model a speed gauge re-build

reggiedog

Well-known member
HI: Does any body know some one that can re-build the speed gauge or can I do it with out ruining it????. I want to re-build the gauge and turn the mile counter back to 000000. I know their is not much to them just a bunch of wheels and then all of the seals is it that hard to re-build or should I have a pro re-build it and how much does it cost to do. I don't want some one that's going to rip me off. Like when I had my instrument panel re-done and when I got it back the bottom two screw holes didn't line up like it did when I sent it up their and there is NO H or any other marks that I put on the panel so I think he sent me a repo panel. He will NEVER get any more part's from me reggiedog
 
You could possibly rebuild it but how will you calibrate it? I would have one of the Model A speedometer rebuilders rebuild it or leave it as is. The rebuilder will accurately calibrate it on a machine. You can reset the odometer yourself.
 
Yes: That is why I'm asking????. Cause I don't know a thing about how to do that at all. So who re-builds them????. Does this Bob Johnson re-build them is he any good????. Thanks reggiedog
 
Thanks Ben I sent a message to them and hopefully I will hear back from them I don't need to much do just to clean it up and put new numbers on and make sure every thing works right. Thanks for the info. reggiedog
 
You could possibly rebuild it but how will you calibrate it? I would have one of the Model A speedometer rebuilders rebuild it or leave it as is. The rebuilder will accurately calibrate it on a machine. You can reset the odometer yourself.


Measure out a mile in your modern car. Drive it with the A. At 30 MPH it would take 2 minutes. At 45 MPH it would take 90 seconds. Make the adjustments as discribed in the article on Bob Johnsons site.
 
That is the problem I just want to find some one that can re-build mine and put new numbers on it. But that Johnson guy don't re-build single's so he won't do mine. reggiedog
 
reggiedog,
I had mine rebuilt by Harry Warburton in Greenville NC. about a year ago.
He did a great job, it came back looking like a new one and works great, He will put it on o miles or what ever milage you want, He is very fast, mine came back in a week.
It will look and work like new. His ph. # is 1-252-752-4098 ;)

I worked on it myself on and off for a week, a real pain in the ***. and it was just the same as when I started.
 
Harry Warburton in North Carolina does excellent work on speedometers. (252) 752-4098 and the price is reasonable.
Supergnat
 
OK, since you don't want to do it yourself, I mean you did ask "... can I do it with out ruining it????." and the answer is YES. I gave you a link to all the information you could possibly need. I guess you did read some of it and look at the availability of parts from the major vendors and decided you don't want to do it.

So, on the top of the Model A forum there is a thread; Sticky: Model A/AA Ford Websites...Can YOU add to the list?"

This thread has suppliers and vendors Fordbarners have used. Listed under speedometers;

SPEEDOMETERS
1. www.cushmanspeedometer.com (Chris) Cushman Corporation Speedometer Repair (Kansas)
2. No known website: Chuck Bertschi (972)-231-5019 (Texas)
3. No known website: Harry Warburton (252)-258-1530
4. No known website: Bills Speedo Shop (937)-492-7800 (Ohio)
5. No known website: Norm's Antique Auto Supply (563)-322-8388 or (563)-320-2096 (Iowa)
 
Thank's: Now that I have a list of people that rebuild speed meters I will get a hold of some of or all of them. Thanks reggiedog
 
Reggiedog, just a word of caution, when I reset mine to "00000" before I had it registered, our DMV gave me grief about an 80 year old car with NO miles on it. I tried to explain that I had it reset to go along with the new to me, and new engine scheme of things. No deal she said, you have "tampered" with an odometer and that is a Federal offense. I told her that I would go and stand in a corner for half an hour as punishment, grabbed my paperwork, and went somewhere else! I hope your car is already registered.......
 
Reggiedog, I recently did work on my speedometer. I didn't reset the numbers, but followed along a bunch of the instructions (and posted a bunch of questions on Ford Barn. The process seemed fairly simple/straightforward. It is now 30 miles later and all seems ok. As someone with no experience in the restoration/automotive work, I see it as a "one night in front of the TV" type of projects.
 
Reggiedog: I have purchased the Model A speedometer business from Chris Cushman. I have Both oval and round speedos on the shelf ready to go on an exchange basis. They are completely disassembled, cleaned, lubed, repainted, renumbered, reassembled, and calibrated. This comes with a 2 year warranty. You can visit my website, www.marksspeedometer.com for my contact info.
 
HI: I would re-build the speedometer know????. But right now I have a lot of other things going on that don't include the car. I'm hoping to get back to the car this spring or summer. But the first thing I'm going to get done first is the rear axle I haven't been able to do that as of yet I have all the part's but just haven't had time to work on it. So to get the speedometer re-build it might be this coming fall. But thank's for your reply reggiedog
 
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