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Speedometer needle replacement 1971

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Old May 3, 2022 | 09:14 AM
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Default Speedometer needle replacement 1971

While driving my C3 last year on it's final ride prior to storage the speedometer went wild bouncing all over the place so hard it snapped the needle right off. Is it easy to replace the needle? I was going to replace the cable and speedometer until I found just the needle at Corvette central for $28 compared to $300 for the gauge. I'm still going to replace the cable.
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Old May 3, 2022 | 09:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Stallzer
...Is it easy to replace the needle?...
Define "easy". The dash will have to come out in order to get to the speedo.
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Old May 3, 2022 | 09:37 AM
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like the previous post said, taking the dash out is the hard part to get to the speedo
When I purchased my 74 back in 1986 the tach needle was laying in the bottom of the gauge and I glued it back on and it has been on ever since. That way I didn't have to worry about "clocking" a replacment needle
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Old May 3, 2022 | 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
Define "easy". The dash will have to come out in order to get to the speedo.
Doesn't the dash have to come out regardless of whether I replace the speedo or just the needle?
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Old May 3, 2022 | 01:43 PM
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The actual spindle the needle is on floats with no mechanical connection to the cable (magnets) Something must have caught inside the mechanism hard enough to break the needle off then chances are it needs a new speedometer rather than just putting a new needle on. Or at the very least it needs to be gone through to see what caused the needle to come off
M
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Old May 3, 2022 | 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Mooser
The actual spindle the needle is on floats with no mechanical connection to the cable (magnets) Something must have caught inside the mechanism hard enough to break the needle off then chances are it needs a new speedometer rather than just putting a new needle on. Or at the very least it needs to be gone through to see what caused the needle to come off
M
Thanks. I'll just replace the speedometer & cable.
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Old May 3, 2022 | 02:05 PM
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Remove the drivers seat and drop the column makes it not quite as hard to pull the gauges out
M
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Old May 3, 2022 | 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Stallzer
While driving my C3 last year on it's final ride prior to storage the speedometer went wild bouncing all over the place so hard it snapped the needle right off. Is it easy to replace the needle? I was going to replace the cable and speedometer until I found just the needle at Corvette central for $28 compared to $300 for the gauge. I'm still going to replace the cable.
Did you already order the needle? If not, I have an extra. How about you pay for shipping ($9 USPS priority, PayPal friends and family) and I'll send it along to you. PM me with your address.

Originally Posted by Mooser
The actual spindle the needle is on floats with no mechanical connection to the cable (magnets) Something must have caught inside the mechanism hard enough to break the needle off then chances are it needs a new speedometer rather than just putting a new needle on. Or at the very least it needs to be gone through to see what caused the needle to come off
M
The long arm of my tach needle broke off last summer. Had the engine running during tune up, checked rpms off the tach a few times. Poked my head in the window after a few adjustments and there was no needle! Damnedest thing! The long arm was at the bottom of the gauge lying there as peaceful as could be. I figure it was just metal fatigue after 49 years*.

*Today is the '72's 50th Birthday!
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Old May 4, 2022 | 10:23 AM
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Originally Posted by 67:72
Did you already order the needle? If not, I have an extra. How about you pay for shipping ($9 USPS priority, PayPal friends and family) and I'll send it along to you. PM me with your address.



The long arm of my tach needle broke off last summer. Had the engine running during tune up, checked rpms off the tach a few times. Poked my head in the window after a few adjustments and there was no needle! Damnedest thing! The long arm was at the bottom of the gauge lying there as peaceful as could be. I figure it was just metal fatigue after 49 years*.

*Today is the '72's 50th Birthday!
That is very kind and generous. I'll send a PM.


TY
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Old May 7, 2022 | 03:05 PM
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Most likely you may need a whole new speedometer and cable not just changing a needle. If you do, there’s a good chance they’re back ordered and it’ll take several months to get. I went through this last year.
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Old May 7, 2022 | 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by MRANT212
Most likely you may need a whole new speedometer and cable not just changing a needle. If you do, there’s a good chance they’re back ordered and it’ll take several months to get. I went through this last year.
Corvette Central shows the Speedometer "in stock" for whatever that's worth. I'm going to try the needle first, if that works great. If not I buy the speedo & cable. Until then I just use my radar detector as a speedometer since it has GPS and shows your speed.
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