Point me in a good direction for broken speedo needle removal

Yamidude59

Yamidude59

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Feb 19, 2008
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Location
Jackson Wi
I seen a thread on here a while back on some techniques and maybe someone knows where its at, i searched and had no luck really... Maybe we can shed new light on some how to's with out removing the axle.

I remember something about getting a small drill bit and drilling into the broken needle and getting a slide hammer to get it out. But this needle is just tightly wrapped wires formed into a square needle and the half i pulled out is all unwound to hell so i can only guess that the other half is pretty mangled in there.

It broke the same weekend of the same month the year before on the same trip and it was bitter cold out, pulling it off the trailer after hauling it all night in sub zero temps. I pulled the cover off down there and it was PACKED with grease from the dealer back in the day when i was too afraid to work on my own stuff lol. That grease must of froze solid and snapped the needle?

when we put a new one in my buddies sled it had very little grease in that cup when we pulled the old one out. so i'm not over doing the grease when i install the new one.

I'm hoping thats the reason it broke and not a bad bearing, but while i'm down there i'm going to replace that bearing, seeing as in i can just replace that bearing without axle removal.
 
your not going to remove just the broken speedo key. with the drill and slidehammer trick, your actually removing the bushing that holds the key inside the shaft. drive whats left of the key into the shaft, drill a hole large enough for the srew to bite in and slidehammer away. this only works if the shaft is removed from sled. sometimes a self tapping screw will bite in and pull the bushing out. a 90 degree drill works good for this, if your trying to leave the shaft in place. i havent had much luck with this method, about 50/50, versus 100% with the shaft removed. you will need part #s 8K4-47577-00 and 8K4-47715-00.
 
Yamidude59 said:
I seen a thread on here a while back on some techniques and maybe someone knows where its at, i searched and had no luck really... Maybe we can shed new light on some how to's with out removing the axle.

I remember something about getting a small drill bit and drilling into the broken needle and getting a slide hammer to get it out. But this needle is just tightly wrapped wires formed into a square needle and the half i pulled out is all unwound to hell so i can only guess that the other half is pretty mangled in there.

It broke the same weekend of the same month the year before on the same trip and it was bitter cold out, pulling it off the trailer after hauling it all night in sub zero temps. I pulled the cover off down there and it was PACKED with grease from the dealer back in the day when i was too afraid to work on my own stuff lol. That grease must of froze solid and snapped the needle?

when we put a new one in my buddies sled it had very little grease in that cup when we pulled the old one out. so i'm not over doing the grease when i install the new one.

I'm hoping thats the reason it broke and not a bad bearing, but while i'm down there i'm going to replace that bearing, seeing as in i can just replace that bearing without axle removal.
Click to expand...


A failed bearing is usually the cause of a broken speedo pin. I'd loosen the track and check for any movement in that bearing and plan on replacing it like you said.

I'd try soaking it for a day or so and perhaps use a wood/sheetmetal screw small enough to fit into the end of the axle and bite into the broken pin, then pull the screw with the pin attached. You could also try a left handed drill bit. You may want to soak the bearing and locking collar also as breaking it loose from the axle shaft will be the toughest part of the job.

Someone may have used a pump or two too much and pushed the seal out. Nothing wrong with having the whole cavity filled but it may be a sign that someone over pumped. The grease may have hardened up a bit in cold extremes but not I don't think enough to cause any damage.
 
I've got broken stud extraction on the brain. Using a small bit that fits the hole and drilling out the entire pin would work but I think the pin winding is spring steel and harder than the axle so be careful to stay centered which may prove difficult bent given the location.

A little heat might help expand the hole and tackle any corrision holding the pin. Have you tried a strong magnet?
 
THey are a pain to get out I removed mine with the shaft out. I tried to drill just large enough to do the screw and slide hammer trick didn't work, tried to heat it didn't work. Ended up just drilling it almost all the way out and bending the remainder inward and pulling it out with a needle nose vise grip. Good luck trying it in the sled.
 
Have you tried replacing your speedo cable? It could have all kinds of crap in it. I would go over the whole chain, the speedo, make sure it spins freely, the cable, the bearing, the shaft. I can see snapping one, but two, there must another issue, I can not see grease freezing that bad. But then it has not been that cold here last few years either.
 
use a drill under the size of the square drive and pick away at it, if you go to big with the drill it has a better chance of binding and breaking, i cant remember if its right hand twist or left but use a drill with same twist or as you drill it will un wind tighter in drive and better chance of binding
 
How far in does that slot go in the axle? maybe i can hit the broken piece in far enough to get the new one in?

Thanks
 
Do yourself and others a favor once you get this straightened out and are putting it all back together, put anti-seize on everything and you should never have this problem again.
 
I broke a couple untill i replaced the speedo hub assembly.As mentioned try to spin the cable and drive piece before putting it back togather it should spin freely.
 
i got the needle out, i fished it out with a smalled piece of tig tungsten from work... now i'm just waitin on a new bearing and speedo hub assembly to get in.
 
i removed the speedo side bearing... Loosened the allen nut and it slid of the shaft extremely easily.. I pulled it off with my fingers... bearing isn't as bad as i thought it would be for breaking 2 needles in a year... but i'm going to replace it...

also, I believe my track is stock, what is thethe name of it? i need to get about 15 track clips ordered and put them on with a vice grips or some other way. lost 15 last season apparently... they were all there before last season...
 
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