From: Pirtle, John [mailto:John.Pirtle@ceridian.com] Sent: Friday, July 07, 2000 6:57 PM To: 928 Subject: [928] speedo dismantle Okay - the instrument pod is out (pretty easy actually - glad I labeled all the connections!). I'm trying to figure out why my odometer doesn't work. I've unscrewed the two little screws holding the speedo gauge plate and am ready to remove it. How do I remove the needle?? I *assume* it doesn't unscrew! Do I carefully pull straight up? I'm scared to death of breaking it!!! Help! ASAP! Thanks. (and I'm sure this won't be the last!) John Pirtle Atlanta 87 Auto stuck at 115k :) From: Dan [dbrindle@kondratyev.com] Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2000 3:42 AM To: John Pirtle Subject: RE: [928] speedo dismantle John, Don't try this at home or is it YMMV. I have had pretty good luck with these by gently turning backwards on the stop using the needle hub while prying up on the underneath brass part of the hub of the needle with a small screwdriver. The needle is a pressure fit and will pop off if the correct pressure is applied. Some times I have used the actual face plate to apply the pressure to the needle by removing the screws and prying on the plate gently from the back. The reason the odometer is not working may be the gear on the back of the unit. These can become stripped. Unless you have a spare it is difficult to find parts. If it is just dirty I have had fantastic luck with Liquid Wrench with Teflon on all kinds of things. Good luck Dan Brindle From: Greg Nichols [nichols@compuserve.com] Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2000 7:55 AM To: John.Pirtle@ceridian.com Cc: 928 List Subject: RE: speedo dismantle >Somebody tell me if I should pull up on the speedo needle!! ?? Please? Or >should I go in the back - remove the 2 rear screws? I haven't been able to >find this info in the archives or the Tips page, etc.... What I learned from a speedo expert is: Needle removal: Don't use the special "mini prybar" that vendors sometimes supply with their gauge face kits. He's seen dozens of broken speedo needle pins due to (improper?) use of this so-called special tool. His technique is to use thumb and forefinger to gently twist the needle counter-clockwise and pull the needle up to disengage. Needle Installation: Put needle on the pin with slight pressure. Turn counter-clockwise to set desired "zero" position. (BTW, take note of this position BEFORE initial removal of the needle!) Tap very gently to set needle in place. So the key here is that the little "pin" that the needle rests on is not extremely sturdy and if it breaks, well, you're buying a new speedo! Good Luck, +Greg Nichols Alexandria, Virginia '87 928S4, 5-speed, Venice Blue Metallic Over 500 tips for your 928 at http://www.nichols.nu/tips.htm From: Jay Kempf [jkempf@mail.tds.net] Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2000 12:00 PM To: John Pirtle; 928 Subject: RE: [928] speedo dismantle John, I just did it. I managed to talk Palo Alto Speedo (www.paspeedo.com)into sending me a new gear on the advice of a rennlister. I don't know if they will keep doing that if flooded with calls. If your gear is yellow (amber) and brittle, it is toast. Don't put a spacer in it is supposed to be loose like that. The idea is that if the motor or something else seizes the gear spits itself to the side to save the rest of the works. I was amazed that the new gear was almost rubbery and translucent white. Probably ABS or PVC or some other wax loaded plastic. As far as the needle removal you need only move it off of the 0 MPH stop and lift straight up. It feels like you are gonna break it but it comes right off. Line it up with the zero mark and push it back on. That simple. Watch out when putting it back together. I kept hitting the stupid thing with my finger when reinstalling in the cluster. Then you have to go through the needle calib. all over again. Works perfect now. Jay K. From: Palo Alto Speedometer [paspeedo@pacbell.net] Sent: Monday, July 10, 2000 10:32 AM To: Pirtle, John Subject: Re: '87 Porsche 928 gear I am sorry but we do not sell any parts at all. We are a service center only that specializes in repair only. The way that we usually handle this type of a repair is that you would ship the speedometer off to us for a free estimate. Once we have received it I would open the unit up and call you to discuss what I have found. The average repair price lies somewhere around $125.00 + UPS. This price of course depends upon its condition, and which parts are needed. We have all repair parts in stock and all of our work comes with a 12 month warranty. The average turn around time is about 2 days + UPS time. If you decide to send us the unit make sure to enclose a short cover letter with all of your information, along with a brief description of the problem. We usually arrange payment with Visa / Master Card or Discover Card over the phone. Our shipping address is : Palo Alto Speedometer, Inc. 718 Emerson Street Palo Alto, CA. 94301-2410 Please feel free to call me if you have any questions at all about this process or about our services. Thank you, Hartmut C. Mees From: Pirtle, John [John.Pirtle@ceridian.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 4:04 PM To: 928 Subject: [928] Speedo fixed For any of you in Atlanta or nearby - I took my speedometer to http://www.speedometerservice.com/index.htm . I am very happy. A guy named Wayne helped me out. Mine was one of 3 Porsche speedometers in for the same gear digestion!! He said the real problem is that heat draws the oils out of the rubber and the gear finally dries and disintegrates. He replaced it with a dark plastic (probably nylon) gear that was specially made for them by some place in FL. He knew all about the problem and how to fix it. He said VDO didn't allow them to sell ANY parts. Best of all, I took it to them at a few minutes before noon yesterday, and he asked me if I wanted to pick it up after lunch !! :) That's great service! $67 for service which included tightening the gears and digits (he said too much slop in the digits could cause it to eventually roll more than one mile at a time, like roll a tens or hundreds place too). Then the charge for the "part* (the gear) was $30 !! So I was out of there for $100. Same day service! Friendly folks! And close to home! :) John Pirtle Atlanta 87 Auto -----Original Message----- From: Nick Tucker [mailto:Nick@infinites.com] Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 11:32 AM To: 928 Subject: [928] Re: Odo Gear > Can anyone recommend where I can buy the gear for the odometer. you know the one I think its called the "Worm Gear" its the flimsy soft plastic thingy with even a softer little gear. I need one for my 1986 928s. I think that the 951 and 928 share the same VDO odometer. i dont want to send it out I just had my 951 odo fixed for $135. thats a lot for the flimsy soft plastic thingy gear!! > > TIA Roy > > 1986-928S > 1986-951 > Opps...can't spel... http://members.rennlist.com/slevy6/gear.htm From: Dennis Wilson [mailto:dpw928@prodigy.net] Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 6:57 PM To: 928 Subject: [928] Re: It's always something... odo gear failure Mike, One source for the gear is KLA Industries at www.klaindustries.net or you can call them at 918-409-4011. Normal disclaimers apply. Just saw their products at a recent PCA Tech Session. Dennis From: u00spb4@hotmail.com [mailto:u00spb4@hotmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 10:45 AM To: 928 Subject: [928] Odometer Gears Everyone, I found a new supplier for the infamous odometer gears. The website is http://www.odometergears.com/ They're located in Virginia. This supplier has gears for Porsche (including both US and Euro 928's), BMW, Mercedes,Volvo, VW, and Saturn units. He shows a link to the gear material vendor's website which displays the material properties. I have one of these gears but haven't installed it yet. Looks good, though. Steve Borgman 82 928 auto