Resetting odometer on 80-86 mechanical speedometer?
 

I found a decent trip speedometer at the junkyard today, but the total mileage odometer (not the trip odometer) reads around 10,000 miles higher (~77K) than my current speedometer (about to hit 64K). Is there any way I can reset or adjust the new speedometer to read the correct mileage?

If not, I could always just make a note of both mileages and do a little math to keep tabs on my actual mileage.

you should be able to pop the cyl with the #'s out of the odometer and either change them or swap the old ones into the new gauge

Kirby...not the easiest thing in the world to do, but it can be done. There's a pin that slides through the odomoter assembly that holds both the number dial and the cams. Basically you need to retract the pin just far enough so you can lift the dials up just enouhg to turn them, set what you want, and slide everything back in place. To get the mileage correct, figure out the numbers 180 degrees out from what you want, because that's the side you can see. Gently slide everything back together and hope it aligns. It may take several attempts to get it right.

Thanks for the quick replies.

It's been years since I've seen the back of this style of speedometer. Do I use pliers or some other tool to retract the pin? And the first idea about swapping out the whole odometer assembly, is that less likely to risk damaging the "new" speedometer?

I'm willing to do the work, but I sure hope I won't damage it. It's pretty darn nice. The needle isn't faded much if it all, plus that trip odometer is a plus. :-X22

If I remember right, it will push through....its got a pointed, fluted end on it. I pushed it through with a small flat screwdriver. Also, during the dissassembly make note of the needle position, but to make sure mine was put back on correctly, I took the truck for a ride without the plastic cover in place, and using a GPS, adjusted the needle position until it ran right.

As far as swapping the odometers, the trip odometer type is different from the non-trip type.

I'm not too informed on vehicle regulations,but I thought adjusting the mileage on a speedometer was illegal?Or does that only apply to a certain age of vehicle,or if the mileage is still counted,and not Exempt like the higher mileage or older trucks?

In this case he's installing a new speedometer and matching the correct mileage. That's what I did with mine. I guess you could always sell the truck Total Mileage Unknown (TMU) to cover yourself.

It technically is illegal but with these trucks not having the hundred thousand mile number on it most people sell it as they dont know the exact mileage anyways.

True,you're not adjusting it to a lower number,so I'm sure they'll just look the other way.

These trucks are exempt on mileage anyways,they'd never know the difference in Florida,since we don't have inspections.

There's got to be a legal provision for replacing a unit. What happens if one breaks? I know for certain there are programmers available for the electronic odometers.

In some states over if the vehicle is 10 years or older, milage is no longer important.

and if it was illegal to change a replacement odometer to match what the truck actually has, and the new one shows 40k lower, I doubt that the "legal" course would be to just leave it, cause that would be the same as setting it back! and the point about i breaking, its ot like they can say "youre never allowed to change your instrument cluster", otherwise they wouldve made it a whole lot harder to pull off :P

Save yourself the hassle and just make a note of the mileage difference. You will most likely end up with a odo that looks like it has been rolled, which looks a hell of a lot worse than telling someone you just swaped clusters. And yes, it is against the law to roll an odo.

TheKirbyMan,

Why not just hold on to the "new" speedometer for ~ 1 year, depending on how much you drive your truck, and you will catch up and the mileage will be the same!!

I like it!:-missingt