Speedometer intermittent, now dead.

[toml]

Subject says it all... 1963 230SL... had the dash out a few years ago for a resto. I assume the mechanic MAY have knocked something loose on the speedo cable, but it is just showing zero now and he had a quick check and says the cable is on tight.

So... i realize no one can diagnose this on a forum posting, but if you've had some experience with these speedos, would you say the problem is way more likely to be the cable or the speedo itself?

 I see cables online for about $50, and i have no idea how much a speedo restoration would cost, but I imagine it's in the hundreds (so obviously i'm hoping its the cable). Actually I'm not even sure if the dash needs to come back apart to get to the speedo cable or is it easy to access (by the way, having had to replace the wood trim, i ***KNOW*** nothing is really easy to access, but you know, relatively speaking...

if it IS the cable (hope so), and if i have the shop do it, is it 1/2 hour labor or 8 hours labor if you follow)?

Thanks.
Tom

[merrill]

replacing the cable is a pain but I would not pay to have it done.

The hardest parts are
1. removing the other instrument clusters to get to the speedo cable
2. r/r the cable from the tranny.

I figure an experienced person could do the job in 2 hours or less.

remember you need to remove the screw at the tranny clamp entirely.

as far as the resto,  Palo Alto speedo can do a rebuild for less than 200.

if you want to verify if your speedo is good, pull it and then use a drill with a square bit on it to spin the speedo.  if it is good the needle will move.

[Till]

I also had a dead speedo on my 250 SL. The cause was a sheared off cable but this was due to the speedo inners having seized! Remember, all the insides are mechanical wheels and cogs and with time they can stick and jam.
My speedo was then taken to our local VDO specialist who serviced and refurbished it at a cost of approx. R 1000.00 (about US $ 125.00).
But hopefully it is only the cable!
Good Luck!
Till

[jacovdw]

Till,

Could you perhaps provide the contact details of the VDO specialist in Johannesburg that you used?

[Till]

Hi Jaco,
Call me on 082-4520721

[jacovdw]

Thanks for the number Till, will do.