Date:         Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:01:27 -0800
Reply-To:     Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Odometer failed, any advice?
Comments: To: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2009012315595411@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

"  Is it really just B.F.F.I. that removes the needle?"

The two times I had my speedo apart it was a strong, steady pull that removed the needle.  Popped off  just about the time I was thinking something was about to go wrong.  I think I may have also been using needlenose pliers to grasp the shaft the needle sits on.  You could also use a mini-prybar seated against the pliers to provide the needed leverage against the base of the needle instead of pulling with your hand.

Incidentally, I bent up a little metal tab that I thought would keep the gears from slipping too far the wrong way and it works about 99% of the time these days.  About every 5th tank the odo is sure to stop at some xx.9 and need a reset.

Stephen

--- On Fri, 1/23/09, Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET> wrote:
From: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject: Re: Odometer failed, any advice?
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Friday, January 23, 2009, 3:54 PM

OK, I had mine apart this am and put a drop of crazy glue on the gear that
is driven by the worm gear.  Now it resets very smoothly...but it only
will turn a few miles before it stops.  When I had it out, I wanted to
take off the needle and the faceplate to inspect all the gears to really
see which might be out of whack but I was scared I would break the needle
on my speedo trying to get it off.  I pried, pulled and otherwise gently
tried to get it off the central shaft..but it seemed pretty firmily
mounted on there.  Was I just being overcautious or is there a trick?
   I was hoping the one I could access with the speedo still fully
assembled might be the malfunctioning one...but no such luck, I guess.  So
now I'll have to at least get that speedo face off so I can get some
access to all the other gears and shafts.
  Is it really just B.F.F.I. that removes the needle?  "Brute Force and
F--
-ing Ignorance" or is there a trick?  Thanks...Mikes article is a big
help, yes.
  Don Hanson