Wreck Rescue - aka The Notch

[eben]

Clock only has one tab for + it grounds through the body touching the car body where it clips into the dash. If it doesn't work first time round, take the cover off carefully and "uncam" the mechanism slightly so that the points inside close again which should fire the electromagnet for winding...

[69bug]

Nice work on the clock, Karma

[Blitzkrieg]

If anyone needs a clock, I have one or two for not too much money

[Dutch_Diver]

I just got a clock for the bus and not as nice as that one....nice work!

[karmakoma]

Ja, it never stops does it.
So after your comments, I am quite keen to see if the clock works.
Take a piece of wire and off to the closest battery, the one in the fleetline.
Connect the clock up, no luck. Does not run. Double checked the connections, listen carefully, nope, nothing.

Ok, so time to try Eben's idea.
Back to the house, and then DUH, I realize I don't have to go outside everytime. 12V DC is 12V DC, and how many amps can a dash clock draw? We all have stashes of 12V 1000ma/500ma power supplies lying around (cordless phones, old tv games, faulty adsl modems , etc ad nauseam). Right, get my spare 12V power supply, and hook it up to the clock just to be sure, nothing....

CAREFULLY open the rear casing, and open the contacts to prime the electromagnet. It runs for a couple of seconds, but the electromagnet does not fire and the points stay closed, then I notice, that while I was busy fiddling, a piece of dirt has fallen through the gaps, to the front of the speedo -

So, time to open the entire thing again, front and back covers off. THEN I notice that the hour hand is actually still a bit dirty. Note to self, next time stop right here. BUT NO, every last bit of dirt has to come off, what an idiot, because next thing I know, I have gone through the paint , those 40 year old needles are fragile apparently!!!

Figured before I try and fix this mess, time to see if I can get the clock going first.

Ever wondered what a VDO clock looks like inside?



Work of art if you ask me, pretty sure they don't build them like this anymore....

These two points are supposed to open,



this cranks a gear and the clock mechansim then runs until the points touch, at which point the electromagnet is supposed to push the two points apart again,



causing the process to repeat and the clock to run.

I had a close look at the entire mechanism, and finally noticed that the one contact of the electromagnet coil was loose.
The solder had broken by the looks of it, probably what they call a corroded dry joint.

Managed to move it back into place and crimp the connection closed,



and would you believe it, after applying power, we had a working clock.

Now back to the other problem...

One needle is half stripped,so no turning back now. Luckily I had some similar colour paint lying around.
Not close enough for a patch, had to clean the paint completely off BOTH needles, paint them both with a very fine brush (hijacked one of the wife's old Cutex bottles), and then to finish it off, two coats of clear cutex Not sure if I like the gloss finish now that it's done,and the lines are also not completely as sharp as the original paint, but, it's close enough to original, looks Ok, and when mounted in the dash, no-one will notice That'll teach me to "krap waar dit nie jeuk nie!!" or for our english readers, next time I will let sleeping dogs lie!

One working Type 3 clock:

[Dutch_Diver]

You have far too much time on your hands...... Fancy popping over and doing a few fiddley jobs for me

[Blitzkrieg]

Blitz, if it's that round thing you turn corners with, and it will help get the fasty ready sooner, then put it in the fasty, I still have the notch's thing

Decided not to put it in the fasty and need the cash to buy some other things for the car. So if you don't want it, I will advertise it on the forum

[karmakoma]

Dutch, making good use of my last few leave days

Blitz, are you at home this week, then I can come take a look at said steering wheel and make a call ?

[Blitzkrieg]

I'm at work, but can make a plan if you come through as I work 5 minutes away from home...

[Eugene]

Great stuff....looking good Riaan

[YvaneS]

said steering wheel

LoL i was wondering what that thing was you guys were talking about

[bferreira89]

Keep it up guys.!!
looking Good.
Can't wait to see MORE!!

[Klaus]

If anyone needs a clock, I have one or two for not too much money

Do you have one that'll fit my bay - if so please pm the details -

Sorry for the hijack

[Blitzkrieg]

We want an update! Make something up!

[karmakoma]

Eendag lank lank gelede, was daar 'n bos.
Rooikappie, met 'n mandjie vol lekkernye, sorry, wrong fairytale

We have been quietly working on the notch day and night and she is ready for roadworthy - alas, also a fairytale.

All the rain in jhb over the last month has not created a condusive atmosphere for painting

Patience is a virtue as they say.

Yes, Blitz, you'll be the first to get some pics when we paint her , btw, is your fasty running
and thank you for your interest.