I followed your video and have some input, perhaps if you make another one. I could not free the magnet from the center shaft. Any prying on it resulted in minor scraping and damage; the magnet is softer than the steel enclosure in which it sits. The application of force on the magnet also bent the retainer clip out of shape as the whole magnet/shaft assembly pulled against it. My only option was to twist the retainer's tabs straight and remove all of it as once assembly. At this point, I figured there was no reason to remove the magnet from the shaft, straightened out the clip, greased and reassembled. Second, the shaft holding the small gears to the digit wheels did not give up easily and when it did, gears went everywhere. Fortunately, they do not need to go back in any particular order. I've spun the speedo with a drill, got 40MPH on the clock and one mile on the odo. Also, my digits were lacking paint, some of them unreadable. Scraping at them with a yellow crayon gets the color close enough for government work...and fills in rather well. Otherwise, this video was balls on target for my gauge; i even used Gorilla tape to mount the gels to the rear of the faceplate instead of remounting them back into the holders (I used Wolfsberg West's kit).
Thanks for the comment! Unfortunately you had more challenges than I typically do. In all the ones I have done I have never encountered this type of issue. Thanks for posting it in case someone else runs into this type of thing.
@@WolfHausMotorwerks Anytime. This is typical of anything I do on the car. What seems easy in a video presents unique difficulties when I do it. Such is the Bug Life.
I tried to find better bulbs etc. but nothing was strong enough to make a difference so using the led strip was simple and effective, and isn't visible when it's off.
Thanks for the video. It's the best one that resembles mine. You've allowed me to tackle this myself for my '74 VW Thing. There are a few minor differences but 98% identical. My glass is actually polycarbonate of something and it had no gasket. What kind of grease do you recommend?
Thanks! I'm glad it helped. I use a thick gear lube grease, you can use any gear type grease that is ok on plastics etc. It doesn't take much, you don't need it to sling around. Something like a good dialectic grease could work well too.
I have no real source for any rubber in the gauge assembly. I know cip sells a seal but I don’t think it’s the one you are asking about. You may need to get creative or use a broken speedo for parts.
@@WolfHausMotorwerks That's what I figured. I ordered the same thing from Wolfsberg West. I'll just find a sheet and cut one, maybe use gasket material. Thanks for the reply.
Thanks for the kind words! The les strips I get are 12v so on a 12v car it's a direct connection. On a 6v car id add a converter that converts 6v to 12v you should be able to find them on Amazon or alibaba etc.
Ppl like me use videos like yours when we run into problems. Like I did rebuilding my speedometer. The two toughest parts were resetting the miles and putting the back of the speedometer back on. Lining up the tiny little wire in the tiny little hole. Your video was very informative until you skipped showing the two hardest parts and cut away only to return with the part fixed but didn’t show how to fix it. Other than that it was okay. On another note I believe people like me don’t necessarily go looking for these videos unless we run into problems with something we are doing. If I find the video that helps fix my problems I mostly skip past all the BS ppl say and do to make their videos fancy and go right to the meat of my problems. Thanks for making them they help most of the time.
LED link? Is this a service I can pay you to provide on my '73 Standard Type 1 Bug? I don't need the Odo reset, just everything else. Thank you for this excellent guide!
The Led strip I use is similar to this DC 12V Waterproof 1Ft 15 LED Strip Underbody Light with 6 inches Wires for Motor (White,Pack of 6) a.co/d/5ArgD3r I hope this helps👍
Is it possible to buy the piece that the speedometer cable goes into? My old speedo cable rusted into that pin/gear. I finally got the cable off but a piece of the cable is still stuck in there so I cant get another cable in there far enough to turn the gear 100% of time but will work sometime. I want to take the speedo apart and replace that piece, I might even be able to remove the broken piece with it apart but didn't want to risk not having the piece before starting this. This is for a 74 Acapulco Thing.
It's a generic Led strip, about 12" long and just a bit less then 1/2" wide, you can use a strip that is less wide but not really wider. The ones I have used can be cut shorter and most come with an adhesive backing. You can find them at most electronics stores or online. they run on 12V DC.
