The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Repairing Speedometer Needle

I can't find the same needle as I found on my speedometer, which is broken for no apparent reason.

Broken Speedometer Needle

1. Has anyone seen this needle style before and know when I can purchase one? I can't find one like it.

2. Has anyone ever tried to repair a needle? This one has a "hollow" on the back and I think I could use some krazy glue and bond a wire in the back as a splice. Not sure if the additional weight of the splice would affect the movement / calibration of the needle.

I haven't done it, but might be worth a try. You won't know if it affects accuracy until you make the repair. The center "bullet" will hide the repair. Otherwise, a needle from a donor '54 speedo may be the only source for a replacement

Be careful when you remove the base of the needle from the shaft. The shaft is brittle. Dab some penetrating oil where the shaft enters the base and let it sit for a while. The needle pulls straight off - not threaded.

Here's what happens if the shaft breaks. I don't know an easy fix for a broken shaft. Luckily, this happened while I was pulling a broken needle off of a spare speedo that I was using to learn before disassembling the speedo in my '54. It snapped without warning.
> Broken shaft in needle base

- Lonnie

I would expect weight could be a factor, don't really know. Maybe go find a piece of guitar string, small and strong to glue in. Any guitar store would have pieces of trimmings.

I was thinking a very small gauge aluminum strand would work as well. I'll try it if I can get the needle off the shaft. I may have to glue it with the needle still on the shaft because that needle feels really stiff on the shaft and I dont want to break it as Lonnie shows.

A sewing needle may work for a splint. Experiment with adhesives. Extra weight near the center probably won't affect the speedo.

The break may be visable though the odometer window. But the needle is thin and painted flat black at that end, so it will disappear against the odo numbers.

I'm sure that other 'Bolters have had the same problem. Perhaps they can add some experienced advice. I'm sure that all will be interested in your fix.

Don't know if you are going to reface your gauges -
> Here is a thread of how I did mine
> Slide show
> Album

- Lonnie

I tried to fix one that way using a piece of a toothpick and super glue. Didn't work. The extra weight, even though negligible, was enough to mess it up.

Lonnie

Even with your warning, I still broke the shaft. Darn things are really fragile. Guess I'm now in the market for a donor speedometer. One step forward; one step back. I guess that's part of the experience....

RATS! Doubt if there was anything that you could have done to prevent the break. Maybe you should poke around in the back room of Richie Hardware to find something that you can jury rig into a new shaft. (Doncha wish you could!)

Keep forging ahead. You have a good looking truck and a fine family tradition to uphold.

- Lonnie

I could not find the replacement needle stem and broke down and purchased a new speedometer that I will put in the old housing.

Do I leave the mileage at 000000 or turn it up to the mileage of the prior speedometer (about 54,000), which may not be entirely accurate either?