Speedometer Disassembly

[Zulu]

I have two speedometers that I want to conglomerate into one ideal one. The first is a 75 speedo: deep dish, 140 mph. The second is a late 77: medium dish, 140 mph. The problem is that I want the medium dish speedometer but I want the speedometer plate from the 75, as it doesn't have ideograms for the lights, signals, and high beams, and has a Fiat logo on it. I would like to swap the plates.

I have the bezel, glass, and black plastic inner bezel off of the speedos. I have removed the two screws holding the plate in and the two back screws, but I need to remove the needle in order to get the plate out. I don't know how and I don't want to mess it up. Does anyone have experience with this that can tell me how it's done? Thank you in advance.

Zulu

[azygoustoyou]

If it's like the clock which I have just done, all you need to do is grab it with your finger nails and pull upward. It's in there firm. Let us know how you make out.

[Zulu]

Fortunately I have four speedometers and only need to end up with two... Perhaps I will try your method first.

Side question: how did you remove the bezel from the clock? I found it was rather easy on the tach and speedo but not the smaller instruments.

[azygoustoyou]

Go to this link and look at the bottom left at Brady's tips and look at the clock one. It will show you there.
http://njfiats.org/joomla15/

[Zulu]

I see that it says he made a tool. I tried that smallest screwdriver I have (teeny tiny) and the bezel just wouldn't pry up.

Anyway, pulling up on the speedometer needle worked excellently. I got them apart and was able to swap the faces. With clean glass and a freshly painted needle the instrument really looks great. I can't wait to get it in my car.

[azygoustoyou]

It comes up easy with that tool I made. The gauge looks good. I figured it probably was the same as the clock.

[Zulu]

And were you able to reuse the same bezel? My dad was able to force the bezel off of his clock but ruined it in the process.

And thank you!

[azygoustoyou]

You will most likely have to change the bezel. I took that opportunity to change them over to the stainless chrome ones.

[aj81spider]

I got the bezel off my clock by using a small screwdriver and slowly working around the bezel widening it little by little. After 3-4 times around it was opened up enough to slide off with a little wiggling.

I also reused the bezel after changing the clock "glass." One tip - paint it after you put it back on. I re-sanded that bezel three times because I marred the paint re-installing it. Finally I installed it, then masked everything and sprayed it on the clock. That worked reasonably well. It looks good on my dash.

[Zulu]

I guess restoring the small instruments will have to wait until I can purchase the chrome bezels. Today I finished my little project by converting a Spider 2000 shallow-dish tachometer to the earlier style faceplate. The needle came off exactly like the speedo (just pull up) and the same two screws got the face off. The tach was tricky, however, because the 2000 gauge has two lights at the bottom and I needed one centered. Fortunately, Veglia predrilled a hole in the bottom center for a light housing so all I had to do was move one of mine to that hole. Voila.



(I also got my odometer reset as this won't be in a car until after my restoration)

[SLOSpider]

I am going through the same thing but dont know if I like the deep or shallow. I was in the same thinking that I didnt like the idiograms either. I think Ill stick with the deep ones for now.

[Gerry]

Hi guys
My issue is my needle reads around 7mph when standing still. Is there a way to zero the needle?
Thanks.
G