I can't say what is legal or not in your area, however these speedometers often broke and were not accurate, easily replaced by one from another car, and at 99 999 they would go back to 0. In the video I show how to fix etc, you can also use this to put the correct milage into a replacement speedo for example.
You could put any color you like, it may cause the needle to show more or less, but I'd recommend trying it before you close up the speedo to see if you like the look of it.
Most of your videos are helpful, but it be really nice if you would show the difficult parts instead of cutting away and then just showing them done back up so in my opinion, your video isn’t very damn helpful
Awesome tutorial and upgrade advice, on the Speedo.
Thanks!
Little lengthy but very clear,, Thank you
Excellent video!
Post a link to the led strip for the ones who’d like to do the same mod 🤙
I'll try and find one on Amazon, I got mibe from a local shop.
The video helped alot and I put in the LED light but did it in blue.Looks awesome thank you
That’s great! I’m glad I helped, I’m sure it looks neat in blue👍.
Dope bro thanks 🫡💯👑shouts from England 🇬🇧
Thanks man!!👍👍
Thank you from Holland. My Mexico beetle meter is almost the same. He is up and running again.
That’s great!!! I’m glad it helped!!👍👍
I followed your video and have some input, perhaps if you make another one. I could not free the magnet from the center shaft. Any prying on it resulted in minor scraping and damage; the magnet is softer than the steel enclosure in which it sits. The application of force on the magnet also bent the retainer clip out of shape as the whole magnet/shaft assembly pulled against it. My only option was to twist the retainer's tabs straight and remove all of it as once assembly. At this point, I figured there was no reason to remove the magnet from the shaft, straightened out the clip, greased and reassembled. Second, the shaft holding the small gears to the digit wheels did not give up easily and when it did, gears went everywhere. Fortunately, they do not need to go back in any particular order. I've spun the speedo with a drill, got 40MPH on the clock and one mile on the odo. Also, my digits were lacking paint, some of them unreadable. Scraping at them with a yellow crayon gets the color close enough for government work...and fills in rather well. Otherwise, this video was balls on target for my gauge; i even used Gorilla tape to mount the gels to the rear of the faceplate instead of remounting them back into the holders (I used Wolfsberg West's kit).
Thanks for the comment! Unfortunately you had more challenges than I typically do. In all the ones I have done I have never encountered this type of issue. Thanks for posting it in case someone else runs into this type of thing.
@@WolfHausMotorwerks Anytime. This is typical of anything I do on the car. What seems easy in a video presents unique difficulties when I do it. Such is the Bug Life.
awesome upgrade and video.
Thanks for the feedback! 👍👍
great video
Thanks!
Excellent video. I’ll tackle my 71SB and my 73SB following your steps. Thanks
Thanks! Good luck!
Awesome video thanks. Now ready to rebuild mine!
Awesome👍👍
thats badass! great work & video 👍👍
Thanks!
Great job. Please, can you tell me the scale (ohms) of the fuel gauge float of this speedometer?
Way to think outside the box. Never thought about adding a led strip.
I tried to find better bulbs etc. but nothing was strong enough to make a difference so using the led strip was simple and effective, and isn't visible when it's off.
Well done, thank you!
Thanks!👍
Great video. What do the Roman numerals I, II and III indicate?
Thanks! As far as I’ve ever heard, they are shift points, meaning that is where they recomend shifting into the next gear in normal conditions.
Thanks for the video. It's the best one that resembles mine. You've allowed me to tackle this myself for my '74 VW Thing. There are a few minor differences but 98% identical. My glass is actually polycarbonate of something and it had no gasket. What kind of grease do you recommend?
Thanks! I'm glad it helped. I use a thick gear lube grease, you can use any gear type grease that is ok on plastics etc. It doesn't take much, you don't need it to sling around. Something like a good dialectic grease could work well too.
Do you have a source on the rubber that goes around the glass with the lip on one side, and the thicker rubber that goes around all of that?
I have no real source for any rubber in the gauge assembly. I know cip sells a seal but I don’t think it’s the one you are asking about.
