[Mk2] [Generic] Best way to remove needles??

[Ryan S]

1. slide needles over rest pegs (without removing)
2. Ignition on
3. Take accurate pics of where they sit

Go from there.

that's a great idea man, that's exactly what I'll do, Dremmelling is a good idea but I reckon it would mess with the way the light spreads, i think there'd be light coming out the space and that would do my head in,

[2mad]

If the fascias have the same spec as stock, no Dremmelling should be needed mate.

[mr2matt]

Wouldn't just having the ignition on before you remove the needles (have them on the stop pins) ensure the motor shaft can't move as it will be locked to 0mph & 0rpm, not sure how you'd do the others though

[Ryan S]

Wouldn't just having the ignition on before you remove the needles (have them on the stop pins) ensure the motor shaft can't move as it will be locked to 0mph & 0rpm, not sure how you'd do the others though

That could work i suppose, it's not as simple as just having the ignition on though as the wires for the dials are really short

[shinny]

Things to note, for rev2+ clocks:
1) The speedo needle will sit below zero at "rest"
3) The speedo needle is better refitted "on the move" using GPS (I've described this many times before, each time with a massive warning about safety)
3) Those stainless faces will have four-massive massive hotspots where the four bulbs are as they have absolutely no adjustment for the fact that the backlighting is far from even

Having spent a fair bit of time playing around with (and ultimately destroying) a few speedo clusters, I would now avoid removing the needles like the plague. I also would suggest, at least from an illumination POV, only stock or El-Glow faces are worth fitting.

[Ryan S]

Yeah i'm contempleting just leaving them now, purely as i really don't want to remove the needles i might buy another set of clocks to fit them to and see how i get on.

[Hez]

The GPS method worked for me in the end, just hold it at 30 while your mate sticks the needle back on (safety), we put it back on so it overread by a couple of mph like most speedos do.

[Ryan S]

cheers mate, till not got round to this yet

[jon]

I found the easiest way to remove and refit the speedo needle was to:

1. Gently lift the end of the needle over the 'stop' pin.
2. Rest the gauge cluster somewhere level so that gravity was not effecting the needle position.
3. Leave the needle to settle to it's true zero position.
4. Take a photo and then remove the needle.
5. Refit needle, using photo as reference
6. Slid needle back over 'stop' pin.

Also works for the rev counter

[markstevieandmads]

I found the easiest way to remove and refit the speedo needle was to:

1. Gently lift the end of the needle over the 'stop' pin.
2. Rest the gauge cluster somewhere level so that gravity was not effecting the needle position.
3. Leave the needle to settle to it's true zero position.
4. Take a photo and then remove the needle.
5. Refit needle, using photo as reference
6. Slid needle back over 'stop' pin.

Also works for the rev counter

I've just swapped my nap Speedo cluster for a UK one and did the above to the letter.

I've yet to refift them to the car so will update with how accurate it was.

[shinny]

I found the easiest way to remove and refit the speedo needle was to:

1. Gently lift the end of the needle over the 'stop' pin.
2. Rest the gauge cluster somewhere level so that gravity was not effecting the needle position.
3. Leave the needle to settle to it's true zero position.
4. Take a photo and then remove the needle.
5. Refit needle, using photo as reference
6. Slid needle back over 'stop' pin.

Also works for the rev counter

I've just swapped my nap Speedo cluster for a UK one and did the above to the letter.

I've yet to refift them to the car so will update with how accurate it was.

Honestly, I'd expect you to be out by 5-10mph

I'll be impressed if it actually results in an accurate speedo

[jon]

I've just swapped my nap Speedo cluster for a UK one and did the above to the letter.

I've yet to refift them to the car so will update with how accurate it was.

Honestly, I'd expect you to be out by 5-10mph

I'll be impressed if it actually results in an accurate speedo

It should be very accurate if the needle is left long enough to allow the coil spring to 'relax' and an accurate record is taken of where the needle ends up. On my speedo the needle moved all the way around to just past the H in MPH.

After refitting I checked with GPS and it's bang on at 60mph.

I may have been lucky though as I also converted the speedo from kph to mph by changing the dial to a UK one and replacing the calibration resistors on the back of the speedo with those from the UK speedo