Author Topic: erratic speedo and errors of the trip master  (Read 2890 times)

yves

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • France, Poitou-Charentes
  • Posts: 366
  • Happy owner of a 69/ 280 sl , 63 Etype ,55 XK 140
erratic speedo and errors of the trip master
« on: July 29, 2020, 18:17:53 »
 I had a good ride of 200 miles with other friends in their classics and at the end of the day they have 350 km on their odometer and i have only 266 km...!
during the day the speedo needle was very erratic between 50 km/h and 100 km/h at a "constant" speed but depending if i was pushing on  the throttle pedal or not .
Reading the manual i think i have the speedo drive gear loose.... ( the speedo cable is a new one)
Before going under the car in my pit  i'd be glad to have a validation here... ;)
« Last Edit: July 29, 2020, 18:26:34 by yves »
Happy owner of a 69 blue 280SL ,  63 FHC  osb E-type , 55 FHC XK 140 to be restored...

ja17

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, Blacklick
  • Posts: 7414
Re: erratic speedo and errors of the trip master
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2020, 18:59:22 »
Yes, the slotted nut in the output flange of your transmission is most likely loose. You will have to dis-connect the driveshaft at the transmission and remove the flex disc to check it. Are you having any shifting issues yet?
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

yves

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • France, Poitou-Charentes
  • Posts: 366
  • Happy owner of a 69/ 280 sl , 63 Etype ,55 XK 140
Re: erratic speedo and errors of the trip master
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2020, 20:15:46 »
not completely but  , the shaft is however  quite "fuzzy", if i go that way , have i something else to replace? while i am in that "place" ? ::)
Happy owner of a 69 blue 280SL ,  63 FHC  osb E-type , 55 FHC XK 140 to be restored...

yves

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • France, Poitou-Charentes
  • Posts: 366
  • Happy owner of a 69/ 280 sl , 63 Etype ,55 XK 140
Re: erratic speedo and errors of the trip master
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2020, 17:00:10 »
Before starting the speedo cable slotted nut tightening ( arrow 1) i wonder if i can  take off all the bolts   ( arrow 3 ) and the  N°2  holding the rear of the box  without any damage ? ( i'll support the gear box before )
Happy owner of a 69 blue 280SL ,  63 FHC  osb E-type , 55 FHC XK 140 to be restored...

ja17

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, OH, Blacklick
  • Posts: 7414
Re: erratic speedo and errors of the trip master
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2020, 07:02:02 »
Supporting the gear box is best for disconnecting and/or installing the flex coupling.  Also remove the speedometer cable cinch nut completely to remove the speedometer cable. CAUTION, resist prying the cinch slot with a screwdriver or similar, it is easy to break off.
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

yves

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • France, Poitou-Charentes
  • Posts: 366
  • Happy owner of a 69/ 280 sl , 63 Etype ,55 XK 140
Re: erratic speedo and errors of the trip master
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2020, 16:17:17 »
Hi JA thank's for your advice. BTW what is the relation between shafting issues ( i have now more difficulties with the gear box, 2 to 3 and 3 to 2  becomes a littyle hard) and erratic speedo cable ?
Happy owner of a 69 blue 280SL ,  63 FHC  osb E-type , 55 FHC XK 140 to be restored...

Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5490
Re: erratic speedo and errors of the trip master
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2020, 16:22:58 »
Then there is the question about what is the proper torque that this slotted nut should be tightened with to ensure smooth work of the speedo. The torque, from what I remember from my previous search, may be different in manual and in automatic transmission.

Do we know what are these torques?
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

Benz Dr.

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Canada, ON, Port Lambton
  • Posts: 7220
  • Benz Dr.
Re: erratic speedo and errors of the trip master
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2020, 18:46:04 »
Remove the speedometer cable and insert a flat blade screwdriver in place of the cable end. Turn the driveshaft while holding the screwdriver and see if the screwdriver turns or not. If it doesn't turn the nut is loose. A simple and quick way to diagnose this problem. 
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

yves

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • France, Poitou-Charentes
  • Posts: 366
  • Happy owner of a 69/ 280 sl , 63 Etype ,55 XK 140
Re: erratic speedo and errors of the trip master
« Reply #8 on: August 12, 2020, 08:57:07 »
Thank's Dan i'll do the test  ;)
Happy owner of a 69 blue 280SL ,  63 FHC  osb E-type , 55 FHC XK 140 to be restored...