Early Speedo help

willis

xsive compulsive disorder
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I am preparing to do an overhaul on my 72 gauges with the help Bob (Mailman) and Steve’s (2many) incredible tutorials. But the biggest hurdle I can’t get past is the first step... lol. I cannot get the screw out of the tripmeter knob. I have several sets and they are all the same. That little screw head is worn out and I can’t unscrew it. Is this where I just have to bite the bullet and drill the head off and just grab that little booger with vice grips to get it out?
 
I was just reviewing my old posts. If that screw head is stripped out, you may not have many options , but to drill the head off . There’s just no room to reach inside that knob.
 
Yeah, that's one tiny screw.
Normal right-hand threads.
Flat base under the head, and threads deeply into the aluminum shaft extension.

XS2-Speedo-05.jpg


Good luck drilling the head off...
 
Well my immediate success in drilling the head off this morning was followed with immediate failure.
A916A632-B374-44BC-92E2-12926280056D.jpeg D2151102-FDD3-41C4-B878-29396FFE946A.jpeg
The screw appears to be brass and drilled quite easily. But once I gripped the remaining shaft with vice grips it immediately twisted off flush with the shoulder. This reset knob will get shelved in my parts stash once I get the reset assembly removed. Fortunately I have been collecting early gauges for a bit now and have a couple others to scavenge parts from. Another gauge proved fruitful when its screw cooperated with a bit more effort.
 
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ok, strike two... I just tried the soldering iron trick to release the thread sealer but got nothing. The knob will rotate around backwards but is not dis-engaging from the threads. Is it critical to remove the E-clip inside the gauge before attempting to unscrew the knob? I really want to take the chrome bezel off before trying to uncrimp the face bezel.
 
upon further review of MM's thread, I really need to get in there farther on the shaft with the heat to melt the thread lock. Looks like i'll be un-crimping the face bezel first to get that booger off.
 
upon further review of MM's thread, I really need to get in there farther on the shaft with the heat to melt the thread lock. Looks like i'll be un-crimping the face bezel first to get that booger off.

Yeah, they are a pain to get apart. It’ll test your patience!
 
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