Trip ODO repairs

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Mike W.
Posts: 2782
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:12 am
Location: Sonoma County

Trip ODO repairs

Post by Mike W. »

Nothing here is meant as a slight to Jeff or odometergears.com, he's a good guy and from all I hear produces an excellent product. But sometimes you just want to repair what's there and can.

I first did this on my first E21 when it didn't work with a mere 197K on it. I repaired the gear and last I saw of the car it was dead in a parking lot with 385K on it, suggesting at times this can be a long lasting repair although I lost track of the car when the kids sold it at ~350K. That was the early 90s and to the best of my knowledge there were no replacement gears available then. Anyway, this works if there is a simple crack or split, but not if there is a missing tooth as there sometimes is.

I make a reinforcing ring, I use 1/16 welding rod, a little smaller than the hub size, force it on, then glue it with a drop of superglue. Both sides. Then often it's not tight enough on the shaft so I have to score the shaft with a wire cutters. Pics show the crack and score mark. Plus a close up of my fingers. :D

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Mike W.



1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
garyinwestoz
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:05 pm
Location: perth, australia
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Re: Trip ODO repairs

Post by garyinwestoz »

good tip Mike

my ODO isn't working, thus failed my licensing inspection.

So I had a go at puling it apart and see if I could repair it. My spare car ODO is not working also

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pulling the ODO apart is reasonably easy
remove whole unit from dash

unscrew 6 rear screws
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unscrew cable

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the small gear that rotates the numbers meets up with the vertical work drive
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unscrew 2 bolts holding back cover on

my gear has a crack
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so pulled it off and added some super glue which will hopefully keep it together

I wonder if a small cable tie might work as well?

interestingly my other ODO has a black colour gear, which is also cracked!

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74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
garyinwestoz
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:05 pm
Location: perth, australia
Contact:

Re: Trip ODO repairs

Post by garyinwestoz »

and if I want to buy a replacement gear, is it the e24 mechanical llisting on the web page?

https://www.odometergears.com/products/ ... 4+Mech./29
74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
canada karl
Posts: 1058
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:50 pm

Re: Trip ODO repairs

Post by canada karl »

I don't mean to hi jack the thread about the odometer gears but I saw that you mentioned that your car would not pass the licensing inspection because of it. How strict is that inspection where you are? In Canada they check everything ie. You used to be able to rivet and seal a piece of metal over a rusted out part of a floor pan to keep exhaust gases out but now you have to have a certified welder do the fix!
PS.Nice fix on the odometer gears Mike :D
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
garyinwestoz
Posts: 390
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:05 pm
Location: perth, australia
Contact:

Re: Trip ODO repairs

Post by garyinwestoz »

who would have thought a working ODO was that important for 'petes sake"
74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
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