1953 Cadillac 2nd worm gear - speedometer

[Dan LeBlanc]

WTB - 2nd worm gear for the speedometer for the 1953 Cadillac.  Assumedly, 52 should be the same as the clusters appear very similar.  This is the gear that runs between the 1st worm gear (input shaft gear) and the 3rd worm gear (to the odometer/trip odometer).  Two clusters on the bench, same problem - stripped gear.  Not sure about the one in the car yet, but would rather replace and be sure.

[MAX GRETENCORD]

Dan, on my 53 sedan the speedometer works fine but the odometer and the trip do not move....here is the interesting part, the cable to reset the trip is missing.  I wonder if the cable was removed do to the stripping of the worm gear or the cable was jammed and stuck in the engaged position to the gear.  I have not removed the cluster as of yet.  Remember the 53 is 12 volt and the 52 is 6 volt and only makes a difference for the gas and temp gauges and lamps.

[Dan LeBlanc]

Max

I can pretty much assure you that the worm gear I'm looking for is stripped in yours also if the speedometer is working fine but the odometers aren't moving.

I contacted a few speedometer outfits and they have flat out told me that they won't sell me the part.  One told me that for $275 they'll fix it.  My cluster is cosmetically fine.  I got it working by forcing the worm gear over by threading a screw into one of the holes the gear goes into in the housing.  The stripped gear has a few gnarly spots, but the more I run it with a drill, the more the teeth are smoothing out and engaging properly.

Not about to spend $275 for a full restoration of a speedometer that is near perfect cosmetically and needs one little part.

I'm keeping my eyes open on eBay.  There are worm gears that pop up from time to time for $25.  I'd rather spend that than $275.

I'm going to pull apart a spare 1961 cluster I have to see if the gear I need is the same.

[Walter Youshock]

Can you epoxy the damaged areas and reshape them like the cruise control gear?

[Dan LeBlanc]

It's such a small gear.  I'm not sure I could pull it off. 

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Of cause you can.

Clean the part totally clean, and then with a dab of Devcon, on the area, to build it up, carefully trim it before it is totally dry, and then finish it off with a small file.

The only reason these parts wear out is from lack of lubrication, and the entrance of dust to create a solid goop, to create a resistance.

Bruce.

[Roger Zimmermann]

That would be a perfect candidate for 3-D printing.