How do you restore a speedometer?

Model A Fan

Model A Fan

Senior Member
I recently purchased a speedometer and I would like to give it a "refresher" so to speak. It is in good shape, but I would like to touch up the numbers, polish the bezel and maybe recondition it.

Does anyone have an instruction set on how to pull it apart? I unscrewed the only screw in the backside, but nothing pops apart.

I would like to do this on my own without sending it to someone.
Thanks!
 
What kind of speedometer is it? Round or Oval? Stewart Warner, Waltham or Northeast?

On some of the round speedometers, the bezel is riveted to the body. On the speedos where the chrome/nickeled bezel is pressed on, you have to very carefully pry this loose from the housing.

Once you get it open, be prepared to deal with alot of pot metal parts, pot metal doesn't take kindly to aggressive tactics.

This will at least get you started, I'm sure someone will chime in with photos and more detailed instructions catered to what type of speedometer you have.
 
Whoops, I guess I should include more information! It is an oval Stewart Warner with a W-6 and 600 in whitish paint on the backside.
 
Before you do anything else. Take pictures of the speedo printing on the back and send them to Steve Plucker as he is doing a study on the Stewart Warner speedo.
 
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I searched the threads...nothing showed up though. The speedometer works, it is just that the numbers are a little faded. Nothing wrong with it mechanically it looks. I just want to possibly recondition the numbers and clean the silver bezel as it is slightly corroded.
 
The links given show EXACTLY how to open, clean, repair, rebuild, and calibrate the speedometer. It tells you about reapplying decals as well. As for cleaning the bezel, it is like any other piece of metal that has nickle plating.
 
The link below will take you right to the meat of speedometer restoration. If you want to go at it to this depth, you will need to make some of the special tools that are shown in the article. The article is very well done. I used this information to dig into a couple of my speedometers that would not turn and they turned out to be good working instruments. I did not replace the numbers as the ones on my speedometers were in good shape. Don/WI
http://www.modelahouse.com/tech/speedometer/fischer.html
 
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