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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Odometer reset

As the speedo was squeaking I took it apart, as I have done many times, and carelessly disturbed the odometer reading. In the process of fiddling it now reads 00000. How do I get it back to what it read before? I made a note of what it was (full marks to me for that!), but the tumblers now won't move. The usual sources on the web are not helpful. OK it may not matter, who knows what mileage the car has done in 65 years? But I like to keep track of it for servicing. Can't find anything in the archives either.
Les Rose

Does this help ?

https://youtu.be/mTjOklye1JM?t=849
T Carter

Thanks, but I already watched that one and the speedo is not the same as mine.
Les Rose

Cordless drill and some patience? :)
AdrianR

I tried that Adrian. It would take over 8 hours of turning.
Les Rose

I have given up, so I can pretend I have a new car again.
Les Rose

As a last resort (if the pretending eventually irks) - Speedycables?
Jeremy MkIII

Tippex and a Sharpie?
ISTR there's a way to "unclutch" the wheels with a pin and turn them where you want them, but I don't remember the details.
You would like to think it's more secure in this day and age, but it's easier on a modern - it can be done through the OBD2 port with a gadget selling for under 200 quid.
Caveat emptor, as the Romans said.
Greybeard

"Caveat emptor, as the Romans said." 😊
Jeremy MkIII

Les--unsure of the makeup of a bugeye speedo but you should be able to remove the roller assembly and starting at the 10,000's end hold that roller and turn the others around to get the number you want then hold 2 and turn the rest then hold 3 and so on till you get what you want then refit it to the speedo
"IF" the rollers have got some decent endfloat or have one of those springy wave washers on the end, instead of removing the roller assembly you can poke a feeler gauge between a pair of them and separate them far enough to disengage the drive allowing you to spin one around to where you want him---again, start at the big numbers end and work down the row.

willy
William Revit

Thanks Willy

I can't work out how to remove the roller assembly. It's fixed between two solid brackets. There seems to be a circlip on the inside of one bracket, and maybe that secures the shaft. But the feeler gauge idea sounds interesting. I'll give that a try.
Les Rose

>>"IF" the rollers have got some decent endfloat or have one of those springy wave washers on the end, instead of removing the roller assembly you can poke a feeler gauge between a pair of them and separate them far enough to disengage the drive allowing you to spin one around to where you want him---again, start at the big numbers end and work down the row.<< Willie said...
That was it! Well remembered.
For "feeler gauge" substitute "pin" and that's what I saw about 50 years ago.
Age is a terrible thing. The years have been kind but the weekends were bastards!
Greybeard

Age is ok Grey--but yeah I don't think I could handle an old days weekend now
William Revit

It's all coming out in the wash now - all those who are familiar with how to clock an odometer, even if only half remembered from days of youth!

Les, I must say you are probably unique in wanting to add mileage rather than subtract it ! 🤣
GuyW

I don't really know why I am trying to do this. The car is on its 3rd speedo to my knowledge, and the current one read zero when I fitted it more years ago than I can remember. I keep a spreadsheet as a service record and it makes me feel better to see the mileage progressing nicely.
Les Rose

I did it. What is required is not one but two feelers. Starting with the left roller, the feelers were inserted between the metal plates to the right of it, which releases the clutch and the roller can then be rotated. The best way is to use the feelers to rotate the roller, by moving them up. With only one feeler (or pin) the roller isn't kept parallel and it won't release. The other rollers are then treated the same way, working left to right. Mind you, I haven't put the unit back in the car yet, so expect bad language if it doesn't work correctly.

I suppose I should make a video about this.
Les Rose

This thread was discussed between 06/08/2023 and 12/08/2023

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