The 'E' Type Forum

Hi
I have just bought a S1 2+2 (1966) -the car is restored and runs very well, :) but the revcounter is faulty :( It moves to about 2000 - to 2500 rpm, but not any higher even when I rev the engine. Then it will stick there. When returning to idle when the glass is tapped it will fall to about 1000 rpm. :?

The seller did tell me it was sticky but okay at the all important high end. To be fair when I test drove it this was so - but not now.

Any idea what the problem could be ?

It may be any one of a number of problems . However, the basic principle is like that of a watch in that the spindle which carries the needle runs in two jewelled bearings, and if these get an accumulation of dirt, or worse still someone has put too much and/or too heavy an oil on them, varnish develops which causes "stiction" . Another fault can be that the calibrating spring becomes twisted or displaced

The instrument is not difficult to dismantle : the glass comes off by twisting the bezel until the lugs on the bezel align with gaps on the instrument body. Undoing the screws at the rear will then allow the whole movement to come out of the case . With a small jeweller's screwdriver you can undo the bearing carriers and clean everything up . take photos at every stage before dismantling !