The Stovebolt Forums Forums The Shop Area Interiors Odometer issue. Repairable?

Hi.

There is not 1 digit readable on my odometer. Is this something i can take out easily? Can i change the gauge, rollers or decals myself? Who has some experience in this.

Thanks

I've not tried rebuilding one myself. The classic speedo rebuilder I use in Cushman Speedometer in Wichita KS. https://cushmanspeedometer.com/

Additional info. I live in the Netherlands. So sending it somewhere is a bit more difficult

Oops. I see that now. Hopefully someone with personal experience rebuilding one will be along to help. Good luck.

You can buy decals and rebuild it your self. Just takes patience and follow directions closely.
Harold

https://oldchevytrucks.com/1934-1946/decals.html

It has been a while but I did plenty of them when I was a young man. The trick is to go slow and carefully. Document what you are taking apart so you will know exactly how it goes back together. You will need to identify at least one number on each wheel so you can position the decal strip properly otherwise when the 10th's wheel gets to 6 it might rotate the 1's wheel and so forth.

I have rebuilt one and it isn’t terribly difficult. I also used a reproduction decal kit and it turned out well. The worst part is taking off the speedometer needle off its pivot point. That is the absolute worst part because of the VERY fragile nature of that needle on the shaft. After that, go slowly, take pictures, and you’ll have it back together in no time.

Here is a sort of “before and after” of two speedos I had. Both were in this kind of rough shape when I started. You can do it. This was the very first speedo I had rebuilt and it went fine. Just be CAREFUL taking off the needle. These old chevs\GMCs aren’t sitting around in farmers’ fields in the Netherlands like they are in Canada and the US! I had 3 speedometers as backups just to be sure I had enough parts, in case I broke something.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YEOFa2AbSgJQURDt2

The odometers of a 1945 chevy aren't too hard to disasamble. Just make enough pictures of your disasambly so you know where everything goes. Unfortunately Prinstruckshop doesn't have te decals. So you probably need to get it shipped from the US.

Use a common eating fork to remove the speedo needle.

Thanks all for the valuable information. I will go on the hunt for the decals.

Update: decals ordered. Now wait for them to arrive in the Netherlands

If the decals don’t work out for you…

I purchased a new assembly of numbers when I refurbished the speedo head on my ‘46. It’s held immobile at all zeros with a plastic clip which you pull out AFTER you install the new assembly. If you remove the plastic clip before the assembly is securely in the head, you spend the rest of your life getting it reset back to all zeros (don’t ask how I know that).

I’m of average mechanical skill and am very pleased with the results.
Greg

I posted free templates for printing these decals on waterslide decal paper. Here's a link: https://tinyurl.com/yc54nsua
Man it would be nice if we had Tech Tips or some sort of repository for stuff like this. The last odometer I re-did looks just like new.

Greg,

Where didyou buy the odometer unit?
Harold

Jim Carter has the whole odometer unit to put into your speedo.
Link [oldchevytrucks.com]

That unit is for the 1937-1939 & 1947-1954 Odometer. JC says this will not work in 1940-1946 trucks.
Harold

Interesting that there's a gap in the years. I didn't notice that.