Trivial, in the scheme of things...but I noticed today that the odometer is dead in the old girl. (W111 coupe) Speedo is happy as a day. Is that likely to be a gear inside the speedo itself, or something else?

Thanks all.

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1971 W111 280se rhd coupe (The Duchess)
1959 Bristol 406 (Monty)
1970 Volvo Amazon 131 (Lola)
Lives in Cornwall, UK.

Dead odometer? Standard MB issue.

It sure is.

Small gear on the main shaft that turns all of the numbered wheels has come loose. Not an easy fix but it can be done. We fixed one once by using a bit of epoxy between the gear and the shaft. Not a proper fix but it worked for a while.

Yup. The gear that turns the numbers on the odd has finally started slipping. They are just pressed on. They are pressed on tight, but they are pressed on.

This is not just an issue with Mercedes but with VDO. So Audi and VW get this as well.

I have fixed this on more than one odo by tearing the speedo down to the point I can reach the gear and the shaft it turns on. NOTE: The shaft has two ends, (DUH) and you want the one on the end by itself that engages the miles wheel.

Just puch the shaft out a bit, maybe 3 mm or so, and apply some Loctite Green to the shaft. Only one drop, or perhaps two, is necessary. Then push the shaft back into place. Take care to not let the Loctite get into any place it might glue things up.

Let it sit overnight.

Put the speedo cover back on and you are usually good to go for another few years.

As I remember you have to count the teeth on the gear so you order the correct package. At least on my 1981 300SD that was the deal. Including removing the dash gauges it is maybe a one hour job. Not difficult.

One tip i can tell you is before you remove the snail spring you need to pull the pointer off the spline it runs on . With the odo in your hand lift the pointer over the resting stop anti clockwise. Then on its resting place mark a line in the speedo face with a pencil .Reason is the speed will be out on re fitting if this is not done .You then just put the pointer on the line and push it on firm ,but caerfull . There is a few things that can go on the speedo head pot gears . All through resetting the trip to oooooo on the move. Google this, or look above in HOW TO ARTICLES i may have seen it in there as well