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Is this a stupid question?

Is this a stupid question?

 
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hooblah
Holset

401
09-23-2013, 04:49 PM #1
I was just thinking, is it not possible to take the speedo motor from ANY electronic speedo and attach it to the end of our mechanical speedos in place of the cable, then use an electronic converter as Hansebanger has done?

In theory this would mean we dont have to source a W124 V8 speedo and can use any speedo. Since it is adjustable with the little box of tricks this should work.

But then I wonder, why hasnt someone done this already? Maybe im asking a stupid question?
hooblah
09-23-2013, 04:49 PM #1

I was just thinking, is it not possible to take the speedo motor from ANY electronic speedo and attach it to the end of our mechanical speedos in place of the cable, then use an electronic converter as Hansebanger has done?

In theory this would mean we dont have to source a W124 V8 speedo and can use any speedo. Since it is adjustable with the little box of tricks this should work.

But then I wonder, why hasnt someone done this already? Maybe im asking a stupid question?

raysorenson
Superturbo

1,162
09-24-2013, 06:12 PM #2
Sure, it can be done. Folks just seem to like gauges that appear to belong in the cluster with the rest of the gauges.
raysorenson
09-24-2013, 06:12 PM #2

Sure, it can be done. Folks just seem to like gauges that appear to belong in the cluster with the rest of the gauges.

hooblah
Holset

401
09-24-2013, 08:05 PM #3
Sorry Ray I think you misunderstood what I wrote. The gauge would remain the same from the from the front, but the change would be done at the back, where the electronic speedo would be fitted to the cable input.
hooblah
09-24-2013, 08:05 PM #3

Sorry Ray I think you misunderstood what I wrote. The gauge would remain the same from the from the front, but the change would be done at the back, where the electronic speedo would be fitted to the cable input.

raysorenson
Superturbo

1,162
09-25-2013, 12:33 PM #4
Anything's possible. You may not be able to keep the needle, the gauge face probably won't use the same drillings to attach to the speedo and the new internals will have to attach to the rest of the cluster to keep from bouncing around. It would be cool if someone pulled it off and kept it presentable!
raysorenson
09-25-2013, 12:33 PM #4

Anything's possible. You may not be able to keep the needle, the gauge face probably won't use the same drillings to attach to the speedo and the new internals will have to attach to the rest of the cluster to keep from bouncing around. It would be cool if someone pulled it off and kept it presentable!

Tito
Holset

354
09-25-2013, 02:42 PM #5
Ray, I think you still misunderstood this. But if i get this right, you want to use a electrical speedo motor, to the end of the speedometer cable at the tranny, which in turn turns the cable and the speedometer.

I don't know about the v8 cluster, but the modern cars don't actually use motors to spin the needle, it's more like a electric actuator. If there's no power to the needle it keeps standing still. (like if you would use your finger to hold it at 60mph, it stays there). But is could be that the v8 cluster is different.

But even if it is, i highly doubt that it has enough power to turn the cable. It has way more resistance compared to a electrical type with just the needle.

You could try to use a slightly stronger motor. But i don't think those electrical boxes provide enough power, if they work with the "motor style" clusters instead of the "actuator style" cluster at all.
This post was last modified: 09-25-2013, 02:49 PM by Tito.
Tito
09-25-2013, 02:42 PM #5

Ray, I think you still misunderstood this. But if i get this right, you want to use a electrical speedo motor, to the end of the speedometer cable at the tranny, which in turn turns the cable and the speedometer.

I don't know about the v8 cluster, but the modern cars don't actually use motors to spin the needle, it's more like a electric actuator. If there's no power to the needle it keeps standing still. (like if you would use your finger to hold it at 60mph, it stays there). But is could be that the v8 cluster is different.

But even if it is, i highly doubt that it has enough power to turn the cable. It has way more resistance compared to a electrical type with just the needle.

You could try to use a slightly stronger motor. But i don't think those electrical boxes provide enough power, if they work with the "motor style" clusters instead of the "actuator style" cluster at all.

willbhere4u
Six in a row make her go!

2,507
09-25-2013, 02:49 PM #6
I don't think it will work the motors in the electric gauges can move just a needle they are super tiny motors. The cable drive ones have a bunch of gears and stuff like a watch inside of them I think it would cause to much drag to turn the mechanical speedometer with the electric speedometer motor. I would just modify an electric speedometer to fit behind the original face if you can find one that lines up with the original holes

1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running
willbhere4u
09-25-2013, 02:49 PM #6

I don't think it will work the motors in the electric gauges can move just a needle they are super tiny motors. The cable drive ones have a bunch of gears and stuff like a watch inside of them I think it would cause to much drag to turn the mechanical speedometer with the electric speedometer motor. I would just modify an electric speedometer to fit behind the original face if you can find one that lines up with the original holes


1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running

hooblah
Holset

401
09-25-2013, 05:29 PM #7
Well how about removing the internals and having the speedos bolted together, with the electronic one driving the needle of the mechanical one? That sounds like it would work.
This post was last modified: 09-25-2013, 05:44 PM by hooblah.
hooblah
09-25-2013, 05:29 PM #7

Well how about removing the internals and having the speedos bolted together, with the electronic one driving the needle of the mechanical one? That sounds like it would work.

willbhere4u
Six in a row make her go!

2,507
09-26-2013, 04:09 PM #8
Yea it's been done but you will loose the odometer/trip unless you mount the whole unit behind the original face. You would need to source a complete electric speedometer anyways that has similar dimensions for the needle & odometer placement

1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running
willbhere4u
09-26-2013, 04:09 PM #8

Yea it's been done but you will loose the odometer/trip unless you mount the whole unit behind the original face. You would need to source a complete electric speedometer anyways that has similar dimensions for the needle & odometer placement


1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running

hooblah
Holset

401
09-29-2013, 05:06 PM #9
Ok thanks for the help!
hooblah
09-29-2013, 05:06 PM #9

Ok thanks for the help!

mantahead
Holset

600
10-01-2013, 04:15 PM #10
might be a bit different but: i removed the electric speedo drive from the nissan sr20 box in my opel manta and modified it and the opel cable drive and joined the 2 together so now the electric drive drives the cable.
works great but the speed is a bit off.
mantahead
10-01-2013, 04:15 PM #10

might be a bit different but: i removed the electric speedo drive from the nissan sr20 box in my opel manta and modified it and the opel cable drive and joined the 2 together so now the electric drive drives the cable.
works great but the speed is a bit off.

hooblah
Holset

401
10-02-2013, 07:06 AM #11
Now thats interesting. Got any pics of how you did it?
hooblah
10-02-2013, 07:06 AM #11

Now thats interesting. Got any pics of how you did it?

mantahead
Holset

600
10-02-2013, 03:54 PM #12
sorry man, no pics, did it long time ago
mantahead
10-02-2013, 03:54 PM #12

sorry man, no pics, did it long time ago

 
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