Removing Trip Meter Reset Knob - 82 450E

[rustybronco]

Naptha/ Shellite/ lighter fluid?

You may want to check if it's safe to use on certain plastics. (if you are very careful, try brakeclean)

if you can help it, try not to clean the hairspring. the only thing 'I' think you need to clean and re-lube are the bushings the speedometer shaft rides in. if you don't have access to a good clock oil for those bushings, I would suggest you use Mobil 1 5w50 synthetic engine oil or if that's not readily available, a good synthetic 5W30/40 engine oil.

straighten a paper clip, dip it into the oil 25 mm's or so, remove and apply the 'oiler' to the intersection of where the shaft and bushing touch. I 'THINK' two applications per bushing should be enough, but it's hard to tell without seeing the size of the bushing and the amount being held on the paper clip. don't oil as over oiling will cause 'all' the oil to be drawn out of the 'bearing'.

that's what I would do (and did for that matter).

[pete]

Naptha/ Shellite/ lighter fluid?

You may want to check if it's safe to use on certain plastics. (if you are very careful, try brakeclean)

if you can help it, try not to clean the hairspring. the only thing 'I' think you need to clean and re-lube are the bushings the speedometer shaft rides in. if you don't have access to a good clock oil for those bushings, I would suggest you use Mobil 1 5w50 synthetic engine oil or if that's not readily available, a good synthetic 5W30/40 engine oil.

straighten a paper clip, dip it into the oil 25 mm's or so, remove and apply the 'oiler' to the intersection of where the shaft and bushing touch. I 'THINK' two applications per bushing should be enough, but it's hard to tell without seeing the size of the bushing and the amount being held on the paper clip. don't oil as over oiling will cause 'all' the oil to be drawn out of the 'bearing'.

that's what I would do (and did for that matter).

Cool thanks Dale.

I *may* still have some lighter fluid from when I had a zippo when I smoked... as for the oil, I don't think I have anything synthetic in the garage at all, I'm pretty sure it's all mineral oil.

Edit: Forgot to say definitely no clock oil either...

[pete]

Found some lighter fluid in the bar but no go on the oil. I used the degreaser only on the plastic casing and the outside of the base and thread where the cables connect:



I used some cotton buds (think you guys call them Q tips?) and wiped the lighter fluid around the areas I thought I should to give them a bit of a clean up.

Mainly I concentrated on getting those plastic shavings from drilling the new drain holes out of there. I have a suspicion all the ones stuck to the speedo bits and pieces may have been the culprit

You can see some of them quite obviously in the third photo below which was taken after I degreased the threads and base but before I used the lighter fluid to clean the mechanisms. There was an awful lot more around the place, especially in the speedo.

Oh, and I sprayed the degreaser onto a rag and then wiped them down, I didn't spray degreaser directly onto the surfaces to be cleaned as I didn't want it to get in the mechanisms.



Crossed my fingers it wasn't a stupid move and used some of the Castrol GTX Diesel oil I'm putting in the 450 instead as it's the only thing around that's 40w. No synthetic oil anywhere at all and definitely no clock or gear oil.



I did drop some on top where the needle sits as well.

Got the drill and gave them both a test and they seem to work, so hopefully they'll be good now...

[rustybronco]

Crossed my fingers it wasn't a stupid move and used some of the Castrol GTX Diesel oil I'm putting in the 450 instead as it's the only thing around that's 40w. No synthetic oil anywhere at all and definitely no clock or gear oil.

What's the worst thing that can happen? you have to reapply it in 5 years?

[pete]

What's the worst thing that can happen? you have to reapply it in 5 years?

That's along the lines of what I was thinking... figured it can't be too bad

Thanks again for your help Dale (and all you other guys how posted too of course!)