[alfa] Re: alfa-digest V10 #411

[Pottree@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 11/11/2004 6:25:35 PM Pacific Standard Time,  
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:

From:  George Graves <gmgraves@domain.elided>
Subject: [alfa] Re: GTV6 speedo  problems

One might also check for droopy needle syndrome, or DNS. This  malady is 
caused when the interior of a GTV-6 repeatedly exceeds about 150  
degrees F, on hot summer days. The stresses in the molded plastic  
needle pointer cause it to contract unevenly when it cools down after  
being heated by a hot interior. This uneven setting of the  
thermoplastic causes the needle to bend in toward the face of the dial  
and can touch it. This accounts for most of the sticking speedos and  
tachometers on these cars. The fix is to remove the instrument, take  
the face off (easy to do once it's out, and, on GTV-6s, these  
instruments are VERY easy to take out - just remove 4 screws each) and  
pry off the needle (its just force fit on the shaft) use something like  
a pair of needle-nosed pliers or dikes to get on either side of the  
shaft and provide equal leverage on both sides of the needle as you  
pry. Once the needle is removed carefully hold it over the kitchen  
range with a burner turned-on high until the needle is hot (not too  
close though or you'll ruin it). Then put it flat side down on a cool,  
flat surface with a weight on it immediately, and leave it to cool  
thoroughly. That should take the droop back out of the needle. Push it  
back on to it's shaft with pointer against the fully anti-clockwise  
stop, and then reassemble the speedo and re-install it. That should fix  
it. The same procedure applies to tachometers as  well.



This is good advice.
 
However, sometimes the plastic needles are just too gone or stubborn to  fix. 
 Then, it is really not hard to pry the needle off (CAREFULLY!) and  glue in 
a thin wooden substitute, painted white, as I did a long time ago on the  red 
GTV6.  This wooden sliver weighs about the same as the semi-hollow  needle 
(e.g., nothing +) so the indication is just about as inaccurate as ever  BUT it 
won't melt again.  This is an especially appealing option to those  in hot 
climates.
 
Speaking of my 84 GTV6: it joined us this past weekend on a wonderful  annual 
Alfa Club wine tour to California's central coast.  The weather and  the 
driving were perfect, and the GTV6 certainly responded!  That's the  Italian 
Tune-up for this season!  Please do not ask how much wine can fit  in a GTV6; it is 
too much!
 
Charlie
LA, CA, USA
 
84 GTV6
91 Spider
94 164 LS
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