Re: [DML] "1980's Delorean Speedo Cable Fix"

["Jan R. Eisen" <drenthe1954@xxxxxxxxx>]

Tom,

Frankly, I haven't checked the odometer accuracy, that is indeed something I still have to do.
I almost assume that it must be OK, because it is a fully mechanical connection, no magnets or springs involved.

What I wrote about the speedometer was not about doing it myself; it was what I heard from three different speedo repair shops that I called, none of which was willing to touch it, unless I gave them a blank check.
I read somewhere that the speedo should read 100 km/h at 1000/min of the cable. So you would think that they have something to work with.

Getting rid of the angle drive is of course a much better solution. Frankly, I don't know of any car after 1970 (other than perhaps the original VW Beetle) that has a mechanical speedo cable from the front wheels.

Recently I stumbled upon an article by a guy from Minnesota who suggested to redo the instrument cluster: http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?1160-Backlit-Electronic-Instrument-Cluster
He also suggests using an electronic angle drive.

Greetings from Michigan
VIN 10536


On May 14, 2013, at 05:57 , "Tom" <dmctom@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Jan,
> 
> Well, it is easy when you don't go into the details of the process and just 
> take the speedo to a repair shop. If you opt to do it yourself then you're 
> right, it's not easy.
> First thing to check is the odometer. This is a mechanically linked system 
> (gears) and it should be correct. If the only thing changed was the angle 
> drive and the odometer is off the angle drive has wrong ratio gears. You 
> will need to replace it.
> If the odometer is correct and the speedometer is off then you need to 
> determine if is it of by a certain amount or percentage, ie. does it always 
> read 10mph off (higher or lower) or if it is 10% off, ie. at 30 it will read 
> 33 and at 60 it's 66. If it's always the same number you can simply remove 
> the needle and reinstall it in a correct position BUT, be warned, this is a 
> very rare occurrence and is usually caused by a previous mechanic attempting 
> a repair. When it's off by certain % ten you will need to recalibrate it.
> 
> I do have a plan to get rid of the angle drive as this is absolutely the 
> worst part of the entire car. In my opinion an electronic (optical) sensor 
> is the way to go here. I want to keep the original speedo and so I will be 
> driving the original head with an electric motor.
> 
> Greetings from Poland!
> Tom Niemczewski
> Vin 6149 plus 2418, 3633, 5030, 16473, 17086
> Google earth: 52°25'17.66"N, 21° 1'58.40"E
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Jan R. Eisen" <drenthe1954@xxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 5:16 PM
> To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [DML] "1980's Delorean Speedo Cable Fix"
> 
>> Tom et al,
>> 
>> That's not so easy! There are two (actually three) ways to correct a 
>> speedometer that is "off" (Mine is off by 15% too)
>> 
>> The first method is to change the spring that holds the needle back. But 
>> since there is no information about the spring used, this is a very time 
>> consuming trial-and-error method. It also requires to take apart the 
>> speedo over and over again. But if you have the time and money, it can be 
>> done.
>> The second method is to degauss the magnet and magnetize it again. Not a 
>> very easy process either.
>> 
>> Based on the hesitation of the various speedo shops that I approached, I 
>> decided that I could live with the speedo as it is (I actually have a rare 
>> original metric speedometer) and use my GPS if I really want to know how 
>> fast I am going.
>> Unfortunately, my odometer probably shows more than the actual mileage (or 
>> should that be kilometrage) too. But then again, here in the USA hardly 
>> anybody has a clue about the relation miles/kilometer anyways.
>> 
>> The last and third method would be to change the ratio in the angle drive. 
>> I don't know if that has ever been done, but this almost sounds like 
>> something to research further. Tom?
>> 
>> Jan
>> Plymouth, MI
>> 
>> On May 10, 2013, at 05:03 , "Tom" <dmctom@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> 
>>> John,
>>> 
>>> If you have correct size tires then the only fix possible is to remove 
>>> the
>>> speedometer and take it to a speedo repair shop. They will calibrate it 
>>> for
>>> you.
>>> 
>>> Greetings from Poland!
>>> Tom Niemczewski
>>> Vin 6149 plus 2418, 3633, 5030, 16473, 17086
>>> Google earth: 52°25'17.66"N, 21° 1'58.40"E
>>> 
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>> From: "John Podlewski" <john_podlewski@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 7:31 AM
>>> To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Subject: Re: [DML] "1980's Delorean Speedo Cable Fix"
>>> 
>>>> Question
>>>> What's the fix to calibrate it ?
>>>> I'm off by 10 MPH at 60MPH
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> 
>>>> On May 9, 2013, at 6:08 PM, deloreanernst@xxxxxxx wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> There's an item on eBay titled "1980's Delorean Speedo Cable Fix" 
>>>>> which
>>>>> is not accurate. The item for sale is the "dust shield" item l05104,
>>>>> which is indeed part of the speedometer assembly. The problem is,
>>>>> replacing it will almost never fix a non-functioning speedo. As I
>>>>> explained to the seller, this speedo drive cap is typically the victim 
>>>>> of
>>>>> a bound cable or seized angle drive, not the cause of a problem. When 
>>>>> the
>>>>> lower cable can't turn, and the cap turns with the wheel, it grinds 
>>>>> the
>>>>> middle of the cap out. A new cap won't fix a messed up angle drive any
>>>>> more than a brand new light bulb will fix a tripped circuit breaker. 
>>>>> The
>>>>> seller refused to correct the listing, claiming he has 3 DeLoreans and
>>>>> has fixed all three of them this way. Uh huh. Even if that were true,
>>>>> claiming the cap fixes the angle drive is flat out false. A word to 
>>>>> the
>>>>> wise- eBay may be strangely fascinating, but get your parts from a
>>>>> trusted supplier, not some unknown goof. By the way, he's offering it 
>>>>> for
>>>>> sale at nearly twice the price you'd pay your trusted DeLorean parts
>>>>> supplier.
>>>>> 
>>>>> -Wayne
>>>>> vin 11174
>>>>> 
>>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>> To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
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> 
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
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> 
> 
> 



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