The trip odometer in my '72 350SL 4.5 (USA model) has me puzzled. The tenths wheel seems to have moved to the right about 1/16th of an inch revealing a white line, like there is another white plastic wheel beneath the numbers. It seems to work fine, but looking at it leaves me thinking the tenths wheel of the odometer is about to slide off the end of its axle.

I think this happened in about the last ten miles or so, either as I was driving to work this morning, or maybe home from the movies last night.

Any ideas?

230/8

On my rattling and smokin old diesel, numbers sleeve cylinder has slided to the point where white gear teeth show between 1/10th and first series of full mile digits.

Occasionally it sticks at 9.9 and shuts down the entire odometer system, but works again after resetting trip mileage counter back to 000.0

Eventually it will cease operation entirely, but I'm not scared or worried because this wont be the first MB odometer I've fixed - same thing happened with my '77 280SEL couple of Summers ago.

Here's the drill for imminent odometer repair that your first series vintage classic 107 will eventually need: Gotta pull the instrument cluster and take apart the speedometer to access the odometer geared cylinders - then just slide the number cylinders tighter together, but keep em free-wheeling. You will notice a zinc/alloy tumbler that drives the whole lot, this has probably slided on it's axle and needs to be secured using a very small amount of locktite, 1 drop applied with toothpic.

It's an easy repair with degree of difficulty at/near DIY:3-5 on basis of 1 through 10. About the worst thing that can go wrong is the entire thing gets taken apart (not necessary) and then you become lost matching up the geared cylinders to fit exact. Or you blob the locktite and freeze the cylinders. Among those who enjoy mechanical puzzles MB odometer repair is actually an enjoyable fix to make.

__________________
'80 300SD/ w116
'79 240D 4-spd
'71 750cc Guzzi

previously owned:

'83 240D 4-spd
'77 280SEL 4-spd
'74 280/8
'72 250/8
'65 220Sb 4-spd
'63 220Sb 4-spd
'63 190c 4-spd
'61 220Sb 4-spd
'60 190b 4-spd