Odometer fix

[DT1]

I've done it on a couple that had seized odometers, one stayed seized regardless even after a full strip down (incl. the red gear) and the other one it turned out was missing some white teeth on the odometer itself.

Taking the pointer off I had the problem of it being 20% over at all speeds too. Like you, I reckon I'll need to put some tension on the spring, grip the spindle with some thin tweezers and rearrange the needle through trial and error.

[MikeH]

Mine reads about 20% under at 30. and is roughly spot on at 70. I tried loosely putting the needle on, twisting it back slightly(to get some tension on the spring) then pushing the needle on more firmly. But.. as you said, isnt an exact science!

So did you try swapping out the little red gear? Did that fix the problem? Or was it another part you replaced?

I swapped the whole odometer cassette for a spare I had. It works fine now, although the needle reads about 7 mph over at all speeds. was going to loosen off the face and swing it round a bit, then reset the needle against the stop to try and offset it a bit.

The little red gear itself is fine.

@DT1 - any tips or tricks for getting the Odometer bits apart? It seems to be the trip meter in mine that's causing the jam as the main part works fine when I disconnect the trip meter part - I expect there's a bit of debris rattling around in there.

[DT1]

If you've replaced the 'cassette' I guess that you popped the spring on the spindle?

If you did the axle for the trip meter is secured on the right hand side (looking from top) by a brass collar with a slot in it (it's actually part of the axle).

It has a screw thread so you just need a thin bladed screwdriver to unscrew it.

[MikeH]

Thanks - I eased the cassette off over the spindle, but with the spring still attached to the cassette body.

I've had this apart but it still catches on the cogs at the bottom of the trip meter. I think the aerosol white lithium grease I used is maybe too heavy and sticky for a delicate mech like this., so will clean it up, and try to find something a bit lighter - maybe a tin of spray grease or even just a smear of 3in1 oil. Any thoughts?

Maybe it's just knackered and I'm wasting my time, but I'm curious now :D

Some pics

The worm drive and the 'red gear' that drives the odometer mech.


Odometer cassette with the speedo needle and face off.


Testing by twirling a screwdriver bit - anti clockwise.


Odometer cassette from the back - the little grey gear at the bottom is the link from main odometer to trip meter


Catching on the reset lever...

[DT1]

In the picture with the green worm, if you dismantle the metal housing it comes out of there is another gear.

The problem I had with one of mine was that this was chewed up, so it didn't matter what I did anywhere else.

I think the lubrication that was on the gears and axle posts was quite thick, but I don't recall there being anything on the cogs.

[MikeH]

Might just clean them up. The problem with mine is definitely in the cassette itself - taking it out of the speedo unit, turning the red gear by hand, it was still sticking, unless I disconnect the trip meter part, in which case it's fine.