1973 w114 VDO Kienzel clock repair

[body_infinity]

Hi guys, this has got me confused (doesn't take much), but tried to repair the std VDO Kienzle clock in the speedo cluster (see pic) of my 73 w114. I repaired my W108 clock which is very similar but has the plastic cover, three screws and the cover came off! This one however has the all metal cover? Anyway removed the three screws but it wont budge very tight, cant see anyway the cover can be removed anyone know how?





Many thanks BI

[meltedpanda]

on that one you have to pry the metal ring off, its not easy but it can be done, there are some threads out there on this , Mark you out there I think you did one like this!

[250 Coupe]

The ground connection to the clock is made by the solder blob in the center of the round hole seen in the picture. You will need to remove the solder before opening the clock.

You may have to carefully make your way around the trim ring where it's crimped to the can with a small screwdriver to get the ring off and then the mechanisim comes out the front.

IIRC, the metal can clock is a quartz movement and not the self-winding type. Look near the bottom of the dial face for "quartz".

Michael

[body_infinity]

thanks for the instructions, managed to get it out eventually, but what I found didn't make me happy.....found a little orange gear that was just hanging near the little motor and then just fell out (see pic), looks like the tips on both ends have broken off. Hmmm I have fixed a few of the older wind up (non electric) clocks W110,w108 most are metal gears but must say these look very poor build .




Anyway anyone else have to replace this orange gear? are they available to purchase?

Thanks again for the directions.

cheers BI

[Mark DiSilvestro]

The metal-case Kienzle clock I repaired was out of a '72 or older W114, and had the electrically self-winding metal movement. Yours looks like one of the early electronic quartz movements, which is probably not repairable, unless you can figure out some way to hold that gear in place. If you can get the gear-train apart, and are very good at clock surgery, perhaps you could drill through the gear center and install a metal axle.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[body_infinity]

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

The metal-case Kienzle clock I repaired was out of a '72 or older W114, and had the electrically self-winding metal movement. Yours looks like one of the early electronic quartz movements, which is probably not repairable, unless you can figure out some way to hold that gear in place. If you can get the gear-train apart, and are very good at clock surgery, perhaps you could drill through the gear center and install a metal axle.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Thanks mark, will see how I go as the clock seems to be working shame to throw it out . The electrically self-winding one is also what I have worked on in the past and was a pleasure but this one seems way too hard.

Thanks again!

[250 Coupe]

Some of the quartz clocks can be repaired by replacing the electrolytic capacitors. They dry out over time and quit working. I fixed the spare clock for my 450SEL by replacing the caps, but couldn't fix the quartz clock for my 250C due to bad gears.

Michael

[mercmad6.3]

Originally Posted by body_infinity

thanks for the instructions, managed to get it out eventually, but what I found didn't make me happy.....found a little orange gear that was just hanging near the little motor and then just fell out (see pic), looks like the tips on both ends have broken off. Hmmm I have fixed a few of the older wind up (non electric) clocks W110,w108 most are metal gears but must say these look very poor build .




Anyway anyone else have to replace this orange gear? are they available to purchase?

Thanks again for the directions.

cheers BI

They are all electric.I've never seen a wind up clock in a Merc later than 1956.The Quality is lot better than you think,after all how many automatic clocks do you see still working 24 hours per day (in a car no less) after 40+ years?.Just put one of your W108 clocks in place .

[250 Coupe]

Originally Posted by mercmad6.3

They are all electric.I've never seen a wind up clock in a Merc later than 1956.The Quality is lot better than you think,after all how many automatic clocks do you see still working 24 hours per day (in a car no less) after 40+ years?.Just put one of your W108 clocks in place .

What we mean when we say wind-up clocks is that prior to the quartz movement, there was a mechanical wind-up clock that wound itself electrically via a solenoid. It runs for three minutes or so that goes "clack" as it rewinds.

Kinda cool sitting there listening to a ticking clock.

Michael

[body_infinity]

Originally Posted by 250 Coupe

What we mean when we say wind-up clocks is that prior to the quartz movement, there was a mechanical wind-up clock that wound itself electrically via a solenoid. It runs for three minutes or so that goes "clack" as it rewinds.

Kinda cool sitting there listening to a ticking clock.

Michael

Yep thats the one, love cleaning those and winding them up, the mechanics are a pleasure to work with ...but I can assure you the gears on the later version are not as good, the orange gear had a pin head bit of plastic holding it in??? ... my view anyway .

thanks guys BI