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Sunday, March 3, 2013

Tachometer Repair

When purchased, our tachometer didn't have a pointer/needle.  I found it later in a box with other gauges and parts.  The pointer was in horrible condition.  I purchased a new pointer but when I tried to install it there wasn't anything to attach it too.  The pin that the pointer attaches to was missing.  I found it in the old pointer.  That's it in the picture. 


This is the piece with the broken shaft.  After searching the Internet I couldn't find anyone that sells replacement parts.  It's too small to weld and glue won't work.  I decided to repair the piece by fabricating a new pin.  


Using my mini-lathe I made a new pin out of brass.


This shows the damaged shaft with broken end piece.  My fabricated brass piece is also shown.  


I decided later that the brass probably wouldn't hold up.  I made a new one out of a grade 5 bolt.  The exacto is pointing to the steel one.


I trimmed back the shaft then cut a brass tube to couple the two pieces.


5 minute epoxy was used to hold everything together.


It's hard to see but we now have a pin to attach the pointer.


It works great.



A couple days ago I posted about the windshield wiper motor.  If you missed it check it out.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Windshield Wiper Motor (Revised)

FYI - This is our 200th posting.
While I wait for dash parts I thought I'd check out the windshield wiper motor.  I bought this motor months ago on eBay.  The motor was sold as a core in unknown condition.  I got it cheap and I intended to have it rebuilt.  A rebuilt 1963 wiper motor without core can go for $500 to $600.


It looks dirty but other than that...


I opened it up out of curiosity and found good looking internal.  The grease was old but everything looked pretty good.  So I grabbed a 12 volt battery and tried to make it run.  Success!  Both speeds! 


Using carburetor cleaner I was able to remove all of the old grease.  Surprisingly, the gears and other mechanism look like new.


The windshield washer pump end cap has a hole in it so it's toasted.   But this part is easy to replace.  I removed the working parts and cleaned them as well.  Everything was re-assembled with waterproof silicone grease.  


I cleaned the outer case and stamped steel parts using crushed walnut shells in my blast box.  I masked the parts then applied a fresh coat of paint.


All I need is a missing rubber boot behind the wiper arm and...


I need the end cap for the washer pump.  Other than that, this thing is done.


With the money saved I think I'll shop for a clock for the dash.  The one I have died a horrible death in Hawaii.  The salt air destroyed it.  Yeah, maybe a clock...


POST SCRIPT

Turns out this wiper motor does not fit a 1963 Corvette. A 63 has 4 mounting positions, not 3 as shown.  So, watch for a future posting as I try to get this sorted out.  Dennis K and I will have a booth at the Portland Swap Meet this year.  You can bet this motor will be on the table.  

POST POST SCRIPT
By popular demand, the clock that died a horrible death.  This is all that's left: