F600 Speedometers

[BobR]

Hello All

I've search this site for help on "How to reset a F600 Speedometer" No luck. I found one post where it said he had worked at a dealership where they did it all the time. But no instructions on how? Is this a taboo subject or was my search incomplete? I'm not trying to cheat anyone I have a 70 F100 that I've rebuilt the motor and I would like the speedometer to reflect real miles. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank You, Bob

[FORDification]

You're probably not going to get anyone to give you a "how-to" on this, since it's a Federal crime to mess with the odometer for any reason, especially if it's already in working condition. I totally understand what you're wanting to do, and would believe you if you state you're not actually out to defraud anyone, but 'Big Brother' sees things in black and white. The way they see it, the odometer doesn't just read the mileage on the engine, but on the entire vehicle.

Having said that, however, I will say that resetting the odometer becomes less of an issue once a vehicle reaches 100,000 miles, since it's not required to keep track of a vehicle's true mileage after it reaches that point, and it should be reflected on the vehicle's title as such.

[fordman]

i am going to do the same thing. and i dont think it would break the law to set it to make it show the actual miles of the truck. i read where someone put a drill on the back of theres and spun the speedometer with the drill to reset thiers.

[BobR]

First let me say Thank You to FORDification. The info that you provided is right on and I really can not argue your points. MY Thanks also go to Fordman. I've consider your option however my drill motor only goes 70mph and I'm thinking I have approx. 20,000 miles to turn over to 00000. So how long do you think it's going to take me? I say this with my dry sense of humor. Just the same Thank You to the both of you. This is why I think this site is outstanding. Good people and Great info

Bob

[fordman]

the one person on here that posted that he did it said that it took him no time at all to do his.i actually messed with a 73-79 speedo and put my drill on the back of it. but the drill wouldnt stay on it and it only turned a few tenths before the drill popped off of it.

[ToughOldFord]

I wouldn't do the drill trick, not only would it take forever, but you'd be putting an insane amount of wear and tear on the speedometer. It'd probably be near dead by the time you were done.

You're going to have to study the mechanics of the odometer and see how it's assembled. I never looked that closely at a Ford odometer myself, but I reset a Mopar once and it was easy. There was a metal retaining clip holding the body of the number dials in place. Removed the clip, raised the numbers. Once the numbers were raised out of the housing they were no longer engaged with the drive gear so they sun freely. I was able to set them where I wanted them, reinstall into the housing, reinstall retaining clip, and was done.

[For the legal-beagles out there I was setting the replacement odometer to match the original.]

[fordman]

[Hawkrod]

i am going to do the same thing. and i dont think it would break the law to set it to make it show the actual miles of the truck. i read where someone put a drill on the back of theres and spun the speedometer with the drill to reset thiers.

It is not against the law to set a used speedometer to the actual miles of teh vehicle but it is against the law to change the miles to show 0 because it has a new engine with no miles. As noted it is unlikely to ever be an issue but don't go bragging it around! Hawkrod

Federal law:
49 U.S.C. § 32703(2).
A person may not -
(1) advertise for sale, sell, use, install, or have installed,
a device that makes an odometer of a motor vehicle register a
mileage different from the mileage the vehicle was driven, as
registered by the odometer within the designed tolerance of the
manufacturer of the odometer;
(2) disconnect, reset, alter, or have disconnected, reset, or
altered, an odometer of a motor vehicle intending to change the
mileage registered by the odometer;
(3) with intent to defraud, operate a motor vehicle on a
street, road, or highway if the person knows that the odometer of
the vehicle is disconnected or not operating; or
(4) conspire to violate this section or section 32704 or 32705
of this title.

Interpretation by courts:
No person may disconnect, reset, or alter, or cause to be disconnected, reset, or altered, the odometer of any motor vehicle. This section does not apply to any person repairing or replacing an odometer. However, if the indicated mileage is changed, a notice shall be permanently attached to the left front door frame of the vehicle

[ToughOldFord]

[fordman]

[ToughOldFord]

Just going by that pic, but it doesn't look like it'd be hard. Take the two bolts out to remove the speedo and see what's holding the odometer together.

[fordman]

those two bolts you see dont hold it together. they hold it into the housing. i dont think there is a way to do what you were talkign abotu without totllay disassembling it. and then it might be trash by the time i was done doing it.

[ToughOldFord]

That'd be the hard way alright.

I see what you're saying about the bolts, I wonder what's holding it together?

I'll have to look at one, I think I have an extra in the garage.

[fordman]

tiny spot welds and or rivets. i cant find it now. i think i may have trashed that one because it was missing the needle.

[Doug F]

I did something simular with my 67 Mustang when I put the rebuilt motor in it. I remember somehow getting my fingers in there and turning each one until I got them all on 0. you have to start at the one end and work your way forward or back, it has been 18 years!