VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 31 speedometer problem

I disassembled the speedometer to clean the numbers and to lubricate the gears. Everything went well except for one small part that is about 5/8" long by 1/4" wide with a hole at one end and is very thin. It was on the right side of the speedometer when looking into the speedometer. This part I don't know where it goes and I am hoping that someone here does know. Any help would be appreciated.

Can you be more specifc as to the description of the part or can you post a photo of the part in question?

Are you talking about the brass clip that holds the speedometer wheel shafts in place?

The brass clip is all that comes to my mind.

No it's not the brass clip that holds the speedometer wheel shaft. Here is a picture of the mysterious part that appeared in the bottom of the speedometer that I had not seen before I started the disassembly.

Oh that thing! Looking at the speedometer from the front, that brass goodie is a spacer shim that goes on the odometer wheel shaft between the odometer wheel on the left and the speedometer housing. The shim must be installed or the odometer wheels will have play from side to side. Usually, there are one or more shims used.

The shim is installed with a skinny pair of tweezers (that's why the shim is long and tapered) and you can install the shim (or shims) by removing the brass clip that holds the odometer wheel shaft in place, then carefully pushing the shaft to the right so that it is flush with the first odometer wheel. Then you can carefully insert the shim with the tweezers and then push the odometer wheel shaft back to the left, through the hole in the housing, and then install the brass clip.

Also, keep in mind that the speedometer should be recalibrated after it is disassembled and reassembled so that it's speed accuracy can be maintained. To do that you will need a special speedometer machine with an electronic magnet.

Thank you very much for the information. I was able to get the shims back in, not too difficult. Now, from one of your previous posts. What kind of special lube and where do you get it? I see a small brass cup (about 1/4") at the very back of the speedometer head below the speed dial. Question is how do you remove it? It's in a hole and appears to have been pressed in with nothing to grasp to remove it.

The small brass cup is made to be removed. It is pressed into place but it can be removed using the tip of a small standard screwdriver that is of the correct width. Insert the tip of the screwdriver in the cup and move the screwdriver tip back and forth and the brass cap will come out.

Where do you get the special speedometer grease? I don't know. I have a new old stock jar of the special jelly-like speedometer grease that I found at a swap meet years ago. You might try a local speedometer shop to see if they have the grease.

When you are done don't forget to calibrate your speedometer for the correct miles per hour.