1979 244 DL
I know the instrument cluster got replaced by one of the previous owners, but it does not seem to be the stock one. I thought this car came with the style that has a clock and no tachometer, but I have a clock in the center of my dash, so that may not be true. The odometer is broken, and I want to fix it. Just curious what it is from in case the repair procedure is different.

This is the standard 240 instrument cluster made from and including (in the USA) 1975 to 1980 with the optional tach added where a simple Volvo emblem normally resides. I've owned examples of both years with and without the tach. I have good used tachs for both 4 (240) and 6 (260 series) cylinder motors. The tach can be added to a cluster not originally equipped with one. - Dave

BTW--to answer the second part of your question---broken odometers in those clusters is common and not caused by the same problem the later clusters have. - Dave

Interesting. Thank you. I assumed it came with the style that has the speedometer in the center and a clock to the left. Which years/models was that on? What is the cause of odometer failure on these earlier ones? Based on the way it works intermittently, it feels like a gear with a chipped tooth, but I have yet to look inside.

Hi,

My 1978 GT has the same setup.

The odometer has failed from time to time.
Once, it was the driver unit down on the M46 transmission that had a separated housing for an unknown reason. I assume something must have hit it or I damage it when changing out a clutch long before I got myself a car lift.
I used a nylon wire tie and put it back together and it still runs the speed portion today. Still running the second clutch but it’s so aged that’s the splines get sticky. Driving for a few mile and shifting frees it up until it does it again. 44 years has affects from time to time. (:-)

I have torn into the mechanical part of the speedometer head.
Done this a couple times and each time found that the shafts were loose in their respective journals.
So much that they worked themselves apart and we’re jamming.
Sometimes resetting the trip helped or pushing something up under that pin pushed down inside would make it work some more. Lots of wear.
I use a center punch to tag the metal tighter around the worse offending shaft or shafts to make it work for quite awhile but after the second time I decided the odometer part was worn out.
I just didn’t need it or at least the trip odometer.
They have both quit now as one works the other until jam time.

The speedometer portion still works as the cable directly spins the magnet under an aluminum cup.
This setups an Eddy current magnetic field that opposes the direction of the spinning magnet.
This force turns the cup that has the needle attached to it.
A coiled hair spring contains or limits the rotation and thus is the calibration to show speed.

You may not find the same issue as bad if you don’t have over 350k miles on the odometer.
So you might be able to save it by getting things aligned again.

Hope this helps.

Phil

Thanks for the info. Not sure that's my issue - it works intermittently. It will run until the final digit hits 9. Then it freezes up and stays there for a while. Eventually, it will start working again until it hits 9. Last time I took it on a longish drive (around 50 miles) it recorded maybe 15 of them.

Hi,

Go visit Dave Barton's volvo page for odo parts and repair information

https://www.prancingmoose.com/240-odometer-repair.html

Peter

The gear that drives the odometer is slipping on the shaft.

A plastic gear with a crack.



A die cast gear that has been slipping so long it has worn the shaft thin.




--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

“How much does a chimney cost?”

“Nothing, it’s on the house…”

1981 was the first year for the later cluster. Those had cable driven speedos--then they went with electric speedos in '85 or '86--not sure which. I'd assume chpped teeth but I've never taken one apart--always had parts cars around.-Dave