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Is this an original speedometer?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Jeff55cj5, Oct 24, 2014.

  1. Jeff55cj5

    Jeff55cj5 Member

    Well, I received the pointer today. Pretty cool. Very nice NOS piece. I bought both that he had. They are not cheap! But I was so shocked to be able to track one down, I just grabbed up the two he had left. I don't want to break the forum rules promoting a business that isn't a sponsor, but if anyone has any speedo needs, I can recommend you to the place that had these. The guy is very nice, shipped super fast and they are experts, not just in Jeep speedos, but in all things vintage.

    I still have to lightly sand the case around it and repaint it. I have the dash and windshield frame in my basement shop for the winter, these will be my two main Jeep projects for this winter, as I don't have heat or electric run to my garage/shop yet. :(

    I have only one more decision to make, that is whether or not to try to darken the orange dots on the face itself. I am thinking of getting some orange vinyl to match and cutting out small dots and sticking them over the dots on the face. This way, if I hate it, it would be temporary.

    I also need to turn my attention to whether or not I should try to locate the KS fuel and temp gauge, I think I have one of them, laying my hands on it may take time and I don't know if it works.

    Can anyone clarify, are the KS temp and fuel gauges 6 volts? If so, can they somehow be used in a 12 volt system?

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2014
  2. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    The gauges show up on ebay regularly- heres some current listings-

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Willys-Over...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a41c18d05&vxp=mtr


    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-Willys...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f2d038859&vxp=mtr

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-53-54-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3caf8997b7&vxp=mtr


    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-Willys...Parts_Accessories&hash=item43c2c587e6&vxp=mtr


    6 or 12 volts doesn't make a difference, as I stated above you need an instrument voltage regulator in either case, the gauges actually work on five volts. Again note that the S-W style replacement gauges you have now will have the regulator built into the fuel gauge, the K-S regulators were external & were screwed onto the back of the instrument cluster. You can roll your own regulator as has been discussed here before or pony up the cash for this one-

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-Soilid...es&fits=Make:Jeep&hash=item3f195b9014&vxp=mtr

    As for the trim ring mine was chromed but I gave up fighting the rust & got a stainless steel one off a 70's cluster.

    If you want to promote a vendor we have a Vendor Directory where you can do that, we purposely don't have sponsorships here- we run on member donations as stated in the Announcements forum

    H.
     
  3. Jeff55cj5

    Jeff55cj5 Member

    Great advice!

    Thank you so much.

    I really think that the ring around mine was black.

    Maybe I am wrong, or maybe there is another ring that goes over what I have?

    I just don't have the advantage of seeing a lot of early cj5s in person so I can make mental notes of what things should look like.
     
  4. Jeff55cj5

    Jeff55cj5 Member

    Well, I am still working on it.

    I have decided to bring the speedometer back to its original glory.

    I have to be very careful as I am working on it, because I feel like I could really screw it up. My eyes are not what they once were. I did figure out that Testors florescent orange is a pretty good match on the dots. I still need to do another coat on the dots to get it where I want, but you can see they are already better!

    I am not trying to be perfect with this Jeep, but I do want it to look nice and retain as vintage of a feel as I can.

    I am having a lot of fun working on the dash, and my primary goal in this project is to have fun!

    Next I will replace the fuel and temp gauge back to the correct type.

    I probably will not mess with the small scratches or blemishes on the face. They are really only apparent in an enlarged photo. I don't want to spend so much time on a speedometer that I am afraid to see it get scratched!

    [​IMG]
     
    BellhreyFarm likes this.
  5. Stout

    Stout Member

    Beautiful job. I really wish Willys had kept that design of speedo instead of going to the plain black.
     
  6. Jeff55cj5

    Jeff55cj5 Member

    Thank you! I never really gave speedometers much thought until the last month, I have been looking at a lot of photos, etc. I do like this one the best though.
     
  7. Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Very nice..
     
  8. flatyfreek

    flatyfreek Member

    Will the original 6V regulator for the gauges also drop 12V to the proper voltage?
     
  9. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    In theory it should. The only concern I can see (& this is by no means for sure) is that the heater wire around the bi-metallic strip that's the heart of the regulator may heat up to a higher tempurature before the strip can react enough to cycle, this could lead to an eventual burnout. Addition of one of the voltage regulators mentioned above would eliminate the possibility.

    H.
     
  10. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    "Addition of one of the voltage regulators mentioned above would eliminate the possibility."

    But just don't fall for one of the old "reducers" that was only a resistor shunt coil in a block of porcelain.
     
  11. Jeff55cj5

    Jeff55cj5 Member

    Does each King Seeley gauge (fuel and temp) require its own regulator on the back of the speedo? Can they share one?
     
  12. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    One regulator feeds both. Get a good squint going, stand on your head sideways & injest some Good Drugs- if the phase of the moon is *just* right you can sorta maybe see it in this-

    [​IMG]

    H.
     
  13. Jeff55cj5

    Jeff55cj5 Member

    Thank you, I can see it!

    Didn't even need the drugs.

    The good news is, I believe I have one on the back of the speedometer already there. (I was wondering if I was missing one)

    Bad news is, I don't know if it works, I will have to test it out.
     
  14. Tim Hauser

    Tim Hauser New Member

    Hello Jeff - Hope you are still around.
    Any chance you still have 2nd the Speedometer Pointer you purchased back in 2014? I just picked up a 1955 CJ5 that I am restoring as well. The pointer has disintegrated with UV exposure over the years.


    Tim

    willysspeedometer.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

  15. mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    He hasn’t been seen since 2015. If you click on his avatar, you can when last here.
     
  16. Tim Hauser

    Tim Hauser New Member

    OK thanks.
     
  17. mullen46cj2a

    mullen46cj2a Member

    My original early '55 speedo needed the needle and after conversation with vendor, I decided to have it restored by
    Welcome to Bob's Speedometer
    He had OEM NOS needle at the time (2 yrs? ago)
     
  18. Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Bruce, Is your glass face flat or convex ?
    -Donny
     
  19. Tim Hauser

    Tim Hauser New Member

    Thank you. I will check out Bob’s
     
  20. Tim Hauser

    Tim Hauser New Member

    Just following up after getting my speedometer back from Bob's. Thanks for the tips.
     

    Attached Files:

    Twin2 likes this.