Don't ask how, because I do not know, but the needle for the tach on my 83 300 D broke off today. Actually it looks like the tiny metal shaft broke off about halfway. Any way to fix this or am I looking at trying to source a new tach? Since this is an early 83 model, it has the 2 pin tach, not the three pin.

Any help GREATLY appreciated.

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2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 91K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 231K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 196K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 249K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 376K (diesel commuter)

You may be able to use a needle from any number of other Mercedes models. Are you having trouble removing the part still on the shaft?

Dkr.

No, what happened is it looks like the shaft itself broke in half. part of the shaft is still in the needle and the other part is inside the gauge.

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2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 91K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 231K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 196K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 249K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 376K (diesel commuter)

? Is there any reason not to take it to the Speedo Shop and have them fix it so it'll still be accurate ? .

Every time I replace a speedo / tachometer needle @ home it loses accuracy .

Failing that some junkyarding looks to be in your near future .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I usually install the needles "live". Take the tach out of the dash pod, wire it up and start the car. Install the needle at your normal idle speed, and done. For a speedometer, I spin it up on an electric drill before I disassemble. If the drill drives it to 68 mph, that's where I'll set the needle when I reinstall.

I may have a tach needle from a 124 if you need it.

His problem isn't the needle, it is the shaft that the needle attaches to.

My advice is to get on ebay. There are plenty of used instruments and they are fairly inexpensive, certainly less than paying a repair shop.

THanks Rocky for explaining it better than it seems I was able to. Yes, the issue is the shaft broke off. Anyway, I have a line on a good 2 pin tach for a replacement, so we shall see how it goes.

Glenn

__________________
2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 91K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 231K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 196K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 249K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 376K (diesel commuter)

I have another 2pin tach waiting if you need it. I have no use for it.