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Installing speedometer Needle
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:24 pm
by zooklm1
I took apart my speedometer to replace a failed gear and have put it back together except installing the needle. My speedo look a little different than the picture in the gear replacement instructions as I don’t have a little metal piece sticking up (see hand drawn arrows in pictures). Also here is a picture of my needle. I align the needle pin with the hole but it doesn’t stay in. Any ideas on what is going on.
Thanks
Re: Installing speedometer Needle
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:54 pm
by Tom
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I suspect you broke the little axle shaft on the speedometer. When you remove the orange needle, it needs to pop off the metal piece shown in your first picture. Instead, it looks like the shaft broke on yours. That's why the guide looks different. Kind of a long shot, but try pushing the shaft back in and see if it seats securely. If not (as I'd expect), the path of least resistance is probably a new-used speedometer. Look at the end of the little shaft -- does it look snapped off? Can you see the other side of the broken shaft in the little port in the center of the speedometer?
Re: Installing speedometer Needle
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2024 7:14 pm
by whalenlg
This happened on my tach. Repair estimate was something like $400 from either the Palo Alto place or the LA place (I forgot the names).
I did find a reasonable used one on eBay at UK Luxury Spares - it shows up on eBay uk not eBay us, but they do ship to the us. Beware they don’t respond to questions right away and might not send you a tracking number, but I did order and receive a working part.
Mike
Re: Installing speedometer Needle
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:20 pm
by zooklm1
I tried pushing the needle in and it does not stay in. I was thinking of trying to bond it on and see if that would work. I will start looking for a replacement.
Thanks
Re: Installing speedometer Needle
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:35 pm
by Tom
zooklm1 wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:20 pm
I tried pushing the needle in and it does not stay in. I was thinking of trying to bond it on and see if that would work. I will start looking for a replacement.
Thanks
Can't hurt to try, but I wouldn't get your hopes up too high.

If you find a replacement, I've learned that you can set the new odometer to match the old one by loosening up the mechanism. (And ever since, I've taken odometer readings with a grain of salt on these cars.)
Re: Installing speedometer Needle
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:56 pm
by icb
Try Plyhammer's parts, I bet Mark has a ton of speedos in the shop right now. As Tom suggested, the odometers are pretty easy to set to any mileage you want if you are so inclined. If you just repaired yours, it's easy to swap the odo into a replacement.
Re: Installing speedometer Needle
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 5:41 am
by CEW
I would try a very little dab of JBWeld (or similar) on the tip of the broken shaft and secure it in the correct position until cured.
Re: Installing speedometer Needle
Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2024 4:52 am
by zooklm1
I will try the jb weld and reach out to Plyhammers.
Thanks
Re: Installing speedometer Needle
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 7:53 pm
by Tom
Excited to say I came up with a DIY fix for broken Speedometer needle shafts. Will post details in a separate thread in the morning.

Re: Installing speedometer Needle
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2025 5:21 am
by whalenlg
Hi Tom - I have a tach with a broken needle if you need a test subject.