speedometer needle
shaft wrong. Now I have to get up to about 45 mph before the needle moves
off the peg, and at 3500 RPM in 4th, it's only showing a little over 20 MPH.
Entertaining, but not really useful.
The odometer, by the way, seems to be working.
So - I think I have three options -
1) Buy a new speedometer
2) Find a working used speedometer (with cruise control)
3) Have this speedometer re-calibrated
What does the list think? Is there anyone around who will calibrate a VDO
speedometer? How much would it cost in comparison to the other options?
I suppose that I could keep taking the speedometer out, tweak the position
of the spring, and get closer, but I don't know how much more the plastic
housing will take, and it is fairly time consuming to get it out.
It would also be nice to have it more than fairly close, but - I guess we'll
see!
- Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy
Moscow, Idaho
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