Center Instrument Cluster and Tape

[Richard Madison]

To change the seal on the Center Cluster, I removed some thin black plastic tape going all the around the cluster body. The tape looked like strechable electric tape.

Is this tape original? perhaps to isolate the cluster from the body of the car? or was the tape added later and I don't have to replace it?

Here's a photo showing the old tape footprint.

Thanks,

Richard M, NYC


Download Attachment: ClusterTape.jpg
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[DavidBrough]

Hi Richard,

Putting tape on rubbers like that is a fairly common way of preventing the seal catching on the aperture during fitting and not seating properly. I don’t know if the factory did it during assembly though.

David Brough
1969 280SL Auto with A/C

[al_lieffring]

The rubber boots on the speedometer and tach were sealed shut with a white cloth backed tape, but I don't think this was used to hold the rubber rings in place. When the rubbers got stretched I often had to tape them in place with electrical tape to get everything lined up without the edge curling over. With new seals this shouldn't be a problem.

Al Lieffring
66 230SL