idrjoe_sandiego Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 I have an issue with a 1929 NE Speedometer wherein the odometer numbers want to rotate as a group. This doesn't happen all the time, but it is interesting to watch as it happens. I haven't dissected it yet, but does anyone have any guesses as to why this might happen and how to repair it? RichBad's disassembly of a nearly identical unit seen here might hold the clue: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted July 22, 2021 Share Posted July 22, 2021 11 hours ago, idrjoe_sandiego said: I have an issue with a 1929 NE Speedometer wherein the odometer numbers want to rotate as a group. This doesn't happen all the time, but it is interesting to watch as it happens. I haven't dissected it yet, but does anyone have any guesses as to why this might happen and how to repair it? RichBad's disassembly of a nearly identical unit seen here might hold the clue: I had to pull mine to bits and clean it all up. It took a while to get it all right they are fiddley bloody things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenendcindyc Posted July 22, 2021 Share Posted July 22, 2021 I believe the end of the odometer drum is keyed to the pot metal frame and prevents it from rotating as a whole. Mine did that years ago. I can’t remember if I made some shims to move the drum over towards the key ( pot metal frame was expanding causing looseness) or if it was adjustable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted July 22, 2021 Share Posted July 22, 2021 This was my pot metal frame. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenendcindyc Posted July 22, 2021 Share Posted July 22, 2021 Can’t believe you bought a new one? I’ve seen you fix worse. 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted July 22, 2021 Share Posted July 22, 2021 I agree Matt. After putting the ute back together the speedo should have been easy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichBad Posted July 22, 2021 Share Posted July 22, 2021 Is it the main odometer numbers that are all moving together or the trip meter numbers (on the right)? The ones on the left have a pin on the brass end plate that engages in a slot in the housing - if that’s missing or not engaged the whole lot will turn together. The ones on the right are linked to a thin metal plate which engages in a small square hole in the body - that’s less likely to be the issue. Also, the trip reset mechanism can allow all the trip numbers to rotate together if not set correctly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idrjoe_sandiego Posted July 23, 2021 Author Share Posted July 23, 2021 It's the main odometer numbers that are all moving together. I agree, that pin needs to be inspected. But after seeing the bloody wreckage in the above photo, maybe I should reconsider any further investigation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichBad Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 2 hours ago, idrjoe_sandiego said: It's the main odometer numbers that are all moving together. I agree, that pin needs to be inspected. But after seeing the bloody wreckage in the above photo, maybe I should reconsider any further investigation! Ok, sometimes when the pot metal moves, the two support arms can move apart and the pin comes out of engagement. You could potentially do a band aid by gluing it to stop the disc spinning. Would be hard to take apart but if your pot metal is bad you probably wouldn’t want to anyway. It’s not too hard to replace the pot metal with a replacement body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stakeside Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 This is my 1929 NE Speedo from my truck. Looks quite different. Note wheel with teeth in backside. Everything looks enact but all movement is frozen. Can these be rebuilt or best to replace? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 That looks to be in great condition as far as the pot metal goes. The one in my sedan was like that. Funny how one can completely crumple and then another is like new. I guess it depended on how much crap went into the pot metal mix on the day. If you pull yours apart carefully you should be good. Just lay it all out as you go and take lots of pics. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 38 minutes ago, Mattml430 said: That looks to be in great condition as far as the pot metal goes. The one in my sedan was like that. Funny how one can completely crumple and then another is like new. I guess it depended on how much crap went into the pot metal mix on the day. If you pull yours apart carefully you should be good. Just lay it all out as you go and take lots of pics. The different amount on deterioration may have to do with the climate the speedometer spent it's life in. I think a lot of heat and cold expansion may have more stress on the pot metal than say a full time moderate climate would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stakeside Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 Not sure how to remove main shaft. It is frozen solid. do not want to pry on pot metal. The holes in front and back had a fiber material that I removed. It may be the removal of the large disc on back side is the key to this puzzle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idrjoe_sandiego Posted July 24, 2021 Author Share Posted July 24, 2021 stakeside- "Not sure how to remove main shaft. It is frozen solid." Trying to understand the problem. Are you referring to the shaft that your speedometer cable connects to? If so, I am correct in assuming you were attempting to rotate that shaft manually (with a small screwdriver or whatever) and it refuses to rotate? I am also assuming you have soaked it in your favorite penetrating oil and it still wont budge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stakeside Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 50 minutes ago, idrjoe_sandiego said: stakeside- "Not sure how to remove main shaft. It is frozen solid." Trying to understand the problem. Are you referring to the shaft that your speedometer cable connects to? If so, I am correct in assuming you were attempting to rotate that shaft manually (with a small screwdriver or whatever) and it refuses to rotate? I am also assuming you have soaked it in your favorite penetrating oil and it still wont budge? It’s soaking now. Correct, using a screwdriver I can not move shaft. There appears to be a small retainer holding on the disc in the back. Not sure how to remove it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenendcindyc Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 Mine was in about the same shape and it also had a frozen main shaft. I think as the pot metal expands it starts to squeeze the shaft. I freed mine up by carefully warming up the pot metal using a heat gun, slowly it started to move. I fed some light oil mixed with timesaver lapping compound into the oil wick hole while slowly spinning it with a adapter I made and a drill. After a few hours of this she was good as new. A good cleaning and lube and she has been working good for years now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenendcindyc Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 The main shaft is held in with a pressed on retainer on the cable drive end. That along with mine being frozen in the housing, there was no way I was going to press it apart without breaking the housing. That’s why i opted to try and free it in place. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichBad Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, stakeside said: Not sure how to remove main shaft. It is frozen solid. do not want to pry on pot metal. The holes in front and back had a fiber material that I removed. It may be the removal of the large disc on back side is the key to this puzzle. Not sure about this model but on mine, the main shaft is held in with a collar that is inserted over the shaft from the Speedo cable end. I removed using a small pin punch tapping in the centre of the shaft whilst holding the body. You would probably want to free up your shaft first though. Edited July 24, 2021 by RichBad (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stakeside Posted July 26, 2021 Share Posted July 26, 2021 I freed up speedo but still it is very tight. I need a source for the cable. Mine is about 58” long. Is there a Univeral replacement? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArticiferTom Posted July 26, 2021 Share Posted July 26, 2021 Loose in place . Lube continuously and drill to turn . Dis assembly is dangerous .. Here is company to make you new cable http://www.texasindustrialelectric.com/speedo.asp . Here is pic of donor unit I took apart . It was severely fractured on start . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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