speedometer screw

Howdy fellow XJers,

the little screw on the face of the speedometer came out and is rolling around in the bottom of hte guage. How do you take the glass off the speedometer so I can put that screw back in?
ken k

 

You don't. You have to disassemble the whole cluster "from behind" as it were. Remove the cluster (I didn't remove completely, just disconn tach and speedo cable and pulled it up enough to be accessible.) There are (if I remember) four screws holding the back on, remove it. Then remove the mounting bracket from the back of the instruments. Then remove (8) little black self-tapping screws from the back (if you end up with 9, don't panic. There is one that doesn't HAVE to come out but that isn't apparent until you have it apart. <experience>) Now the whole face plate will lift away from the instruments, glass and all. While you're in there, clean everything and check for burnt out bulbs. (<experience again>) Reassembly is reverse of disassembly. One tip: Self-tapping screws going BACK INTO plastic: put screw in position, apply gentle pressure and rotate as though UNSCREWING until you feel the screw "drop" into the original threads. Then tighten---you won't be cutting new threads each time that way.

 

I wish EVERYONE did this. It is so simple and saves so many cross threaded and wrung off screws and bolts it should be taught before anyone is allowed to use hand tools.

 

OK thanks for the info bigfitz52. I was afraid it would be something like that. Things can nver be too easy can they...

ken k