63VetteConv

Somehow, my tach is missing its needle:

Can you recommend a shop who can repair it and how do I get the tach out of the dash?
THANKS!!

5thvet

Fixing it is should be just a matter of putting a new needle on as long as that is the only problem with it. You will have to remove the cluster to remove the tach and add the needle. Her is an article written by John Z regarding cluster removal. Not a hard job but a little time consuming the first time you do it.

http://www.lbfun.com/warehouse/tech_...ster%20pt1.pdf

66jack

TIME CONSUMING...

wkidvette

A friend recently purchased a 1963 Corvette with the same issue that the tach needle is missing. Could this be a indication that the car was in an accident? I assume the only way it's missing is that the cluster was previously removed for some reason?

Bluestripe67

I wouldn't associate a missing tach needle with an accident. Maybe it broke off and the person didn't have the $$ for a rest or could have so long ago the needle was not available on the market. Is any part of it remaining? Dennis

Pilot Dan

When the needle broke off someone went to all the trouble to remove the cluster to get the tach out just to remove the broken piece and not fix it - seen that before and it makes no sense to me .

Replacing the needle is only one aspect of the repair, you need to determine what caused it to break in the first place. If it spins freely and smooth with a new needle, check the cable and casing to see if it is bound up. I'd also want to pull the distributor if that were my car and check the cross gear and housing for problems as well. Pilot Dan

0Willcox Corvette

The 1963-1964 tach needle was subject to breakage when the first worm and magnet bushing failed.

What happens is the first worm bushing wears out, then the magnet ***** sideways until it catches the speed cup. Once the magnet hits the speed cup it becomes direct drive and slams the needle all the way around until the speed cup hits the stop inside the cup retainer... Slam it hard enough and it breaks the needle.

In most cases when you remove the cluster from the car you will find that the broken off end of the needle has fallen inside the cluster.

Pilot Dan

Good explanation Ernie, once the tach is out, he will know for sure. One thing though, that tach needle on a 64 is pretty long and bent at an angle to boot, the housing is sealed, I don't see how that big piece could have disappeared without help.

0Willcox Corvette

Believe me Dan, it can...

There is enough space between the face and the lens retainer bezel that it can fall down inside.

What you don't want to see in this instance is a entire needle missing from the gauge. This is usually an indication the speed cup is broken and that speed cup is common to 63 and 63 only. (Kind of hard to find these days).

Ernie

Bubba63

From the photo, it appears to be a 64 cluster--not 63

wkidvette

The needle is totally missing, once the car is out of winter storage, I will post a photo, since the car I'm referring to is not the one listed in post 1 of this thread.

0Willcox Corvette

Not good if the center is missing... Usually when the center is missing the speed cup is damaged. Lets hope not.

MidShark

Maybe we could swap speedos- then you could have a matched set.

ohiovet

I just sent out a 57 Corvette tach for a needle and repair.
The needles tend to break from years of vibration.
Th broken part is in the bottom of the case most likely.
Not cheap to repair.
Bruce B

wkidvette

During this years Corvettes of Carlisle would there be someone available there to install a new tach needle?

Viet Nam Vett

Yes My Friend...Just like your most excellent Tail and Parking Lights I have Pulled the trigger today on a New Dakota Digital Direct fit dash... Since my Vette has turned 50 years old and I have gone thru several dash removals I have come to the conclusion that I have had enough!

Working under the dash and Yanking out the steering column's and sending off Tach's and speedo's as well as now having to replace a burned out Ammeter and a Funky Temp gauge.....I have had it.

It's very nice to have the original gauges in a original car. Since mine is not original....I don't care any more. All I know is it's time for me to drive it more then pulling stuff off for repair.

So I have joined the world of "This is the last time I do this"

All digital and cat five cable connections... No more twisting Tach and Speedo cables...Good riddance.

Hate me if you will but NEVER AGAIN!

ohiovet

Mark,
Very Cool Dash.
I think you have made a wise decision.
Does it use a GPS type speedo?
Bruce B

corvetteed

On my 64, I was sitting stationary in the car, running it on a very cold day, below freezing, and the tach needle simply broke off, and fell to the bottom, out of sight. There is a stub about a half inch long that still works fine. Rather than fool w/it, I've just left it there. That was a few years ago.

Viet Nam Vett

No the Kit comes with all sensors. The one for the speedo is very simple. It screws onto where your speedo cable attaches at the tranny. It's about 2-3 " long.

A 5 Volt ref signal is sent to the unit thru Cat wire which the unit then used to generate pulses by the tranny drive gear that are feed back up the cat cable to the speedo.


The brain shown is similar to the one that I ordered except all connections are plug in "Cat 5" Cable not a ribbon cable.

The speedo then interprets those pulses just like your modern car and drives a Precision Stepper Motor for speed indication. It is adjustable so you get the exact speed to match your drive line.

My unit comes with "Cat 5" Cable plug in's not ribbon cables.

Pilot Dan

Guess there must be a small opening right at the bottom, I had my cluster out and restored it and could swear the gages fit flush B/T/W with the steering column removed, and the cluster loosened, you could remove the speedo tach assembly and replace the needle pretty easily if you wanted a small 1 day winter project