1984 SD Odometer Not Working - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bluebird · #1 02-10-2011, 06:21 PM

My speedo works but the odo is not. I called Odometer Gears and ordered all 3 gears for the 1984 300SD on Tuesday 2/8/11 and they arrived today Thursday 2/10/11. Talk about FAST service, I called to order because I had some questions about their instructions and the removal was exactly as he said it would be easy now for the installation. I will follow up on the finished product after I get it reinstalled later today.

vstech · #2 02-10-2011, 06:24 PM

get some light synthetic grease and coat the gears or they will click while you drive.
it's not annoying unless you like to drive with the radio off to hear the vehicle!

bluebird · #3 02-11-2011, 11:44 AM

Actually Jeff at Odometer Gears said not to put any lubricant on the new gears as they are cast with graphite already in them.

vstech · #4 02-11-2011, 11:54 AM

well, you've been warned. I've got them... they click.

bluebird · #5 02-12-2011, 06:19 PM

Thank you for the warning and I have noticed the clicking sound. I will call and find out what type of oil I should use with his gears. What did you use to quiet yours down? It is hard to hear the clicking noise over the noise from my studded snow tires but that will change come spring when the snow tires have to come off the car. Again thank you for the suggestion on the grease. Thank goodness these dashes come out easily.

vstech · #6 02-12-2011, 06:34 PM

any transmission shop should be able to give you some clear plastic compatible grease. I just live with the clicks, my radio works ok. it'll likely last longer without the grease, but I have read on here, the gears should be lubed. laser printer service places should have some grease for the plastic gears in them too... I do not know what type of grease should be put on the gears though.

bluebird · #7 02-12-2011, 06:48 PM

I will check with a laser printer repair shop and see what they use. I will keep you appraised of what I find out about the gears, noise, and lubrication. My ear nose and throat Dr. wants me to get hearing aids but if I can hear the clicking noise from the odo over the noise from my snow tires who needs hearing aids!

bluebird · #8 02-14-2011, 08:14 PM

Ok per Jeff and Darren we should use wheel bearing grease in the teeth of the 2 larger gears and that should quiet the tick, tick, tick that we are currently hearing. Only use enough grease to put some in the teeth of the gears do not go overboard. If I go really fast I'll bet that I won't be able to hear the ticking over the sirens coming from the car with the red and blue lights. Just kidding, I havn't had a ticket in 10 years.

rhodes2010 · #9 02-15-2011, 02:26 AM

sorry to hi-jack this thread. But I am curious what you learn about clicking.

When I had my speedo out I hooked up a motor to watch it run and determined the clicking sound (in my particular case, in the 83 300SD)
was from the shaft wandering left to right, clicking as it moved back and forth.

Placing material in there (I expermineted with different material and thicknesses) either seized the odo mechanism or could not stop the clicking sound.

The clicking speedo is the loudest sound in my diesel car.

bluebird · #10 06-28-2011, 08:36 PM

Ok so I had to take the instrument cluster out for another reason, i.e. to resolder the pins on the round connector. While I was at that point I decided to lube the speedo gears that I replaced but didn't lube so I could stop the clicking. I used Lubriplate fishing reel grease in a small tube. I turned the gear using a small screwdriver and put grease on the gear, wiping excess with the screwdriver and relocating the excess to a different part of the gear until it had white all around but not too much.

In hind site I should have removed the clear plastic cover and done the next inner most set of gears as well as I can still hear them sometimes. But then some of my friends call me Radar. The Speedo fix on an SD is relatively easy.

The shaft you are speaking about has a motor attached to it, be careful with it, try lubing the gears on the end of the motor shaft.

I love this car and I love this site, Thank you.

oldsinner111 · #11 06-28-2011, 08:53 PM

I having cut small gears for a living.We never got grease on our assembled clusters.Nylon or plastic.