Re: 88mph question (seriously)

["Jim Reeve" <ultra@xxxx>]

I can shed some light on this as I have gone much faster than 85 
(~100-105 tach. estimated), and I have also taken my speedometer 
apart. First, there would be no risk of damage if there wasn't a 
stop peg on the speedo. The internal shaft has a limited range of 
travel, which is about 1 inch (from the needle tip) past the stop 
peg. But with the needle stopping the shaft early, it can put strain 
on the connection between the two if you go too fast. What I mean by 
this is, if the needle isn't very securly attached to the speedo 
shaft, the shaft will eventually slip that extra inch, but the needle 
with still be stopped at 85 by the peg. This will result in a mis-
calibrated needle, but the spedometer itself will still be fine. 
Odds are, since that needle has most likely been sitting on the 
speedo shaft for the lifetime of the car, it is stuck on there good, 
so you have no reason to worry.

Jim Reeve
MNDMC - Minnesota DeLorean Club
DMC-6960

> I have heard rumors long ago that some older cars (non DMC's) that 
have the
> old 85mph speedometers will break if made to register faster they 
can
> display. Likewise, this rumor has been extrapolated to the DMC 
even though
> I don't think it is true. Can anyone say?