Before I wreck this speedometer, what's the correct way to pull the needle?

I'm running out of Hot Rod Fund money, can't afford to send the gauges out to be converted and restored. Soooo, I want to take the speedo from the Diamond T truck, pull the guts out out it, and put the electronic speedo head from the donor Chev van (electronic, to read the pulse generator from the 4L60E) in the DT housing. If I grab the shaft between the face and the needle with some hemostats or needle nose pliers, and gently rolleyes pull on the needle, will it pull off the shaft? Of course, the same question also applies to the speedo from the vans instrument cluster. I've never done anything with gauges, but their has to be a way to take 'em apart without destroying them.

I don't want to ruin the really nice DT speedo, it's big, curved gl***, made by SW, fits the hole in the dash, and is very ] cool. My buddy can print me a new face with his vinyl sign program in the original font. All the other gauges, aside from the gas gauge, are mech. and I think I can use as is for an original looking dash. Looks alot like an Auburn.

Any advice?

 

Use 2 s****s,one ether side of the shaft under the needle and gently pry up

 

All the late model boys with flamed white face gauges just pull the needle off like you described, and then stick it back on.

It seems like you'd really want a reference mark on the back of the shaft unless there's a flat milled in it.

 

That's the hard part. I've never gotten a gauge needle back in the right place. The next time I do it I'll power the gauge up so it puts the needle in a specific spot, then use tape to mark the position.

 

Thanks guys, I'll forge ahead!

 

You might want to put a dab of kroil on the shaft and let it weep into the hub of the pointer. They tend to really get stuck on there.
Just make a note of its resting position before you pop it off. Or if you didn't do that, spin the speedo up to about 60 MPH. Time the odometer to turn 1 mile in 60 sec. That should get you pretty darn close.
Mark

 

How do I spin an electronic speedometer?

 

SW repair manuals say to grab the center of the needle with your fingers (not the pointed ends, grab the center hub) and slightly twist counter-clockwise as you pull outward.

I have never been able to get one off without tweeking the pointed ends at least slightly. I think the Kroil on the spindle is a good idea.

 

power it up, it should zero itself if its electronic. Then put the pointer back on

Mark

 

I'd first ensure that the donor electronic speedo has the same shaft size and scale (MPH range and sweep angle) as the Diamond T speedo. No sense in dismantling/destroying two speedometers if the parts are incompatible.

 

I'm going to use the Chev pointer painted white, the sweep angle is the same, although the diameter of the gauges is different.

 

You could always paint and super-glue like a clock wand onto the Chev speedo needle if you wanted something that looked fancier.

 

Have you tried an air-hatchet? They'll remove 'bout anything.

 

I was actually thinking the torch might be the best way to get it all apart...

 

like was said w/ s****s as close to the shaft as possable,when going back on the smallest 1/4 in socket you can find,nice even tap.

 

I did it with 2 small screwdrivers, as far as resetting the needle on a mechanical speedo . I made a square drive for the speedo out of wood dowel, sanded it square .104. then put it in my cordless drill, noted the speed before pulled needle off. then made sure the needle read the same after I pushed it back on. will only work on a working speedo.


ago

 

Take it to a jeweler who repairs clocks. There is a special puller to remove. He would likely not charge you or charge a few bucks to pull it. He could also re-install.

 

Any progress?