1972 odometer reset knob

[Jerome E Pederson]

The odometer reset knob on my car works, but not easily. I have on a couple of occassions reset the odometer to zero and each time I feel it is going to break when I turn the reset knob.

Is there a lubrication or something that will allow the knob to turn more freely?

Jerry

[Jim K.]

Re: 1972 odometer reset knob

Hi Jerry:
I took my cable off and soaked it in WD40 then tried to use a lithium spray grease to work it into the cable as best as I could. Of course, the dash was out and the speedo was easy to get at that way. Good luck!
Jim

[Pat M.]

I have a similar problem,

Jerry - the trip odometer on my 70 is somewhat hard to reset, and after I do it sometimes sticks and will not rotate on its own when the car's moving until I jiggle it a little. I've ofter wondered if there was a way to simply lubricate it so it would function more easily.

I've also been puzzled by the fact that I reset mine by pushing the knob up, although I think the owner's and/or service manual says to pull down when resetting it. Hopefully someone can offer us some advice.

Patrick Moresi #45581

[Michael M.]

Re: I have a similar problem,

You DEFINITELY have to push UP to reset. There is a cone shaped gear at the end of the reset cable that has to engage in a gear in the odometer for the reset to work. No way pulling on the knob could work.

[Harmon C.]

Re: I have a similar problem,

I agree and if it stays engaged the trip meter will not work. Always pull it back down after you reset it. I got back from a PV reading zero but it didn't matter as an A/C belt had turned over and I had to cut it off to get back so my day was over allready.
Lyle

[Pat M.]

PV manual seems to be in error

Mike - I have always reset mine by pushing up, but I knew I'd read somewhere that it says to pull it down, and I just found it in the 68-72 PV manual, First Edition, page 35, under "Trip Odometer": "Pulling down on the knob and rotating it will return the numbers to zero."

However, reading further down in the same paragraph shows the above to be in error when it states that "It may be necessary to pull sharply down on the reset mechanism to be sure the odometer gears are properly engaged." Hopefully the editors of the PV manual will correct this apparent error in future editions.

The problem with mine is that even after I pull the knob down after reset the gears still stick sometimes, and I have to repeatedly push/pull the knob to get the trip meter to re-engage. That's why I was wondering if lubrication would help this problem.

And my apologies to Jerry - I didn't mean to hijack this thread.

Patrick Moresi #45581

[Denny J.]

Re: PV manual seems to be in error

my 72 pushed up turned clockwise turned to 00000 and a lite pull down till it clicked.Denny72

[Jack H.]

It's a good idea to do maintenance...

on tripometer reset cables. They tend to 'sieze' from owner dis-use with internal lubrication 'puddling' in the bottom of the U-shape the cable makes.

Maintenace is rather easy. Simply disconnect the reset cable from the dash and remove it from the speedo (you CAN do this without pulling the speedo cluster).

Now, with the cable out and free, bath it with carb cleaner and blow it out with compressed air. You want to exercise it in BOTH modes (circular rotation + in/out) and repeat the cleaning process until the cable runs freely AND snaps back to its engaged position under its own internal spring motion.

Last, use a good quality speedo cable lube (the graphite form works for me) and reinstall the cable. From then on, remember to periodically 'exercise' the cable by doing a tripometer reset just as you should periodically work your WS washer to keep things nicely/uniformly lubricated.

One last caution... You push up on the cable to engage the reset function and the cable's internal spring 'should' pop it back out/down to the engaged position. IF the reset cable fails to fully re-extend, you can wind up with gear 'clash' in the speedometer resulting in broken teeth, erratic speedo needle movement and the 'joy' of pulling your speedometer to send out for a rebuild!

So, just for grins, after you reset the tripometer, pull down on the reset knob to verify it's at the fully extended, engaged, position....

[Jerome E Pederson]

Re: It's a good idea to do maintenance...

Jack your thoughts are appreciated. I will proceed cautiously and use your tips.

Thanks.........