Bryce
Member
- Joined
- March 6, 2000
- Messages
- 49
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Maryland
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '91 XLT
Hey,
I took apart my instrument panel to install whitefaced guages. I didn't realize the complexity of the speedometer needle before I took it apart. The other needles are very simple... as long as you put them back pointing the same direction as they were when you took them off, you're fine.
On the speedometer, if you pull the needle off, the spindle will turn to a different position. You can't just put it back on pointing at zero. The spindle applies variable force to the needle, lifting it up. When it points straight up (45mph on the older trucks) there is only a tiny amount of pressure holding it there. Also, in the black casing on the middle part of the needle, there is a weight. All this makes it very hard to pin the needle on in the correct position so it will operate correctly.
By guessing and checking, I can get it to work semi-normally by attaching the needle while it is pointing to the lower left (below the 0mph). If I point it close to the "R" in the trans. indicator, and then move it up and let it rest on the needle stop, it works ok. I need to know if anyone knows an accurate way to do this. If you are slightly off, it doesn't just read slightly off the whole way through-- as you increase speed the error increases because of the force required to hold the needle straight up (physics stuff).
Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Please.
I took apart my instrument panel to install whitefaced guages. I didn't realize the complexity of the speedometer needle before I took it apart. The other needles are very simple... as long as you put them back pointing the same direction as they were when you took them off, you're fine.
On the speedometer, if you pull the needle off, the spindle will turn to a different position. You can't just put it back on pointing at zero. The spindle applies variable force to the needle, lifting it up. When it points straight up (45mph on the older trucks) there is only a tiny amount of pressure holding it there. Also, in the black casing on the middle part of the needle, there is a weight. All this makes it very hard to pin the needle on in the correct position so it will operate correctly.
By guessing and checking, I can get it to work semi-normally by attaching the needle while it is pointing to the lower left (below the 0mph). If I point it close to the "R" in the trans. indicator, and then move it up and let it rest on the needle stop, it works ok. I need to know if anyone knows an accurate way to do this. If you are slightly off, it doesn't just read slightly off the whole way through-- as you increase speed the error increases because of the force required to hold the needle straight up (physics stuff).
Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Please.
