Replacing speedometer retaining hardware

Hi all,

I recently removed my speedometer to gain better access to re-attach the windscreen washer tubing to the spray heads. Getting it out was not hard, but in trying to replace it with the mounting hardware, I have been unable to reattach the knurled nuts after positioning the rear brackets. Not only that, but I lost the two thumb nuts and one retaining piece somewhere in the parallel universe that is the inside of the dash. Luckily I was able to obtain spares, but don't want to keep dropping (and losing) them. I don't have the dash removed and don't want to either.

Also I tried taking one of the nuts to a hardware store, and it appeared to fit a standard 8-32 screw. However, I tried a heavier and larger brass 8-32 knurled nut (so I could hold on to it) and when I got them home, they would not thread onto the speedometer screws in back of the case. I tried a couple of metric sizes, and the same thing happened. Who would have guessed?

Does anyone know of any neat tricks to getting the nuts started? I made use of various sized mirrors to find the washer jets way up in the dask, but the cables, brackets, etc. are in the way for a clear view from underneath. This would make good training for surgery. My hands are not the large either, but I feel like a klutz.

Part of learning to work on MGs is learning to "see" with your finger tips. No magic potion for doing the thing behind the dash. Wait until you have to pull the square oil pressure gauge. AAARRRRGGGG!

Just drive the car over some rough surfaces and look on the floor. You will find the thumb wheels in a week or so.

Jack

I'm assuming you have dropped the right side heater controller out of the way.

It's an art. It's a feeling of as it falls out of your fingertips, you spin the knurled nut in a clockwise direction and hope it catches the threads. And yes, I have two sets of nuts.

If my finger was 1/2" shorter, I know I wouldn't be able to do it.

I usually start the upper one with the bracket on before pushing the head thru the hole in the dash, it's a snug fit getting it thru but it will. Then I reach up and tighten it. The lower one doesn't seem as hard to get started but as jack says you have to do it by brail. It seems like when I’ve dropped the thumbnut it has almost always ended up on the support that the steering bolts to.

Try using a magnetic nut holder. I saw some at Home Depot in different sizes. And yes Jack, the trick about the rough roads really works!! I'm just hoping the cat we lost doesn't shake out one day!

Wow, your good. You removed the speedo without taking the Tach out first?

cajuntwostepper Wrote:

Could be wrong but I seem to remember the 'nuts' are Aluminium.
Chris
[/quote]

After attempting to find a lost one with a pick up magnet - yes, they are aluminum.

losmorob Wrote:

yank the tach. much better access that way.

don't know how you get to the speedo without doing that first.

Thank you all for the great replies and perspective. I think that part of the problem is that my fingers lose their feeling pretty quickly, as it's still pretty cold in the garage, here in NH (almost the arctic circle). You're right about stuff falling out of the dash in time.

Rob, I will try taking the heater control off, since I am tired of scraping my hands on it every time I go in there. I did try the telescopic magnet trick, but naturally they are aluminum. The brackets can be easiily found with it though.

As far as removing the tach - won't that just cause me to have to deal with the hardware for it after the speedometer goes back in? Also, isn't the steering column in the way?

I suppose I could just wait till it warms up here, to allow the hands to work better, but there's a lot of small things I want to get done before driving season.

Regards,
Bill M.

You just need to drop the heater control down out of the dash. No need to disconnect the control cable.

The mounting studs and the knurled nuts are a 4 X 0.75mm thread. Getting them started under the dash is easy - if you have 6" long fingers articulated in five places ;)
Cheers,

Did anyone find my knurled nuts?

The nuts are actually 3BA (4.1 x 0.73mm). I think Jeff (B-racer) was looking in to having some knurled ones made - I do know we sent a stud from a speedo can to "British Fasteners" to verify the thread size.

Limey Wrote:

Having had so much difficulty with the nuts and brackets in the past, I just hold the gauge in my right hand while I drive.

Dan, I almost did a spit-take on that one!

It actually work OK as long as you keep the fuel gauge in your shirt pocket.

OK, I'm done.