Odometer stopped working - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mbzman · #1 09-13-2010, 12:55 AM

The odometer and trip odometer have stopped working on my '89 300CE. I'm assuming that the odometer gear is broken. What size gear do I need as a replacement? I found the following site that sells gears but there are quite a few options.

http://www.odometergears.com/mercedes.html

I would also like to replace the instrument panel bulbs. How many bulbs are there and what style/wattage of bulbs will I need?

babymog · #2 09-13-2010, 08:40 AM

The gear simply slipped sideways on the shaft (usually), needs to be pushed back into place (typical VDO failure). It will also need to be secured, a dab of epoxy on a toothpick will do it, slide it in place, and be sure that you don't glue the odometer shaft to the bearing surfaces.

TheDon · #3 09-13-2010, 09:17 AM

I think Diesel Giant has a great writeup on W123 odometer repair. Should be about the same. Removal is about the same for the w124.

mbzman · #4 09-14-2010, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

The gear simply slipped sideways on the shaft (usually), needs to be pushed back into place (typical VDO failure). It will also need to be secured, a dab of epoxy on a toothpick will do it, slide it in place, and be sure that you don't glue the odometer shaft to the bearing surfaces.

Well you were right, the gear had slipped off the shaft and I'm hoping it will hold. The gear looked okay so hopefully it doesn't need any more attention any time soon.

sptt · #5 09-14-2010, 02:43 AM

Was this tough to do? My daughter's isn't working on her '87 300E. How long did it take to attack and repair?

Thanks,

Steve

mbzman · #6 09-14-2010, 03:27 AM

It can be accomplished within a few hours if the gear isn't broken. It is quite intricate work and my cluster took a bit of force to remove as it has likely never been out. You can make your own tools for removing the cluster as opposed to the ones that Mercedes-Benz sells. The thread link below has all the steps and is quite useful. I also changed out the two instrument bulbs. You will need a 3W 194 style bulb. Don't bother going any higher or you risk damaging (ie. melting) the cluster.

Lets' Pull the Instrument Cluster!

sptt · #7 09-14-2010, 11:31 AM

Great! Thanks for the feedback. I'll try it.

Steve

mbzman · #8 10-06-2010, 11:22 PM

Well the repair didn't last long... The odometer gear stopped working yesterday and tonight I pulled the cluster and found the gear had slipped off. Any ideas as to how to prevent the gear from slipping off? The epoxy didn't help at holding the gear in place.

TheDon · #9 10-06-2010, 11:45 PM

use some better epoxy

TheDon · #10 11-30-2010, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbzman

Well the repair didn't last long... The odometer gear stopped working yesterday and tonight I pulled the cluster and found the gear had slipped off. Any ideas as to how to prevent the gear from slipping off? The epoxy didn't help at holding the gear in place.

any updates?

what did you use the first time for an adhesive? I do believe the gear needs to be removed and the shaft roughed up then some loctite used to secure the gear to the shaft.

lee polowczuk · #11 12-01-2010, 07:40 AM

I have a working odometer from a 1989 ce... i think it has 180k on it or so....

mbzman · #12 12-01-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

any updates?

what did you use the first time for an adhesive? I do believe the gear needs to be removed and the shaft roughed up then some loctite used to secure the gear to the shaft.

After various attempts to hold the gear in with epoxy (JB Weld), I ended up rigging a small mount to hold the gear in place better. It hasn't acted up since then.

babymog · #13 12-01-2010, 10:17 PM

I've used West System epoxy, have never had a failure after. May be luck, might be the epoxy (really runny, enough to brush on a mahogany boat before varnishing).