5 replies to this topic

[phoffman]

I have a friend who wants the odometer to work on his 1980 242gt. I have done some searching and most links reference the later cars repair. Is there a web site that show how to fix this or a volvo junkyard that might have a working gauge?

[bdimag]

this is what I found for the early 240 models: http://volvo2.homest...m/odometer.html

seems that the problem is the inside of the gear strips out, and this has you glue it back in place...

[Three Fat Tigers]

Copy pasta my reply to another thread on this subject:


If you have the speedo out of the cluster, you should be able to see on the side a worm gear with a small gear engaging it. It is that small gear slipping on it's shaft that is usually the problem with odometers. There may be a metal cover held on the back of the speedo by a couple of screws that you may have to remove first.

If it is slipping you should be able to slide the gear off, it may be split or not. If it is split, you will need to either replace the gear or try working some sort of washer around the gear's shoulder which would need to have a very tight press on fit. If it is not split you could skip the washer part.

Washer repair: Hard part is finding a suitable washer, I start by taking the gear to a really good hardware store and look for a washer who's outside diameter is slightly smaller than the gear, and the inside diameter is smaller then the shoulder of the gear. You may then have to file the side of the washer to give a flat spots on opposite sides so it can be held in a vise and the center can then be carefully worked using a file/drill till it is a very tight fit on the shoulder of the gear. Then work the outside of the washer, if needed so that it will not run into the worm gear.

I've even had success using a split type lock washer that was already the perfect size.

Then before final assembly, use rubbing alcohol to clean the shaft and gear of any oil. Use a tiny bit of heavy duty red loctite type stuff on the washer and install it on the gear. Next use a tiny bit of loctite on the shaft and gear and install it making sure you don't get any loctite on the shaft where it enters the odometer housing.

Let this cure for as long as the loctite requires for maximum hold. Apply a tiny bit of machine oil on the worm gear.

Once this is back in the car, NEVER hit the reset button again while the wheels are moving. If you wanted to, you could even disconnect the trip odometer from the main odometer and thereby remove as much drag as possible on the little gear.

[bdimag]

so is that what does it? reseting while moving?

[Three Fat Tigers]

Pressing the reset while the speedo is driven can cause the gear to start slipping on the shaft, but mostly this issue appears when the nylon gear splits from age.