Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 20:03:06 -0600
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@RCN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@RCN.COM>
Subject: Re: Instrument cluster speedometer needle break. #%@#%@#$%@!!!!
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When disassembling, lift the end of the needle over the little stop post
and let the needle reach its relaxed resting position. Mark this spot
along the edge of the face so you know where to point the needle when
you push it back on later.
Larry A.
Luke Sponholz wrote:
>John / et al -
>
>I will be attempting to find a replacement needle at a junkyard. I will let
>everyone know my results once I've completed the search and performed the
>surgery.
>
>Thanks to everyone for the responses! It was a big relief realizing I
>hadn't done irreversible damage.
>
>-Luke
>
>On 3/29/06, John Bange <jbange@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>On 3/29/06, Larry Alofs <lalofs@rcn.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>If I recall, the needle is a press fit on the shaft and should pull
>>>straight off.
>>> You might want to try it on a junk/donor speedo first.
>>>
>>>
>>It does indeed press on. When I fixed/rebuilt my speedo I had to remove
>>it,
>>which was the hardest part of the whole job. I put two strips of
>>electrical
>>tape on each side so I wouldn't mark up the face. I have a pair of
>>right-angle circlip pliers I used as a sort of adjustable prybar to get
>>underneath the needle hub and put even upward pressure on it. I imagine
>>small wire cutters, needlenose pliers, or anything two-pronged and small
>>enough could be made to work. When you press the new needle on, it needs
>>to
>>be positioned such that it has enough preload on the spring when it's at
>>rest on the needle stop. VDO was kind enough to put a little mark on the
>>edge of the speedo face below/counterclockwise of the needle stop pin.
>>Press
>>the needle on (carefully!) with the needle pointing at this mark, then
>>GENTLY flex the needle upward just enough to get it up and over the stop
>>pin
>>to its normal resting place. As for a new needle-- somebody correct me if
>>I'm wrong, but can't you just cannibalize one from any late 80's VW
>>speedo?
>>I had a late 80's Jetta speedo with a broken needle I was practicing on,
>>and
>>I could swear the hub was the same...
>>
>>--
>>John Bange
>>'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>--
>1985 Brown Vanagon GL 4spd "Compost"
>
>
>
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