In a message dated 4/20/99 12:52:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
kehrlich@dyax.com writes:
> The odometer, both main and trip, on my TR6 quit today ( or at least I
> just noticed today) but the speedometer still works as good as can be
> expected ( 10% over, give or take).
>
> Some might think this a good thing ;7P OTOH its helpful to know when
> the next oil change is due without having to count tanks of gas.
>
> Any ideas about why I would lose the odo and not speedo and if there is
> an easy fix?
Keith,
The odometer is mechanically driven, through a ratchet/pawl type arrangement,
while the speedo portion is magnetically coupled. It's very easy for the
mechanical portion to fail, while the speedo keeps on working. When I got my
TR6, that was the case, and last year, the odometer quit on my MGBGT, with
the speedo still working.
It's quite possible that you can do a repair, depending on exactly what the
problem is, and how handy you are.
On my TR6, one of the little gadgets (I've forgotten the details -- that was
9 years ago) that held the shaft, on which the numbers wheels ride, broke
off, allowing the number wheels and the drive gear to slip out of position.
The PO had attempted a repair by using electrical tape to hold the
wheels/gear in place, but this had already failed by the time I got it.
I repaired it by bending a small strip of aluminum to fit, and drilled and
tapped the plastic block that held everything in place. The aluminum strip
was screwed to the block such that it kept the shaft from moving. Not a very
elegant fix, but it worked, and is still working 9 years later. I haven't
gotten to the MG yet.
Your problem is probably different, but I'm sure some sort of "Rube Goldburg"
fix can be effected. Sure beats the price of a new Speedo! It's worth a try.
Dan Masters,
Alcoa, TN
'71 TR6---------3000mile/year driver, fully restored
'71 TR6---------undergoing full restoration and Ford 5.0 V8 insertion - see:
http://members.aol.com/danmas/
'74 MGBGT---3000mile/year driver, original condition - slated for a V8 soon
'68 MGBGT---organ donor for the '74
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