Oops, Broke Speedo Tripmeter, Have Mechanical Spare need Electronic, Trade for a '73?

[Build]

I just broke the tripmeter when resetting it in my 380sl. I have a spare speedometer from a 1973 450sl, but found out mine is electronic.

Does anyone have a good electronic speedo to trade for the '73 mechanical? Thanks

[rowdie]

While the speedo is elec. the odometer and trip meter are gear driven.
$65.00 for gears and pretty simple. Tutorial with pics.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/1495136-odometer-repair-tutorial.html

[Build]

Thanks Rowdie,

I could do that, but would rather just swap out the speedo if I can find one. Thought someone here might need a '73 and have a later model that they don't need.

[450slcguy]

Could very well be the the shaft is slipping in the pot metal drive gear. A simple crimp on the gear sleeve might fix it right up. Very common occurance.

[rowdie]

If you find one it will probably need new gears if they have not been replaced already. The grease they used eventually softens the gears and they break.

[abiby]

^^^ I agree. Any that haven't been replaced are on borrowed time.

Hardest part is initial removal of the cluster. After that it's a piece of cake.

[Strife]

Maybe you think you broke it because it usually stops working after you reset it. But the urethane gears were ready to go and the strain of the reset just finishes it off.

The only complaint I have about the replacement gears is that they are a LITTLE noisier. I may try to grease them a bit next time I'm back there with some white grease.

[meltedpanda]

I may have one out of an 83 , I gotta look , may have already sold it

[Build]

Hey Ron,

That would be great if you have one. I'll buy it if you still have it. Thanks!

[sokoloff]

You're going to buy a used speedometer with gears that might fail any day just like yours did. It's a very common thing. Then you'll have to go through and pull the cluster again and do it all over again. As suggested above, just replace the gears in yours. It's an easy job with the cluster already in your hand.

Strife - on the noisy new gears, odometergears.com will supply you with new gears made out of a little quieter compound if you let them know, assuming you bought them from them in the first place.

[Build]

Oh yeah I agree on the old gears. My speedo was a 240km and the original owner replaced it with a US 85mph when he brought the car to the US. I figured if I was going to do this I'd do it with a 160mph US if I can find one. Thanks for the info and links.