September 2010

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Remove the 2 screws that secure the plated face, with directional arrows, to the head‟s pot metal housing and lift the face off. Your next step is to remove the 2 countersunk screws that secure the support for the shaft. After you have removed the support, the shaft will develop a mind of its own and flop all over the place, so handle with care. You do not want to damage the spring. As you handle the head for continued disassembly the part that rotates with the shaft may get out of its correct position. Just remember that the stops rest against each other so as to prevent the indicator needle from rotating too far counter-clockwise. When reassembled the needle must rotate clockwise to indicate the speed you are traveling. Next you will find one thin clip that secures the numbered speedometer assembly and one that secures the numbered odometer assembly. Remove the clips one at a time and remove the numbered assemblies one at a time by sliding them in the direction of the retaining clip groove as you lift out the opposite end and then slide it back toward the original position. Put differently, they angle out of the housing. Please note: the back side of the numbered assemblies have slotted tabs that must engage a thin flat strap to correctly orient them. Visually examine before removing. Now you can remove the gear that runs front to back in the housing. Note orientation. Don‟t attempt to remove the other gears. Now you can clean the gear teeth and bearing surfaces. The old grease has dried and hardened and is no longer lubricating properly. Q-tips are helpful, but do not leave residue of cotton on gears. Use a very, very light grease to lubricate all gear teeth and bearing surfaces for shafts. Apply sparingly and DO NOT lubricate the indicator needle shaft. It rotates in a brass bushing which acts as a lubricant. Greasing it will adversely affect performance and accuracy. This next step is critical for quiet operation of your speedometer head. On the back side of the head you will find a brass cup plug near the threads for the speedometer cable. It may be covered with dust and fuzz. Clean it with a Q-tip and then pry it out of the hole using an ice pick or sharp awl. Be gentle. Use just enough strength to remove it without damage. Place the pointed end of the tool against the bottom inside portion of the cup plug and simply pry it out. DO NOT LOSE IT. Under the cup plug you will see a round piece of felt which was lubricated at the factory. Do not attempt to remove it. Place several drops of 3-inone-oil onto the felt and allow it to be absorbed as you rotate the shaft, by hand, that mates to the speedometer cable. Cradle the pointer shaft in one hand so the spring does not get damaged as you lube the felt and spin the cable shaft. When the cable shaft rotates smoothly and freely then you can push the cup plug back into the hole. Now you can reassemble the speedometer head. Reverse the process of disassembly. Here are some tips: make sure the stops for the pointer are correctly oriented as stated earlier and the slotted tabs on the back of the numbered assemblies are aligned correctly. Ensure that the countersunk screws are in the correct locations. Be certain your indicator needle is correctly oriented before gently pushing it back onto the shaft. If you bend it don‟t panic, just straighten it. Also, if the luminescent paint on the tip of the needle is flaking off you may want to paint it before reassembly. When you install the entire cluster back into the dash, be careful to connect everything to the proper location. Oh, and have a cold one after the road test. You deserve it! A WEDDING WITH A 1949 CADILLAC By Michael Kistinger, Bottrop Germany On Friday, May 28th, my friends Christian Stiewe and Samira Farouqi got married, with my ‟49 convertible and me an important part of the festivities. Christian and Samira live in Cologne, about 60 miles from my home. The area is heavily populated, and there are traffic jams every morning and afternoon in and around the city. To avoid getting stuck, I decided to travel to Cologne Thursday evening and spend the night at another friend's home in the same neighborhood. I was busy at work that day and got home late, but it wasn't too bad because when I finally started, the traffic jams had disappeared. But soon after entering the highway, raindrops were falling. When I started the wipers, one of the blades flew away! With a bad feeling, I continued my journey (no chance to stop and look for the missing part). The rain stopped soon, and when I arrived at my friend's home, I found a pair of new wiper blades in the trunk. Phew, you can imagine my relief. The night brought rain again, but the sky cleared up very slowly in the morning. After breakfast I drove to Christian‟s home to pick up some glasses for the champagne to be served after the wedding ceremony. Next, I had to drive to the town center to get flowers for the car and pick up Samira from the hair dresser. The traffic was very heavy, and road work didn't make it easier. Finally I managed to pick up the flowers, the bride and reach the civil registry office just in time. After the ceremony the sky had cleared further and the Cadillac‟s top was dry. I put it down and placed the car next to the entrance, where the champagne was served while everyone tried to photograph the couple and the Cadillac. What an experience driving an old Cadillac cross-town with the top down, flowers on the hood and a happy couple in the back seat! Pedestrians shouted congratulations and held their thumbs up when they saw us passing by.
After the wedding pictures had been taken, I drove the couple to the hotel where the wedding guests were waiting. The hotel was surrounded by a large pedestrian zone. No motor vehicles allowed. But the management lowered a barrier just for us. I drove slowly in a semi circle, stopped in front of the entrance and let the couple get out of the car. What a show! When I drove my „49 to the underground garage, I took three boys with me. For them riding the short distance in that old Cadillac was much more exciting than the wedding. The next day started with a perfect blue sky. After breakfast with Christian, Samira and some other guests, we stowed the presents in the trunk and I drove the couple home. They enjoyed the ride again, and so did I on my way home. What started so bad with rain and a lost wiper blade became a very nice experience that will stay in fond memory for a long time. CHRISTIAN AND SAMIRA JUST MARRIED IN MICHAEL’S ’49 CONVERTIBLE, COLOGNE, GERMANY POWER WINDOW SWITCHES (AGAIN) By John Washburn This is what I do to repair the Hydro Electric Window Switches when they start to act up. A lot of time, the nylon rod breaks from age and use. This makes the switches sloppy and prone to poor contact. This angers the driver when the windows sometimes fail to go up, or sometimes fail to go down. Removing the switch for the car is not terribly difficult – just be sure to mark the wires so you know where they go. If the wiring is original, be careful about handling it or you may have to use shrink wrap insulation if the cloth insulation comes off. The pictures show the refurbishment of a 1953 Cadillac 4-gang switch, but the 1949 switch is the same as in all functional respects; only the chrome is a little different. Picture A shows a 4-gang switch disassembled. The orange wire or rod is weed wacker line, .095” in diameter. I have also used the tip off a broken fly rod instead, but finding broken fly rods is not easy! PICTURE A
Page 1 and 2: Newsletter Of The Forty-Niners Chap
Page 3: ALL THREE ‘49S ATTENDING, WITH A
Page 7: RUST BEHIND THE ROCKER PANEL MOLDIN

September 2010

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