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MG MG Y Type - Jaeger chronometric speedo

On our way from Melbourne to the MGCC National Meeting at Tamworth (AUS), a 3,000km round trip, my Jaeger speedo (pictured) gave up. Firstly it swung to over 100mph and jammed, then the needle fell off. Before anyone make a joke out of that, we were cruising at ~63mph. We finished the rally relying on our GPS speedo.

Back home I removed the Jaeger & cable, taking both to our trusted instrument maker who's repaired various period gauges for me in the past. Picking up the repaired Jaeger today, he advised that whilst it's in good condition on the outside, the workings are substantially worn out.

The warning issued is that it's fixed now but this might be the last time. I'm advised to start looking for a solution, likely to be needed in the next few years. This implies finding a similar speedo with chonometric workings in better condition to cannibalise, or source a complete replacement. I'm not sure about the latter, these gauges being uncommon now and all of a similar age.

I'm interested in anyone else's knowledge or experience around these gauges. I want to retain the correct Jaeger face to match my Jaeger tachometer, but will tolerate different workings or body if necessary, even electronic internals. If stuck with the original gauge being beyond further repair, I'll consider any reliable solution that retains the heritage face & appearance.

Any suggestions welcomed...


R Ades

Hi Rob, my tacho has been fixed three times now and has failed again. Who is your trusted instrument maker in Melb? Thanks, Ewan
E.J. Ward

Hi Ewan,

I go to Gary at Ringwood Speedometer Services. Nice guy, very skilled. Very reliable. He's restored/repaired all the gauges in YT over the last 20 years and recalibrated the chronometric speedo each time I changed my diff ratio and serviced. So I believe him when he says it may not have a lot of life left without new parts.

I don't recommend Howard Instruments, who are the bigger shop in Heidelberg West. Slow, poor customer service, expensive and mixed results.

I hear that Lionel Otto in Brisbane is good. Tony Slattery may comment...

Regards,
Rob
R Ades

Yes, Otto Instruments in Brisbane can repair these. The reality is these instruments were never designed to last 75 years.

Given the accuracy of the GPS Speedo's these days, do we really need to have the speedo or tacho connected on long interstate drives? Could be time to start giving the instruments a rest and unscrewing the cable now & again.

One day, someone will develop an "electronic insert" to replace the chronometric internals...

Safety Fast

Tony Slattery
The Classic Workshop
Black Mountain, QLD
Australia
A L SLATTERY

Fair comment Tony, but the engineer in my hates a dead gauge when driving. The interstate trips are generally once a year only. The 75 years old issue is the nub of it.

I live in hope of an electronic insert one day, expecting that it'll need to be adapted for the Jaeger (unlikely to be specially designed). In the meantime, I'll be on the lookout for any useful spare parts.

I've now replaced the drive cable with a good quality anti-clockwise wound one from Ringwood Speedo. This avoids the Archimedes screw of a clockwise wound cable pumping lubrication from the cable sheath (or a weeping pinon drive seal) up into the speedo - another scourge I've encountered.
R Ades

Well, that didn't take long!
4 months later and the Jaeger speedo has frozen again.
I've sent an enquiry to Lionel Otto Instruments, will see what they say.
I'll leave the dead instrument in its hole for looks until I have a solution.
R Ades

This thread was discussed between 19/04/2024 and 25/08/2024

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