R129 Odometer packed up

[R129Melvin]

Lovely drive home in my new 1991 500SL yesterday. I noticed the mileometer did not move. Zero'd the trip and that too remains on zero.

I assume this is the usual VDO gear issue that also affects Porsches of a similar age, or is it likely to be something more simple like a fuse?

It's an early type (analogue) and all dials and gauges work perfectly.

I'm too honest to want to drive around without clocking up miles so want it sorted asap!

Can anyone recommend who best to sort this? I note clusterrepairs.co.uk have a great reputation but not sure if they only do newer cars.

 

[optimusprime]

Pull it out , and you can repair it yourself . Easy to check ,just need a camera to take pics of how the numbers sit .Tape them up so they dont move .Some times its the large pot gear that slips on the shaft ,i pushed a drill in the same diam to get a little super glue on it and pushed it back in to set. You can get information by Google search .The main thing is as you remove the speed pointer,you lift it over the stop and mark it in the place it rests or you speed will be out after you put it back. I will look for a link for the job.

 

[R129Melvin]

Pull it out , and you can repair it yourself . Easy to check ,just need a camera to take pics of how the numbers sit .Tape them up so they dont move .Some times its the large pot gear that slips on the shaft ,i pushed a drill in the same diam to get a little super glue on it and pushed it back in to set. You can get information by Google search .The main thing is as you remove the speed pointer,you lift it over the stop and mark it in the place it rests or you speed will be out after you put it back. I will look for a link for the job.

Thank you but I have zero technical ability and would not know the first thing about how to do this.

 

[optimusprime]

Melvin try this -
1 Odometer gears [ put this in google ]
2 How to repair your broken odometer [put this in google ]
3 Instrument cluster removal [this is in a video on youtube.]

A few pictures of the repair to mine . The pot gear is on the right next to number 8 grey in colour.It was sliping on the shaft as you hold the drive cog small white one on the end.

 

[optimusprime]

Spring in this one must go back in the same place .

 

[optimusprime]

Not sure that this is like yours but not that much of a difference.It will give you some idea what you have to do.
Next picture you will see a small gear in the centre of both drums of numbers this can jump out of mesh.

 

[optimusprime]

Any other help just pm me . I was luck in the fact that a member on the forum sent me an old speedo to operate on so i knew what to do with it after i had it in my hands. You can if you want to pull the speedo out and send it for a repair ,thats if you dont want to do it yourself.

 

[optimusprime]

Thank you but I have zero technical ability and would not know the first thing about how to do this.

Melvin i think its only about £120 to get it fixed once you have it out of the dash.Get some one to remove it for you .And fix it back in after its return .This problem is through adjusting the odometer on the move . Other thing is get a good used one .Try adjusting it on the move it might come back .

 

[R129Melvin]

That's really very kind of you, I appreciate all the advice and effort

 

[R129Melvin]

I have found this link which looks like it could be the ticket. I can get my specialist to remove the speedo and send it off. As my car is quite low mileage I would like to keep the original speedo rather than get a secondhand one.
Speedometer repairs

 

[R129Melvin]

I also found this through google

http://www.odometergears.com/documentation/Mercedes-Benz_129_and_140_Odometer_Repair.pdf

 

[optimusprime]

I have found this link which looks like it could be the ticket. I can get my specialist to remove the speedo and send it off. As my car is quite low mileage I would like to keep the original speedo rather than get a secondhand one.
Speedometer repairs

Melvin you make sure that you tell the people that are rebuilding the speedo head to keep original miles on the clock,or it may come back with 000000 on it .Nice to help you good luck.

 

[R129Melvin]

Aaaaagh! The garage removing the cluster has damaged the edge of it, chipping the plastic. Anyone know where to get one cheap?

 

[optimusprime]

What have they damaged ,did they use a mercedes tools to remove it .Like to long hooks with handle on each one. I used air dryer to get the dash warm .Then pushed 4 pieces of plastic in to break the seal 2 on top 2 on bottom as its been in the dash for a long time..You need to pick another up from breakers yard or the forum ,put it on the wanted posts.

 

[R129Melvin]

The edge of the plastic surround. He did use the proper MB tools and was very careful (I was watching) but it was completely original and untouched (stickers all intact) and I think just very brittle with age. Picked one up off Ebay for £68. Not cheap and they have offered to cover the cost. The mechanic was absolutely mortified. Oh well, the fun of old cars.

 

[optimusprime]

R1 what did you pick up? was it a speedo , or the part that was chipped by the garage person.

 

[R129Melvin]

Mercedes Instrument Cluster Analogue Housing Only | R129 SL | eBay

 

[optimusprime]

Melvin good for you mate .So you will soon have it back .As you have time to play put a little oil in the seedo cable ,now its standing . Did you take pictures ,the bulbs holes on mine are all marked and parts only go back in one way so wont get it wrong.

 

[R129Melvin]

Thanks but I gave the cluster to clusterrepairs, they seem like a very good outfit and it will cost £120 with a two year guarantee, sounds reasonable to me.

 

[R129Melvin]

Thank you to Carl from R129 parts for his help with the replacement part