Gauge Cluster Repair/Assembly

This is the speedometer.  The only difference between the speedometer and the tachometer is that the speedometer has the odometer and trip meter.  The odometer and trip meter are housed in the gray assembly shown in the lower right of this picture.  They are powered by the worm gear, center left.

 Everything was disassembled and cleaned.  Hoppies lubricant was used during reassembly.

The pointer is pushed onto a pin while turning counter clockwise.  When it hits 0 you stop turning.  It is  press fit only.  No threads, no glue.  I chose not to zero out the odometer.

The small gauges are mounted to stamped brackets, two gauges on each.  This one holds the temperature gauge on the top and the oil pressure gauge on the bottom.  Unfortunately, this bracket had been modified and the temperature gauge won't fit.  I need to fix the large hole on the top.

I traced out the outline of the hole onto sheet metal then trimmed it to fit.

Here it is clamped into position.

I positioned a copper bar on the back side then welded the plug using a series of tack welds.  The copper bar dissipates heat so fast that it doesn't melt.  It holds the molten puddle until it solidifies.

The tack welds were ground smooth.

 Then I cut the correct hole using a Dremmel.

Here is the bracket with both gauges installed.

This is the mechanism for the oil pressure gauge.  It's mechanical only, not electric.

The gauges have been cleaned, lubricated and mounted to their bracket.

The brackets and gauges are mounted to the backside of the dash cluster.

Here's the dash cluster before we started the rebuild.  I media blasted and painted the housing, buffed and polished all the original plastic lenses, repaired the tachometer, replaced all the small gauges with 1963 gauges, welded a mounting bracket for the temperature gauge, cleaned and lubricated all the mechanical components, purchased new switches then I reassembled everything.  So, how did it turn out?

I think it turned out pretty darn good. Click on the photo for a closeup.

Earlier today I posted information about the tachometer.  If you didn't see it be sure to check it out.

Thanks for watching. 

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.