Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Is there an extension shaft or cable that can be attached to the odometer rest shat to make it easier to access for resetting

I haven't found mine yet.

If you mean something that attaches to the short reset knob positioned directly on the back of some of the speedometers, I would be surprised if there will be anything found either Packard or aftermarket that could be added on.

One possibility if Packard used speedos in the prewar years that are enough alike for the back cover and mechanism to be about the same would be to swap the cover and reset mechanism with one from another year or model speedometer that used the flex cable setup. Unless the same basic speedo had both options, even that may not work and a speedo shop would probably need to do the work.

Another possibility that would upset the purists but not be too expensive is if there is a reasonably straight shot down to the dash edge and if the reset knob does not need to be pulled or pushed to engage the reset mechanism is maybe add a set of right angle gears. As long as the knob did not need to push or pull you could fabricate a small bracket setup that would attach to the speedo back to support the top end of a vertical shaft and would also keep gears in mesh. Use a set of miniature brass bevel or worm gears such as those available from Amazon that are used in model cars or robotics. One gear would go on the reset knob shaft in place of the knob, and the other on a second shaft that dropped down to a point where you could attach another bracket to the dash for support. Place a more convenient knob on that shaft. Even if the drop is not straight down there are some small flexible drive shafts used in model boat power trains that might be able to be used.

I am trying to understand why you would need to reset your odometer. In some states that is not exactly legal.

I took the question to mean is there something that can be added for an easier way to reset the trip odometer on one of the lower end speedos where you have to reach under the dash to find the back of the speedometer and that reset knob.

Attach file:

---

  37 speedo.jpg (246.69 KB)

Ahh gotcha. None of my Packards (54 or 37) have a trip meter.

‘40 160 speedometer with upper odometer window and lower resetable trip odometer window, plus reset cable which inserts in a hole in the bottom edge of the dash.

Attach file:

---

  IMG_2618.jpeg (169.14 KB)