Restoring the clock display

I stripped down my GTI clocks to see if I could get the milage counter working. I noticed that the reason the counter stopped is because a red plastic cog fell off, I pushed it back on and the problem was solved. While the clocks where stripped down I carefully cleaned the needles(be very careful they can snap off!)the clock faces and the MFA LCD. You should of seen cloth after cleaning! I assembled the clocks changed the 3 1.2 watt to 2 watt and just before I fitted the unit into the car I rubbed the clear plastic with silvo wadding for 15minutes to get rid of all the scratches…guess what? the grubby clock display and clocks were transformed into a unit the looked new!!!!!

If you decide to yours be very careful with cleaning the needles, clean them very gently.

Hey lhasa, you've become 'Mr Fixit' lately - perhaps we should call you Jim?!

Out of interest, what is silvo wadding if not a silly question?

LOL!

You can buy a tin of it from most hardware shops for about 3 pounds. Looks like cotton wool. A watch maker told me he uses the wadding to remove scratches from the plastic face, so I thouht I would try it out on the clear plastic on the display

I've used silvo before to remove very light (spiders web type) scratches from plastic too. My next door neighbough is a camera dealer, he recommended the idea to me to get rid of scratches from my digicam LCD display.

Duraglit and brasso will probably do the job just as well. Best to just use a tiny bit of the stuff and just wipe it over a couple of times then get a tissue and keep rubbing the area until all the smear from the silvo has gone.

I'd suggest you use with care though, its not very abraisive at all but I wouldnt like someone to wreck something using this advise.

Cheers,

Ross

Was the clock stripdown pretty easy?

My speedo is still playing up and I need to replace a few bulbs in there too as well as clean the clear plastic. Might do this on a spare set and then swap it out…..

Cheers,

Chris

Chris - I took a clock set apart before. As long as you are methodical and take care with the blue plastic thing on the back, it was straight forward and allows you to give everything a good clean

I need to do it again to get the MFA fully working

I got a new head unit and 4 6x4 infinitys that has been sat in my loft for the last 3 months that needs installing, but I want to take the dash out to put a small loom in there properly and tidy up a bit more of the existing wiring.

This would be a good time to take the clocks out again and give them a good check and clean up. I still have the original Motometer clocks in there but the speedo has never worked correctly since I got the car and also the bulbs need replacing in there too.

Car is off the road anyway until the fuelling issues are sorted, so maybe now would be a good time to sort this stuff out.

Cheers,

Chris

If it helps Chris, a hybrid of clocks will work. I had VDO in mine originally. Then replaced them as MFA went down with a Motometer set. This all worked perfect including MFA. However, the mileage had been reset to zero and after a while stopped turning.

I then put the speedo from my VDO set (with the original mileage on!) into the Motometer instrument pod. All works fine now except only clock and oil temp work on MFA. I was planning to sort this on weekend. I was told in here before that the screw in widget thing on the back of the speedo (small black plastic thing with three (?) metal prongs on and two screws to secure) needs to be swapped for the one off of the Motometer clock set.

Gonna put some 2W dash bulbs in too! thought I had done but checked on the weekend after seeing lhasas post about em and they are only a dim 1.2W!!

Anyone know if you can safely replace bulbs in the heater panel and ciggy lighter with 2W ones as well?

Hi Just reading through the forum on clocks V interesting especially the 2w bulb idea also I notice peaple saying VDO and Motometer clocks are interchangeable with just a minor mod I was just wondering what do you do about the Vacuum thingy (what does it do? :dontknow: ) on the back of motometer guages which isnt present on VDO guages. (I have motometer.)
 Can anyone help with ideas on sealing the rear screen on my coco cab, absolute bitch I can tell you Ive tried new rubber seal  new glass and pumping it full of windscreen sealant you know the black sticky gunge you spend the rest of your life trying to get off hands clothes paint hood and anything else that has come within 10m of it. Thanks Paul

Paul - both VDO and motormeter clocks (if fitted with MFA) have the vacuum connection on the back of the consumption indicator. If it's not there i guess non-MFA clocks?

Cant help with the window i'm affraid - would have suggest the 'black sticky stuff!!'

Thanks for the info about consumption indicator why do people lie on ebay   Ive bought a set of vdo clocks advertised as mfa but forgot to ask who it was made by when it arrived I assumed (wrongly) the Vacuum connector was unique to motormeter now ive sold them on again on ebay for a loss now it turns out im a liar as well oh well lesson learned as they say.  Why o why didnt I join this owners club years ago.
 I shall keep reading the forums and hopefully be able to pass on some helpfull advice. LONG LIVE THE MK1

I happens! I think poeple not in the know maybe assume that all MK1 clocks are MFA not really knowing what the MFA is?

At least you wont make the same mistake again! :wink:

pmw100 said

Why o why didnt I join this owners club years ago.

Errrm, it only started up in November 2004