You may need to get creative or use a broken speedo for parts.
@@WolfHausMotorwerks That's what I figured. I ordered the same thing from Wolfsberg West. I'll just find a sheet and cut one, maybe use gasket material. Thanks for the reply.
Also I do like the led lights. Do you have the product info on the lights all the ones I find are about 1/2in wide and I think that’s to wide. Thanks
Great video ! Would the LED connection need a resistor ? Or just connect it ? Thanks for your time big fan keep up the great work on VW DYI . Alex NJ
Thanks for the kind words! The les strips I get are 12v so on a 12v car it's a direct connection. On a 6v car id add a converter that converts 6v to 12v you should be able to find them on Amazon or alibaba etc.
@@WolfHausMotorwerksdid you wire the LED strip to the dimmer on the dash?
Ppl like me use videos like yours when we run into problems. Like I did rebuilding my speedometer. The two toughest parts were resetting the miles and putting the back of the speedometer back on. Lining up the tiny little wire in the tiny little hole. Your video was very informative until you skipped showing the two hardest parts and cut away only to return with the part fixed but didn’t show how to fix it. Other than that it was okay. On another note I believe people like me don’t necessarily go looking for these videos unless we run into problems with something we are doing. If I find the video that helps fix my problems I mostly skip past all the BS ppl say and do to make their videos fancy and go right to the meat of my problems. Thanks for making them they help most of the time.
LED link? Is this a service I can pay you to provide on my '73 Standard Type 1 Bug? I don't need the Odo reset, just everything else. Thank you for this excellent guide!
You can DM me at wolfhausmotorwerks@gmail.com
what way did you spin the driil 🤔
If I am not mistaken it spins counter clockwise.
Great info.👍
Thanks!👍
What are the light bulbs u used I can't find the model name of the exact bulb model number online
The Led strip I use is similar to this
DC 12V Waterproof 1Ft 15 LED Strip Underbody Light with 6 inches Wires for Motor (White,Pack of 6) a.co/d/5ArgD3r
I hope this helps👍
Is it possible to buy the piece that the speedometer cable goes into? My old speedo cable rusted into that pin/gear. I finally got the cable off but a piece of the cable is still stuck in there so I cant get another cable in there far enough to turn the gear 100% of time but will work sometime. I want to take the speedo apart and replace that piece, I might even be able to remove the broken piece with it apart but didn't want to risk not having the piece before starting this. This is for a 74 Acapulco Thing.
Second question if I do have to buy a used speedometer for this, is that gear pretty standard for these speedos that have the separate fuel gauge?
I'm not aware of many or any spare parts other than a gear for super beetle speedos. I usually source used units to pick parts from.
Ideally I usually get as close to identical unit to swap parts from.
What size LED strip is that?
It's a generic Led strip, about 12" long and just a bit less then 1/2" wide, you can use a strip that is less wide but not really wider. The ones I have used can be cut shorter and most come with an adhesive backing. You can find them at most electronics stores or online. they run on 12V DC.
Is it legal to run the mileage back? I thought it was.
I can't say what is legal or not in your area, however these speedometers often broke and were not accurate, easily replaced by one from another car, and at 99 999 they would go back to 0. In the video I show how to fix etc, you can also use this to put the correct milage into a replacement speedo for example.
could you add a colored led light strip such as green instead of white
You could put any color you like, it may cause the needle to show more or less, but I'd recommend trying it before you close up the speedo to see if you like the look of it.
Where can I find parts ?
I mostly use old speedos for parts etc. I’m not aware of any suppliers.
Would you be willing to rebuild my 74 super beetle speedometer?
Most of your videos are helpful, but it be really nice if you would show the difficult parts instead of cutting away and then just showing them done back up so in my opinion, your video isn’t very damn helpful
So is it just this video? What exactly is the info you need more clarification on? I had feedback that my videos were too long and drawn out.🤷♂️
informative video but the guys hands go out of shot way too much kinda frustrating!
Thanks for the feedback
Not always easy to film properly and get things done at the same time. 👍👍