Author Topic: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change  (Read 10639 times)

TheEngineer

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, West Seattle, WA
  • Posts: 775
  • '69 280SL,Signal Red,
Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« on: February 11, 2013, 20:30:33 »
About 10 years ago I changed the rear axle. The old ratio was 4.08, the new one is 3.27. The rear axle came from 108.067 sedan. As a result my speedometer and the odometer read low by a factor of 1.2477. That is when the speedometer indicates 50 MPH the vehicle is moving at 63 MPH. I have solved the problem by printing small stickers that go on the face of the speedometer. Now I am old and have time to maybe change the read-out. Just talked to Palo Alto Speedometer and for $300 they will adjust the speedometer. That's one solution. There may be others, like changing the gear set in the transmission, if parts are available. With all you bright people out there, does anyone have any suggestions? Like P/N for replacement gears? ;D BTW the new gear ratio is great. The car drives just like my Toyota Truck. About the same engine RPM v. road speed. Very nice. To be recommended.
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

Flyair

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin Jeziorna
  • Posts: 1920
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2013, 22:12:49 »
I think that your appreciation of the new gear ratio speaks for itself: if you are satisfied with it, the obly good solution is to knock on Palo Alto Speedos, have the problem fixed and ...and get lighter by 300 bucks :D

BTW: No need to be bright people to figure that out ;D
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

ja17

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, Blacklick
  • Posts: 7414
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2013, 00:37:29 »
Years ago, I used to use a small gear box which screwed in-line with the speedometer cable, between the speedometer and the cable. It was used for rally cars and the unit would allow the odometer and speedometer to be dialed with extreme accuracy. (within a few hundredths of a mile).  The small gear box came with a selection of gears which could be changed out after the error was plugged into an equation which then identified the  gears to use to correct the speedometer/odometer error. It works great. I'll post some pics soon as I figure out where I have it stored. It was not very expensive.  Probably no longer available with everything going to electronic and digital.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

TheEngineer

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, West Seattle, WA
  • Posts: 775
  • '69 280SL,Signal Red,
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2013, 07:49:30 »
Hello Joe!
That would be the ticket! Remember I gave you a ride in my lii' red car from the Eastside to your hotel downtown. You also checked the play of the tach drive by inserting a sheet metal screw into the square and pulling on it. You pronounced it satisfactory. You also sent me the larger diameter cam shaft bearing supports to accommodate the high rise cam. I always appreciate your help and marvel at your knowledge about these cars. But then, you did race Mercedes cars! Thank you very much! :)
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

TheEngineer

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, West Seattle, WA
  • Posts: 775
  • '69 280SL,Signal Red,
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2013, 18:49:11 »
North Hollywood Speedometer quoted me $160 to rework the speedometer and odometer and one week flow-time. They recommended that I check the actual reading at 30, 45 and 60 MPH using a GPS before I take things apart. Sounds good to me! I'll do it as soon the cat gets off me on the couch and the sun is out. That may be a while here in Seattle. ;) BTW the automatic shifts wonderful since I adjusted it! An old timer told me it could be adjusted to shift smooth, I didn't believe it, but he was right! I take back all the bad things I wrote about the transmission.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2013, 18:55:49 by TheEngineer »
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

Flyair

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin Jeziorna
  • Posts: 1920
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #5 on: February 15, 2013, 19:07:06 »
great to hear that things go well. I like the turning MB star… nice effect
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

TheEngineer

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, West Seattle, WA
  • Posts: 775
  • '69 280SL,Signal Red,
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #6 on: February 17, 2013, 20:13:09 »
Thank you! Before they made me a junior member, I had the rotating star as part of my signature. But things change. Now I'm a junior member and the program won't let me use the .giv format in my signature. That's alright. I know things are going to hell.
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

tel76

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Douglas
  • Posts: 835
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2013, 09:01:02 »
Why have you been downgraded?
Eric

Peter van Es

  • Honorary Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Netherlands, North Holland, Nederhorst Den Berg
  • Posts: 4076
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2013, 10:27:04 »
TheEngineer did not get downgraded. He did not access the site for over 365 days. Members who have not accessed the site in over a year are removed by the system. That is done so that we do not spam incorrect e-mail addresses, or keep sending people stuff that they do not want anymore.

