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MG TD TF 1500 - Speedometer...question

Anyone taken a speedometer apart? Wanted to clean mine same as the tach... got most of it apart, but the trip odometer adjuster seems to require a tiny (long) pair of needlenose pliers to remove a tiny cotter pin inside through one of the light holes? Any other way to do this?
g.b.lawson '53TD

If i remeber correctly, i loosened the face plate. You can also remove the needle, mark it 1st on the magnetic drum, twist & pull the needle, then remove the face plate.
Len Fanelli

Want to get into the back... the inside of the shell on the speedo isn't painted white (like the tach) to bounce more light across the face (it is a lot darker then the tach). Will pick up some jewlers pliers today and give it a shot. (Man...some guy sat at a bench installing those little cotter pins 50 years ago).
g.b.lawson '53TD

You might enjoy reading this --

http://www.tigersunited.com/tech_tips/Rhoades-Speedo/rt-Rhoades-Speedo1.asp

Regards,
Dennis
D F Sexton

g.b. (sorry dont know your christian name) are you referring to the long stalk with a knurled ring on the end that exits from the bottom of the speedo ? I tried to fit my speedo through the hole in the dash and found the stalk prevented me doing this. I put the speedo back into storage but am about ready to try once more. Perhaps I will have to do a little dismantling.

Cheers


Jan T
Jan Targosz

Jan, I think you have to remove the eight screws holding the main dash on, and pull the dash away a bit, and then the whole odo stem will slip in or out.
George Butz

George,

My dash is off the car, it has been recovered, the centre panel rechromed and painted bronze and all the instruments and switches reconditioned (at vast expense). I have hung it on the wall in our dining room, sans speedo, and it looks better than the Mona Lisa. It's also safer than on a shelf in the workshop. The vinyl I used to cover the plywood is a little thicker than original and the tacho, which pushes straight in was a little tight. It is possible that the speedo, which has to be tilted when being inserted, is simple too tight.


Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

Just finished doing it... first off... i noticed a metal plate on the back of the dash below the speedometer. Held on by about 4 screws... took that off and the trip odometer stalk slipped out. If this was added by the p/o to support the dash, then there is a cotter pin on the stalk that can be removed.(the steering wheel can't be at its closest position to the dash).
After getting it to the bench i found that cotter pin on the shaft, which even after removing, wouldn't allow the stalk to go up into the case to get the main speedo out....
(It was mentioned that removing the face would alow access... however, you haven't seen my clock collection with all the destroyed hands... i wasn't going to touch the face and pointer!!!)
Anyway, i bought a long pair of needle nose pliers and ground them down until they were really thin. I worked through the one light access hole and got the cotter pin straight and out. I was then able to take it all apart. I found the red disc for the high beam and got it back in... had to glue it in place...(used a tiny drop of stained glass red paint). The inside of the case was just metal so i gave it a coat of white paint. Getting it all back together was fun... i had two dental tools, one pointed that i slipped into the loop of the cotter pin (after fitting it with the long pliers) the other had a flat end and i got one end of the pin bent with it...the pliers finished it up... Whewww
I took the trip odom. stalk to the polishing wheel and gave it a buff (of course i cleaned the face and the glass before re-assembly).
A photo will be at:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/gordonblawson/td/speedo.jpg after i get it shot. (was just on the way to the barn to put it all back in the car).
g.b.lawson '53TD

Hi, there is a much easier way to remove the speedo case. First remove the trip odometer extension which is held in place by a tiny machine screw. Next loosen as far as possible, without removing them, the two machine screws holding the face in place. With the needle gently held at the 9 o'clock position and the now loosened face tilted inward at the bottom the case will slide out along the trip odometer stalk. Takes about 5 minutes.
Hugh Pite
Hugh Pite

This thread was discussed between 24/08/2004 and 25/08/2004

MG TD TF 1500 index

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