Odometer slowly died

[hlblanton]

The odo on my '71 stopped working but the speedo and trip odometer kept going. Then the regular odo died.  I know about Palo Alto Speedo but just wondering if anyone had advise as to how to proceed. Do I need a full rebuild, and can anyone tell me what they think this should cost (both the rebuild and having someone take the dash down to remove it? Any info as to costs would also be appreciated.

In case anyone noticed my handle and also follows Bring a Trailer, I'm the guy who recently bought the '56 300SL Gullwing they had on auction. Sill love my Pagoda though and it is my daily driver even as I continue to work on it to make it better and better. She will never be in a concourse, but man what a great ride!

Thanks in advance.

HLB

[Mike Hughes]

Send  your instruments to Palo Alto.  My experience is that their charges are quite reasonable, especially when you see the quality of their work.  When you get your instruments back they are refurbished, properly lubricated and look like new.  Tachometers need servicing, too, as they run constantly whenever the engine is on, unlike speedometers, which only run when the vehicle is in motion.  So you might want to send them both the speedo and tach at the same time so they both are in the same state of repair and look equally good when they are reinstalled in your dash.  These instruments have been in service now for going on 50 years or so without any attention.  After proper servicing they will be ready for the next 50 years.  One word of warning:  Palo Alto says their warranty is voided if you do not replace the speedometer cable when reinstalling a speedo and the tachometer cable when reinstalling a tach.

[ja17]

Some of us also use "Oversee Speedometer" in San Antonio, less pricey. Nice snag on the "bring a trailer gullwing"!

[teahead]

Wow, you got that Gullwing!?!?  You lucky bastard!  That was one of the most awesome cars ever!  I'll take that over say, a LaFerrari.  I think you got it at a good buy too!

At any rate, don't know about Palo Alto, but I took my W124 speedo to get the odometer fixed was to http://www.speedometer.com.  Did it for like $150, but then again, that's not a W113.



Does Palo Alto redo the face and everything?  I don't need that.  I too just need the Odometer fixed.  Might as well get the tach re-calibrated (seems jumpy at idle, but could be just the engine idle is wonky) too.  Good advice.

Sux about the warranty void about speedo cable.   That seems like a royal PITA to install.  Maybe not.  I was thinking of just getting some speedo lube on the cable.

Tach cable too?  Isn't that just an electrical wire?

[Mike Hughes]

Tachometer is cable driven, too. that's why it should be cleaned and lubricated at the same time as you service your speedometer.  You can see the cable coming from a fitting adjacent to the distributor and running along the bracket beside the valve cover that also carries plug wires until it disappears through the firewall near the brake booster.

[Benz Dr.]

I can't imagine why you would need a new cable to not void your warranty. Sounds a bit wonky to me.

 

[teahead]

I would squirt some of this stuff down the cable(s) before installing the tach/speedo:


https://www.amazon.com/Blaster-16-CCL-Long-Lasting-Chain-Lubricant/dp/B01MS5ZLMG

[Iconic]

In case anyone noticed my handle and also follows Bring a Trailer, I'm the guy who recently bought the '56 300SL Gullwing they had on auction.......

I could not get through all of the comments on your purchase, but I did read chunks of them.
I love the part about being on the beach in Normandy, on D-Day, running to a D-Day ceremony, while bidding $1234........
It was great of you to share your story. Many people enjoyed reading it.
Take care and "enjoy the ride",
Mark