Speedometer / Odometer Repair

[COFBack]

Removed the speedo from the fastback yesterday using the "remove the clock and dig around method". I was trying to fix the odometer which doesn't work. The trip odometer gear (A) was loose in the speedo housing. I got it mounted so that it engages with (B) buy sliding (C) out enough.

I couldn't see anything else wrong with the mechanism. When I spin the black wheel (D)on the trip odo either way the main odo wheels advace or go backwards appropriately.

But when I got it back in the car it doesn't work.

2 hours down the crapper, any ideas would be appreciated.

robert

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[philman]

I had a similar problem with mine, also a trip speedo. The same gear was off and the speedo did not work. I put the gear back on as you did and it worked for a while and then stopped. Took it apart again and found the problem.

First off, I found that by spinning the cable, the gears turned, but the numbers did not. I tested this by sticking a torx screwdriver into where the cable went and spinning it.

The metal rod that had the gear at the end that fell off has a gear at the other end as well. The gear you replaced had (at least mine did) a notch in it so it spins with the rod. The gear at the other end I believe was originally pressed or somehow affixed to the rod as well. I found that the rod was spinning due to the gear you replaced being back on, but the gear at the other end was not; this other gear (call it gear 2) turns the numbers. Gear 2 moved back and forth on the rod and spun freely.

What I did was push gear 2 toward the numbers and moved the rod out a bit; I then used a pin to place a bit of glue on the rod and the base of gear 2 (I cleaned it first to get rid of the lube I had put on it). With the glue starting to set, I pushed gear 2 back into place with a thin flathead driver and moved the rod back toward gear 1. After it dried, it worked fine. This was about 8 months ago and its still working.

The problem is there is not much room to work. Yeah, I spend a few hours screwing around with this as well

[COFBack]

Philman

I was hoping you would see this. Thanks for the reply. But I am confused.

Looking at my pictures, should there be another gear on the opposite side of where I replaced the small gear that had fallen off. This would be a gear at point "C".

or

Are you talking about the gear INSIDE the metal (D) on the second picture?

I installed gear "A" so it would mesh with gear "B" in the first picture.

Seemed like every thing was ok, but still no ODO

There a a couple other pictures in my gallery that you can refer to.

RMS
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[philman]

Hey COFBack,

The gear that fell off mine was also the gear at point A. This gear spins the shaft for the trip odo straight from the cable spinning. The white gear on the mile marker (I believe) spins the real odo, so if the trip odo does not work, neither will the real odo. The trick is finding out what spins the mile marker.

The other gear I wrote about (gear 2) would be inside the metal at point D. I remember it being a small metal gear, a flat cog-- not the big plastic gear at point D. It is hard to see it in your pic as the straight on shot is blurry. Gear 2 I believe is also a two-piece gear. By this, I mean it the middle around the shaft is affixed to the shaft (or should be) and the upper part spins freely in one way but not the other. This is so you can reset the trip odo. It is the base of the gear 2 to the shaft pin that came loose in mine.

Again, from memory, the numbers on the trip odo spin freely on the shaft pin as does the big plastic gear at D; the miles are marked not because they are affixed to the pin directly, but due to the the gear at the end (gear 2) turning another gear on a short shaft coming from where the big flat head screw is just above point C in your pics.

Take a look at what gear 2 by point D spins. You can pull gear A off again and spin the shaft to see how it works.

Without having mine apart in front of me, and doing this from memory, it is hard to give a more accurate description. If you get your speedo out and apart again, take a good pic of the area around point D and I can be more accurate.

BTW-- is Smokin VW still around just north of Denver? That was a great place for parts!

[COFBack]

Philman

I'll take a look (and some better pictures) next time I take it out. Probably will be a couple weeks due to business and other stuff.

I didn't notice "gear 2" when I was in there. I think probably because I was so happy with myself for figuring out where "A" went and seeing it "working".

Anyway, will post when I pop it open again.

Don't know about Smokin VW. Will check as our local parts place here in CoS closed down this week.

RMS
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[Tvättbjörn]

My odometer did stop working today. Speed needle works , but counter does not. Assuming that gear feel off also. It is a trip speedo. Before I remove the unit and take it apart I like to have the new parts in my hand already.

Where can I get new gears ?

Did the 67 speedo have metal or plastic gears ?

Thanks for any info

[gt1953]

I sen mine to a fellow I think his name Jim Abney, in Illinois. Rebuilt it and works great....Maybe someone will chime in with contact information.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[Bobnotch]

[Bobnotch]

[orange_crush_fasty]

just found this post...
I removed my speedo from the dash and want to ask how to get the 'face' casing separated from the whole unit? As the trip odometer black pin knob prevents the case ring and plastic face lens to be removed. Due to the fact that the trip knob runs through the plastic cover as far as I can see....

Any insight on this COFBack or others? Much appreciated!

71 vw fastback slow restore

[nogoodwithusernames]

I believe the knob for trip reset is just an interference fit and will pull straight off. Then you can get the rest of the way apart.
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71 Squareback, 1.7l T4 w/ crank trigger fuel and spark
(Conversion thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=732508&highlight= or https://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=151375&sid=f0542d44a322d290c29d6609fac7f215 )
74 914, 2.0L w/ D-Jet

-Derek

[KTPhil]

The metal knobs had a set screw that is a bugger to remove. I don't know, but I would guess a plastic one would push on and off.