1975 MK3 ES Smiths NVT speedo

Hi,

Long shot but here goes:

I have a Smiths NVT speedo (Yes it is a Smiths speedo not a Veglia)

The odometer stopped working a while back but I decided to have a go at fixing it.

I got the bezel off & removed the speedo.

It's in excellent condition, no spider eggs, extremly clean, all gears look in great condition but . . . . .

There's a 'tang' that sticks out & engages with teeth on the side of the first odometer gear, this is what transfers the movement to the odometer gears.

My one has broken just at the bend in PIC1 where the arrow is pointing.

PIC2 is the gear with the spring steel washer which should have a 'bendy' bit to it.

Does anybody know of a company selling internal parts for mechanical Smiths instruments?

By any chance does somebody have a speedo they have taken apart, thrown in a box which might have the part I'm looking for?

It's such a shame, as this is the only part it needs to get working 100% again

PIC1




PIC2

Hi click, maybe Gaggs can help you?

http://www.gaggs.co.uk/


Cheers,

cliffa.

Great, thanks cliffa, I didn't come across this company in my Googl'ing!!

What I have done is used the part I have (Pic2 above) & bent the tang so it now engages with the teeth on the first odometer wheel. I've tested it on the bench turning the drive wheel manually & everything seems to be working ok, time will tell if it lasts. One well know Smiths repairer in the UK emailed me after I did this fix & suggested doing this, so if it works for them!!

I'm going to try the speedo on the bike before I put a new bezel on, need to check the weather before I go out!!

I'll see if Gaggs have the part I'm looking for.

Untimately my goal is to replace the mechanical speedo system with an electronic setup. I should get it all sorted for in & around the price of a restored speedo, but that's one of my winter projects!

Good & bad news! Gaggs have the part but they won't sell it to me as they want to hold on to it for repairs they do.

I had the Norton out this morning & everything is now working with the 'fix' I did above.

Still a bit of a wobble on the needle but don't they all do this

I triple checked the speedo cable, the run is clear of kinks, I'm using a cable tie near the drive to keep everything straight. I removed the cable, cleaned it & re-oiled, so everything is nice & smooth.

Interestingly when I put a cheap, aftermarket speedo on the bike this has no needle wobble! must have better dampening?

Try Nisongers

http://www.nisonger.com/contact.htm

Not tried them but these look as if they could give you the part you need.

https://www.classic-speedometers.com/repair--refurbish.html

Replacement Parts Costs
Outer Casing - £19.00
Replace stud in outer case - £7.00 each
Original Face - from £25.00
Pointer/Needle - £12.00
Dial Shield - £8.00
Trip Winder (short) - £6.00
Trip Winder (long) - £ 10.00
Trip Gearbox - £23.00
Odometer/Trip Drive Gear - £10.00
Odometer Numbers Assembly - £18.00
Trip Numbers Assembly - £22.00
Main Chassis - £18.00
Needle Return Spring - £10.00
Main Spindle/Disc - £18.00
Mounting Bar - £7.00
Input Drive Shaft - £14.00
Input cover cap - £6.00
Magnet assembly - £18.00

Hi lazyeye6 & kommando, appreciate the reply. I contacted both companies & they said the same thing, any spares they have they are holding on to for their own repairs.

That's fair enough as that's their business!! and it's not like anybody else is making new spare parts!

I should add, Stu from classic-speedometers.com, did advise that just bending the tab on the part I had should work but didn't offer a replacement part.

I did wonder whether they would sell parts, and now we know. My personal opinion is that bending the remainder of the tangs as you’ve done will quickly damage the plastic teeth on the wheel, as it’s nowhere near as springy, but if you’re going for electronic anyway I guess it doesn’t matter.

Cheers,

cliffa.

cliffa said:

I did wonder whether they would sell parts, and now we know. My personal opinion is that bending the remainder of the tangs as you’ve done will quickly damage the plastic teeth on the wheel, as it’s nowhere near as springy, but if you’re going for electronic anyway I guess it doesn’t matter.

Cheers,

cliffa.

Click to expand...

I agree about the lack of 'springy' on the remaining part, I had it out for a 30mile spin yesterday & it was working fine, but for how long, who can tell!!

Hopefully I'll get an electronic speedo sorted over the winter