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| | | | Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 33 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 33 | I want to transplant a functioning odometer into my speedometer/odometer unit on my '59 Apache. From what I can tell, the only way to swap odometers is to remove the speedo needle and face plate first. Am I missing some easy work around or is this the only way?
I'm a little hesitant to remove the speedo needle, as I've heard the shaft they rotate on is extremely fragile. Also, I've heard that (assuming you can remove/replace the needle without breaking anything) it is difficult to get the needle back in the right position so you're speed is accurate.
So, if I want a functioning odometer, do I need to bite the bullet? Let me know if I'm on track. Thanks guys. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | afraid so .... see tech tip here .... good luck Bill | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | search eBay for
watch universal hand remover tool
watch hand setting tool
I did both opeations very slowly and carefully (and successfully) by hand. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2017 Posts: 326 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2017 Posts: 326 | I had a broken speedo needle on my 56 that I tried very carefully to remove without breaking the shaft, and failed. It took some imagination and jewelry parts to repair, and I am not sure how long it will last before I will need to replace the whole thing. Maybe with the watch hand removal tool you will have better luck than I did.
1956 Chevy 3200, 235 w/3 speed
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 48 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 48 | If you are going to replace the speedo needle with a repro then don't worry about the needle so much as the shaft. Id try heating the plastic needle with a soldering iron or heat gun then try pulling it off while the plastic is soft. That way you don't stress the shaft. Putting the new needle on should be easy enough after that by press fit or a dab of super glue. That's my 2 cents. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 33 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 33 | So here's my update:
I found that if I removed the two screws that hold the face plate on and left the needle attached, I could rotate the faceplate around the shaft and get access to the two screws that hold the odometer retaining bracket on. Once that was removed I could carefully shimmy out the odometer wheel and the geared shaft that drives it. Lucky for me, the odometer wheel was the culprit on mine. It was seized up pretty good. Since I had a donor wheel, I just did a swap and everything is working great now.
Just thought I'd share in case anyone out there needs to replace either the odometer wheel or geared shaft and either can't (or just doesn't want to) remove the speedo needle. | | |
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