Date:         Sun, 29 Oct 2006 13:20:15 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Insturment cluster repairing and speedometer repair
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

I think he's talking about the transfer gear between the two sets of odo
dials. I found that pushing the reset button causes the trip odo dials to
reverse motion against the direction in which the speedo is trying to rotate
them. I guess if this is done often enough it eventually causes the speedo
shaft 'main' gear, or the speedo shaft transfer gear on the other end to
fail (and as in your case apparently it can make that little plastic
transfer gear pop out). You got lucky, obviously that's a much easier fix
than the other two problems. Sort of like breaking your leg instead of
blowing out your knee.

How do you drill a hole in a 3mm shaft?

The 'main gear' end on my speedo had been repaired before I had to deal with
it... somebody super-glued a sort of collar on the shaft between that gear
and the clear plastic housing. Is that collar normally there? It's
apparently there to keep the shaft from riding one way or the other.

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Rouby" <mikerouby@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 12:29 PM
Subject: Re: Insturment cluster repairing and speedometer repair


> As far as your speedo repair, just pushing the 'white' (I have another
> cluster where this gear is black) gear into place isn't enough.
>
> The problem is the other end of the shaft can potentially ride back into
> the speedo, driving the gear off alignment again.
>
> The solution is to get the smallest drill bit and drill a hole at the end
> of this shaft using a 'cotter-pin principle' to stop it from riding back
> in.
>
> Guess what is pliable and works perfectly as a cotter pin?  Solder!  It's
> easily bendable and durable enough to do the job.
>
> Also do keep in mind that the white gear you speak off can pop off.  In
> which case, a bit of epoxy/jbweld/loctite applied minimally to the inside
> of the wheel where it meets the shaft is good insurance too.
>
> Just did all this the other day and now my whole inst. cluster works the
> way it should!  :)
>
> roger sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM> wrote:Here are two fixes for
> common dash problems. First , is that very very common breakage of the
> little black corners where the speedo and clock/tach reside. I have never
> seen a cluster that didnt have a crack or missing corner. Here is a fix I
> use.Just use longer screws to attach the speedo or tach to the rear of the
> black box like home they have. The cracked and missing corners are not a
> problem. The screw holes keep going down past the broken areas. Use inch
> and quarter screws. Size #6,I think. As long as the loop for the screws
> exist in the speedo or tack, all is well.Once reattached, use RTV to plug
> up the missing corners so dust doesnt get inside.This is a good time to
> clean out the bugs from behind the clear plastic lens.
>
> Next, attaching the cluster to the metal dash. Most often a cluster is
> missing 1 or 2 of the 4 atttching slots. Gone! Like they were never there.
> You can loose all of them and not have a problem. Mate the cluster to it's
> proper location on the metal dash. There is a strip of black plastic that
> meets withthe metal dash and runs between the missing slots on either
> side. Use a drill to drill through the plastic and metal together, half
> way between the two slots. Use a sheet metal screw to attach.Do two on
> each side or just one.Problem fixed for ever.
>
> Speedometer repair : One speedo I have wont work for the odometer and trip
> odometer. I think the PO pressed the button to reset the trip odometer
> while driving.Shouldnt be problem, but something caused the meters not to
> work.Broke at a nice low mileage for me!!!.Added thousands to the resale
> value!!!! I removed the speedo from the cluster.There was a little spider
> like white gear that seemed to connect the two meters.It was out of
> position.I pushed it back into place,and both odometers and trip meter
> work!! My question here is, will pushing the trip reset button,while
> driving, cause the meter to rebreak.What caused the gear to dislocate?
>
>  One more question. How can the blue printed circut be fixed? The tach
> wont go,because of a broken area.
>
>  Thanks,Roger
>
>
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