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1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.
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local2Ed
Posted 2020-01-17 8:14 PM (#593121)
Subject: 1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.


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The speedometer in my 1957 Dodge Sierra never worked since I owned it, the inner cable was removed from the speedometer cable.
I pulled out the instrument cluster to see if everything was freely working and discovered the odometer would not turn at all.
I believe I should be able to rotate the odometer just by moving the driven gear that is attached to the 1/10th. of a mile wheel. Mine will not move with just finger pressure.
Am I correct that it should rotate much easier ?
Has anybody repaired one of these?

Thanks.
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wizard
Posted 2020-01-18 3:04 AM (#593128 - in reply to #593121)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.



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Never had one that was broken, but i have serviced many. The driven gear is not free rotating, it's driven by the speedometer cable.

First check that the ingoing shaft can be rotated (a square nail can be filed to fit) with a small monkey wrench (no force). If stuck, try to heat up a Little with a hot air gun, try again to turn back and forth until the shaft starts to move freely. Apply sewing machine oil and finally, use a drill to rotate the speedometer (normally anti-clockwise)
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local2Ed
Posted 2020-01-18 8:20 AM (#593132 - in reply to #593128)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.


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I probably wasn't clear in my post. When I pulled my instrument cluster out I used a correct end piece from a broken speedometer cable to attempt to turn the speedometer , by hand, using the correct place where the cable entered the speedometer. It turned by hand slightly and then I could not turn it further.

I removed the odometer and the shaft that drives the odometer and the speedometer and all related gears moved freely. I oiled them up, put my speedometer cable end in a drill and the speedometer worked perfect.

I then turned my attention to the odometer. There is a driven gear on the odometer that is connected by shaft to the speedometer gearing.Everything turns freely except the odometer. Looking at the small gears and shaft it doesn't appear to take a lot of torque to rotate the odometer numbers. I tried to spin the odometer gear with my fingers , in the correct way, and the numbers would not move, however I could rock the driven gear slightly so I could see that shaft and gear are free. This told me the resistance was in the number/wheels themselves.

I was wondering if anybody had taken the odometer cluster numbers apart and repaired or oiled them on their car.
Everything looked clean inside the instrument cluster with no signs of rust or moisture so other than the car sitting for I don't know how long, I don't see any obvious reason it wont turn by finger.

Thanks.

Edited by local2Ed 2020-01-18 8:26 AM
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wizard
Posted 2020-01-18 9:52 AM (#593133 - in reply to #593121)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.



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The construction is not complicated - remove the hairpin clip (to right in the photo) and then you can remove one wheel after the other.



(IMG_8897-rez.jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments IMG_8897-rez.jpg (154KB - 146 downloads)
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Powerflite
Posted 2020-01-18 11:18 AM (#593138 - in reply to #593121)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.



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The odometer in my '58 Dodge also died, while the speedometer keeps working. I haven't torn it apart yet, but I'm interested to see what you find out.
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NC Adventurer
Posted 2020-01-22 1:04 PM (#593327 - in reply to #593121)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.


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I've used Powl's Speedometer and Auto Repair to rebuild the speedo in my 1984 Porsche 944 a few years back. I can't give them anything but the highest praises. They may be reached at http://powls-speedometer.com/ Best of luck with your project.

Edited by NC Adventurer 2020-01-22 1:10 PM
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local2Ed
Posted 2020-02-06 9:29 AM (#593869 - in reply to #593121)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.


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The problem with my odometer was the shaft the numbers ride on needed to be polished, maybe factory hardened grease residue(?) prevented the number/wheels from turning freely.
The photo of the odometer Wizard posted is NOT from a 1958 Dodge but close enough to use for reference.

Here are some tips:
Mark the position of the mileage numbers on the sheetmetal cover surrounding the numbered wheels, it will help in reassembly.
Remove the sheet metal cover.

Remove the wire clip holding the shaft in place in the metal housing holding the number assembly.

Pay close attention to the direction of the shaft and the sequence of the numbers. One end of the shaft slides into a hole, the other end has a groove cut into it that slides into a slot.
In between the numbered wheels is what looks like a metal spacer. It holds a small gear that activates movement of the numbers. If you look at the picture Wizard posted above, the metal piece between the numbers will have a "V" shaped tab, barely visible, that has to straddle a piece of the metal housing, preventing the metal spacer with gear from rotating. The piece I'm talking about is visible at the very bottom of the numbers in the photo above.

The shaft the numbers ride on will have a small washer on either end keeping the numbers on the shaft. One will all you need to remove. It should twist/pull off with care.

On reassembly you will have to line up the mileage numbers in the correct spot while lining up the metal tabs over the metal bar which is somewhat tricky. Any movement of the number wheels will cause one of the tabs to be out of alignment and you will have to start over getting the numbers and tabs lined up.

It took me several tries but I have no tips to offer as I finally got mine correctly lined up I had no desire to start again to figure out how I got there.

It was basically, take it apart, polish shaft with steel wool, lube with light oil, and reassemble.

When you clean and oil the parts the numbers will spin with zero resistance.

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local2Ed
Posted 2020-02-06 9:43 AM (#593870 - in reply to #593121)
Subject: RE: 1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.


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https://base.imgix.net/files/base/ebm/machinedesign/image/2000/03/ma...
ign.com_files_uploads_2015_02_Gears2.png?auto=format&fit=max&w=1440


Here is a close representation of what the gear and inner odometer wheel workings look like.
Only the top gear is present in the odometer THE CENTER GEAR AND LOWER GEAR IN THE PICTURE ARE NOT WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN THE ODOMETER.

I only found this picture to give some idea of what it looks like between the numbers and inside them.
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local2Ed
Posted 2020-02-06 9:53 AM (#593872 - in reply to #593327)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.


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Posts: 580
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NC Adventurer - 2020-01-22 1:04 PM

I've used Powl's Speedometer and Auto Repair to rebuild the speedo in my 1984 Porsche 944 a few years back. I can't give them anything but the highest praises. They may be reached at http://powls-speedometer.com/ Best of luck with your project.


I spoke to a Speedometer repair shop about 2 hrs. drive from me and they wanted the whole speedometer cluster not just the odometer even though I told them I verified the odometer was frozen up and the speedometer worked fine. I understand they wanted to make sure it was working correctly before sending it back.

They wanted about $250.oo and said it would be about 12 weeks turn around.
I would have used them if I couldn't repair it myself.

Believe me, as I was struggling to get the numbers and the tabs lined up and getting the shaft clipped into place I was thinking that $250.oo wasn't sounding too bad after all.
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Powerflite
Posted 2020-02-06 11:39 PM (#593900 - in reply to #593121)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.



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Thanks for the tips Ed!
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71charger_fan
Posted 2020-02-07 11:33 AM (#593916 - in reply to #593121)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge Sierra odometer repair question.


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Location: Frederick, MD
I used D&M Restoration in SC for the speedometer in the '55. I handed it to them on Saturday at Carlisle and had it back the next Friday.
http://dandmrestoration.com/
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