The item in question: https://www.shapeways.com/product/KA...-odometer-gear

The odometer gear went out on my 91 TA. After I opened up the assembly, the gear crumbled apart. In a previous thread someone sent me the link to them but nobody knew anything about them. I decided to take a chance.

I bought two in case I messed up; white acrylic and "white, strong, and flexible." The inside where the shaft goes in didn't fit. It wasn't a perfect cylindrical opening. I did like the description said in the link; I snapped off the shaft on the odometer housing to solder on later. I did a number of things, like pushing it into the gear by force, tapping a mallet into it, using a small screwdriver to scrape out some of the inside, etc. Eventually, the white acrylic broke.

On to the "white, strong, and flexible"

It had the same issue, I couldn't get it in. I used lubrication this time, and on this one, I was able to scrape out some of the hole. Finally I just used a heat gun on the shaft so it would melt the opening when going in. This worked, but barely. It's now stuck inside the gear. I get that they are supposed to be tight from factory, but no amount of grease will free it to spin. Between the two gears, I probably spent over $20 after shipping, plus the 2 weeks it took to print and ship.

The outside looks good and the teeth would be perfect for the worm wheel that powers it, but the inside of it is just a mess. You're probably better off just buying a whole new odometer assembly, or try the stainless steel if you want. I was worried it would break the gears that are connected to it, but it may be better.

I will be getting an aftermarket speedometer assembly to replace the whole stock setup anyway. I will post a review on that too.

 

Thanks for the review

curious question, why didn't you just run a drill through the center to open it up a little bit? You could have measured the shaft for sizing.

FWIW, I don't like the idea of breaking the shaft off as I don't have the skills to reattach it. I have had a few speedo's apart just for this reason.... drives me crazy.

 

Either way, I would have had to either break off the shaft or grind down the top lip of it that keeps the gear on. I didn't trust my hand grinding it since the other gears and odometer are right there. I'll try to remove the shaft from the gear and use a drill like you said since I can leave the lip on the shaft and put it on from the bottom. Thanks for the suggestion

 

Please update the thread with your results.....