Smiths speedomèter repair recommendation.

[jimmy970]

Hi All, my speedometer has stopped working and i am looking for someone to overhaul and repair. Recommendations please.

Regards Jimmy

[dklawson]

Where are you located?

[jimmy970]

Birmingham.

[Peter Laidler]

Before you do, exactly what part has stopped working. The speedo part or the mileometer part or both.

[jimmy970]

Speedo part....the needle started swinging crazy...then stopped. To be hones insure re the milometer.

Jimmy

[dklawson]

Before you drive the car any more, disconnect the speedo cable. Once the needle starts being pushed all the way around the face the hairspring that returns the needle to zero has been ruined. If all that has happened so far is bouncing there might be time to save the mechanism.

[jimmy970]

Car is undergoing major restoration so not being driven. Just looking to post the Speedo off for a repair, service, rebuild.

Regards Jimmy

[Callum]

I know speedy cables repair speedos, never used them before though.

Mine started doing this on the way back from Blyton, a sort of crunching noise and the needle swinging all the way around to zero. Unfortunately I was on the M1 so couldn't pull over straight away.

Is it knackered now? What causes it in the first place?

Cheers Callum

[Daz1968]

I had a few problems with early silver faced speedometers and stripped a few down after this had happened, I found it was either some contamination in the rotating magnet part, oil or grease or lack of lubrication on the bearing points. I even bought a nos one and it was stuck. Eventually I stripped one down, fully cleaned it and used small amounts of lubricant where needed and so far has been working fine.

[mk1]

There is a bit of info here that may be of use.

http://mk1-performance-conversions.co.u ... nst-67.pdf

Taken from the main MK1 Perf Cons site.

However, if you are simply looking to get the speedo overhauled as part of a restoration, then there are a few places that can help.

Http://www.jdo1.com/ (My preference, fairly quick & a very good job)

http://www.speedograph-richfield.com/ (Well known done it for years, can be very slow)

https://speedycables.com/ (been around for a long time, anything but speedy)

[dklawson]

Is it knackered now? What causes it in the first place?

Daz gave a good summary of what can cause the problem. Regardless of the specific cause, it results from excess drag on the shaft that supports the needle.

You won't know the condition of the gauge until it has been opened up. However, in general, if the needle is still returning to its "0" stop pin location AND the needle is on TOP of the stop pin (not underneath) then the gauge probably just needs cleaning and recalibration.

If the needle is stuck against the bottom of the stop pin and/or is at some numeric value on the gauge face there is a good probability that the hairspring has been damaged and needs replacing also. That doesn't mean the gauge is junk, only that it may cost a bit more to recondition.

As a closing note, lubrication inside the gauge is limited to a few key locations. Those typically do not include the top or bottom supports for the needle shaft. Oil applied there can thicken over time and cause the problem you are trying to correct and avoid.

[Hipwell]

Paul Draycott, Classic Instruments in Redditch, used him for 15years+

07784 748395

[rogerotto66s]

Reviewed several related topics and have opted to bring this one back to life.

Just completed reassembling my 1966 Austin Cooper S.
While driving around the neighborhood it appears the speedometer is not working.
The needle does not move.

The speedo cable is new.
The mileage on the odometer does increase during my test drives.

The speedo is SN4417 / 18A 1280

934915C3-501A-485E-9D61-85D8024232B3.jpeg

Any idea what the cause of the problem may be and is it repairable?
If yes, is this something I could do or would you recommend a professional.
Does anyone know of any repair services here in the USA?

I look forward to your suggestions / recommendations.

Roger

[Peter Laidler]

If only you were here Roger, we'd have that fixed in an hour!. If the mileage or odometer is working correctly it tells us that the cable is OK and rotating the clicker pawl and that the drive is also rotating the magnetic cable driven drive disc..

What ain't happening is that the magnetic drive disc is not rotating the speedo DRIVEN disc. Alas, while this is a simple fix, the speedo has to come out to free something off. It can be that the needle has come loose on the tapered axis spindle. But it's a speedo out job.

There will be an instrument repairer in the USA as it sounds like a simple fix as opposed to a slightly more complicated re-calibration exercise

[cmiller]

You certainly have had your share of problems. The foremost Smiths repair company in the States,Nisonger, can no longer repair gauges due to company being flooded out last winter. This was very sad to hear as they are top notch. They suggested to me to use West Valley Instruments in Reseda Ca.
They have a web site and their number is 818-758-9500.

Chris Miller

[850RS]

https://deluxespeedometer.com/

I had my speedo rebuilt by these guys. Quick service and reasonably priced and based in Denver Colorado.