This year he re-registered, but then the post count is set back to 0. That "junior" thing is just dependant upon post count, it means nothing, and certainly no degradation.

Peter
1970 280SL. System Admin of the site. Please do not mail or PM me questions on Pagoda's... I'm not likely to know the answer.  Please post on the forum instead!

pagoden

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • USA, MD, Silver Spring
  • Posts: 243
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2013, 10:45:48 »
Eric, The Engineer goes way back with us -- way back before I was any part of us, certainly.  I gather he's been 'taking some personal time', and his membership lapsed in the interim.  I've not been here long enough to be aware of any such a circumstance occurring before now, but apparently policy is that if one returns after a dues-lapsing absence, it is to be as a 'tenderfoot'.  I've missed his postings and am relieved and happy to have him back regardless of station. 

I'm not clear on the policy regarding contributions made by those who part from us, whether temporarily or permanently, but I'm afraid their contributions disappear with them.  If that is indeed the case, I believe it should be reconsidered as an unwise and perhaps unnecessary diminishment of the collective accomplishment.  [Edit addendum:Peter has just posted.]  Peter, could it not be possible to delete a member's contact data without sacrificing their contribution?  Or some alternate method of avoiding our being a source of spam while not diminishing the, ahem, richness of the collective effort?   


Engineer: welcome, sir.  I've been wondering whether and how to say that, as I barely had time to appreciate your offerings here when they tapered off to nil.  My loss.  You've been missed.  The Turning Star, too: brilliant.  I certainly hope it can be resuscitated.
Respects and kind regards from a relative newbie,
Denny 
PS - It's also my understanding that we have more space available on the server these days for really thorough and painstaking consideration of matters great, and not so much.    ;)
1968/69 280SL, just+100k mi, manual 4, 3.46, both tops, 717/904

Peter van Es

  • Honorary Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Netherlands, North Holland, Nederhorst Den Berg
  • Posts: 4076
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2013, 17:50:37 »
I'm not clear on the policy regarding contributions made by those who part from us, whether temporarily or permanently, but I'm afraid their contributions disappear with them.

Actually, his posts are not deleted... they are just not linked to his current account.  Just search for "theengineer" in the box at the top of the page. You'll find all his valuable contributions, such as this one: http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=5168.msg32116#msg32116

And that applies to all accounts that have lapsed... no information is lost.

Peter
1970 280SL. System Admin of the site. Please do not mail or PM me questions on Pagoda's... I'm not likely to know the answer.  Please post on the forum instead!

66andBlue

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Solana Beach
  • Posts: 4735
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2013, 18:06:13 »
Peter,
is it possible - without lots of effort and work - to link the two accounts?
« Last Edit: February 18, 2013, 18:11:12 by 66andBlue »
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

ja17

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, Blacklick
  • Posts: 7414
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2013, 23:49:23 »
Hello Peter "The Engineer",
 Sorry for the late reply, I lost track of the post.  Of course I remember you and the spirited ride to the hotel. Even an old rally car drive like myself was impressed with  your aggressive driving style in the Seattle traffic. The vintage Pagoda and vintage driver performed like a pro! I still remember the warm welcome and hospitality shown by the Pagoda Community in Seattle during my visit. Please say hello to all. Hope  all is well with you and the Pagoda!  I will try to post the pics of the speedometer cable unit soon.

Take care,

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

Peter van Es

  • Honorary Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Netherlands, North Holland, Nederhorst Den Berg
  • Posts: 4076
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #13 on: February 19, 2013, 08:37:09 »
Peter,
is it possible - without lots of effort and work - to link the two accounts?

