Removing speedometer from 914 dashboard

[tmcnaull]

1974 Porsche 914: How do you remove the speedometer unit from the dashboard? Does it just slide out w/o removing the dashboard assembly?

[Tobra]

That is my recollection, been a while since I did it, Tach is the same way

[beatnavy]

Your best bet, IMO, is to unscrew the 4 (or 5 or 6?) screws holding the gauge cluster assembly to the dash. All the gauges are held in place by friction with a rubber "sleeve." The sleeve can be sort of peeled back so you can remove the gauge from the cluster assembly (after disconnecting the speedo cable, gauge lighting wires, etc.).

It's pretty straightforward and should be pretty evident once you carefully remove the gauge cluster away from the dash.

[PCA7GGR]

No need to remove gauge cluster assembly. Just grab the speedo on opposite sides and rock back n forth. It will slowly come out. There is plenty of slack on the speedo cable and wires to disconnect them before removing the speed entirely.

[stinkindiesel]

Sometimes those rubber sleeves have hardened to something north of diamond, and take a little persuasion to come loose.

Gary

[beatnavy]

Removing the cluster takes maybe 5 minutes? I just think that gives you a better look at how to remove it and more "purchase" on the gauge itself to wiggle back and forth. But strictly speaking it is not necessary.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I just reach up from under the dash and push the speedo. It comes out far enough to get an easy grip on, then I can pull it the rest of the way out.

The odometer reset cable isn't that long and doesn't have much slack in it, so you might want to remove the knob from the end and unscrew the nut that holds it onto the bottom of the dash frame. Or you might want to just pull the reset cable out of the back of the speedo.

Removing the panel where the gauges are is an unnecessary step, IMHO. I found that the panel didn't have a lot of room to sit between the dash and the steering wheel, either, and it was easier to maneuver the gauge itself out of there than dealing with the plate.

Either way works, though.

--DD

[beatnavy]

Ahhh, sneak up on it from behind! Good idea, DD. That would make it easier, as it is true there isn't a ton of room to maneuver the cluster with the steering in place.

[tmcnaull]

From original poster:

Thanks ! You guys were right on!
I blended your info & eventually had to loosen the dash (big hands & old eyes). The problem was the pot metal gear slipping on the shaft. I "flat-spotted" the shaft and pushed the driven gear back on it. I then remove the wheels interlock shaft with the five small gears and reset the odometer to the correct reading (who ever heard of someone "setting forward" an odometer?!?). I was saved by a great picture on one of the Pelican tech tips (I dropped the digit wheels). I was able to do all this without removing the needle and messing up the calibration. I'll check the speedometer against my GPS indicated speed when I get the car back on the road.
Thanks again!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Very nice! I think that was the first big job I did on my first 914, too! Definitely my first write-up. It was on the now-departed Tim's 914 Fan Page...

--DD

[GregAmy]

Originally Posted by Dave at Pelican Parts

Very nice! I think that was the first big job I did on my first 914, too! Definitely my first write-up. It was on the now-departed Tim's 914 Fan Page...

Nothing on the Internet is ever "departed"...

The 914 Fan Web Page

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Heh. Yeah, but it's a bit of a pain to navigate to the odometer repair article. Easier than it used to be, though, as the Wayback Machine supports frames and such at least to some extent!

http://web.archive.org/web/20050228144643/http://www.914fan.net/speedo.html

--DD