12 SQL queries later... done. Fingers crossed and hope the system is still in a consistent state.

Peter
1970 280SL. System Admin of the site. Please do not mail or PM me questions on Pagoda's... I'm not likely to know the answer.  Please post on the forum instead!

Peter van Es

  • Honorary Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Netherlands, North Holland, Nederhorst Den Berg
  • Posts: 4076
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2013, 08:45:57 »
And rotating star added back in his signature...
1970 280SL. System Admin of the site. Please do not mail or PM me questions on Pagoda's... I'm not likely to know the answer.  Please post on the forum instead!

TheEngineer

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, West Seattle, WA
  • Posts: 775
  • '69 280SL,Signal Red,
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #15 on: February 21, 2013, 04:23:15 »
Hello All and especially Peter van Es!
Thank you very much for re-instating me and for making the rotating star a part of my signature again! You guys really made my day! I'm deeply moved about your show of support! Thank you, thank you! Yes, I was absent for a long time. I had to take care of my wife. We were married for 57 years. It started with shingles. Then she fell often. She broke her arm and the medication they gave her for surgery had side effects. Or maybe it was just that she deteriorated all over. She went to the hospital many times and came home not really better. When your body cannot support you any more, it is a blessing when you can die. I took care of her. My li'l red car was not important at all. It has been two years now and me and my cat are finding a groove. I even drive the Pagoda once-in-a-while. Thank you all!
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

pagoden

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • USA, MD, Silver Spring
  • Posts: 243
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #16 on: February 21, 2013, 07:45:36 »
Thanks (on behalf of many, I think), Peter.  Good show, all 'round and as usual.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2013, 09:56:18 by pagoden »
1968/69 280SL, just+100k mi, manual 4, 3.46, both tops, 717/904

Paul & Dolly

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • United Kingdom, Wales, CARDIFF
  • Posts: 699
  • i Car
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #17 on: February 21, 2013, 08:13:31 »
I have enjoyed reading your posts,

Cats like Pagodas.......

Keep well
Paul
Paul (located in Cardiff - Wales - UK)
1967 Early 250 SL (Auto) White
Mitsubishi i Car
Toyota RAV 4  Hybrid AWD
1936 Alvis Firebird (Gone............)

TheEngineer

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, West Seattle, WA
  • Posts: 775
  • '69 280SL,Signal Red,
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #18 on: February 21, 2013, 20:36:18 »
Hello Peter "The Engineer",
 Sorry for the late reply, I lost track of the post.  Of course I remember you and the spirited ride to the hotel. Even an old rally car drive like myself was impressed with  your aggressive driving style in the Seattle traffic. The vintage Pagoda and vintage driver performed like a pro! I still remember the warm welcome and hospitality shown by the Pagoda Community in Seattle during my visit. Please say hello to all. Hope  all is well with you and the Pagoda!  I will try to post the pics of the speedometer cable unit soon.

Take care,

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

What aggressive driving? I take exception to that! You got to stay ahead of everybody so that, when they roll their cars or crash into each other you can squirt out clean. And if I’m in the left lane, I have a shoulder right next to me where I can go to avoid pile-ups Aggressive driving? You haven’t been to Milano: They have these plazas where five or more streets converge. You have to get a move on: Have your foot on the gas and your hand on the horn if you don’t want to be an obstruction. And in Paris where you get one chance to enter/exit the ring. Where the other drivers will call you “Le salle Boche” if you slow down or hesitate. I’m a very safe driver, but I know what you mean: I have seen the terrified faces before and always wondered why nobody wants to ride with me?
'69 280SL,Signal Red, 09 cam, License BB-59U
'67 230SL, 113042-10-017463 (sld)
'50 Jaguar Roadster XK120, #670.318 (sld)
tired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

ja17

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, Blacklick
  • Posts: 7414
Re: Speedometer & Odometer ratio change
« Reply #19 on: February 22, 2013, 05:34:47 »
Hello Peter,

I meant that only as a compliment to your skillful but brisk driving style. I did really appreciate that the old Pagoda was still being driven as the engineers at the factory meant it to be driven.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback