gauge needle removal

[JC71]

how does one remove the needles from the gauge cluster on a R34 GTT?

Edited May 13 by JC71

[GTSBoy]

Assuming that they will come off without damage at all.... i would have thought just pull straight up off the spindle with a something or other than can reach underneath.

Have you searched for youtube vids of people doing similar on R34s or any other Nissan from the same vintage? They should be the same technique, in all likelihhood.

[JC71]

I have done a lot of research before posting here and on gtruk forum. couldn't find anything.

I have my gauges all part except the needle itself. the needle has a extremely small hole in the center,

but the shaft going to the needle is extremely small and appears to have nothing to index it either. doesn't seem strong enough to simple pry or pull without damaging something.

Already tried the old spoon trick on a extra triple meter I have from a gtt, but no luck.

the center cap comes off easily but the hole in the meter face plate aren't big enough to get over the needle itself.

figured this would be my best place to find someone who might have actually removed theirs.

wonder if there is some type of small pin press tool to push the pin in while pulling the needle base off.

Edited May 13 by JC71

[GTSBoy]

Yeah, so widen your search to any Nissan speedo first, then go wider if needed.

I will say though, that there is a better than even chance that what I said first will likely come into play. They quite possibly won't come apart without damage. I tried to disassemble a stepper gauge that I wanted to repair. There was no way that needle was coming off the spindle, and I could not see how the spindle would come out of the mechanism behind. Assembled once, never to be disassembled, was my conclusion. Could be the same on the R34 cluster.

Failing that - take the cluster to a workshop that specialises in automotive instrument work. There's usually at least one in every Australian city. They'll either be able to do it for you for small cost, or tell you it can't be done. It might be that "it can't be done" unless you follow some arcane procedure, including trickiness to glue it back together or something, that only experienced techs know.

[MBS206]

Google says for a 1998 Nissan Maxima to pull/pry, and the metal pin might even come out with it.

I'd do a bit more googling, there was a few videos, find some where the shafts/needles appear most similar and compare the techniques.

[JC71]

okay, so I figured this out, removed needles and reinstalled after swapping the gauge face on my triple gauge for my ER34, all work and look good.

I tried to do the same for the main cluster, but the main cluster gauge faces are dished, the replacement gauge face are flat, so due to the dish in the org face ,mounting backing plate (clear) and depth of the needle, the flat gauge face will not work.

I notice that R34 gtr gauges are flat, appears to be different clear backing plate that aren't dished. are these available, or what have others done to install flat gauge faces?

[JC71]

found a company that makes a flat gauge face 3-d printed mounting base kit to eliminate the dished style gauges.

if anyone else is looking to do the same

https://www.dashfreaks.de/shop/flat-dials-holder-nissan-skyline-r34-gt-gtt/

 

 

[Jarsky]

I can say to anyone thats doing this; having done a number of R clusters; just be careful if its an unknown cluster. 
It takes a bit of force to pull up; but if it feels excessive then its probably stuck. I've had this and pulled the entire hair spring out; and I can tell you; its not easy getting the correct spring replacement with the correct inner diameter and winding. In my case someone had used some sort of adhesive to stick it to the spindle and it pulled the whole spindle out; which the force seperated the hairspring from the spindal and caused it to deform. 

You may have to clean it (IPA); or in my case if i'd known i should have used some sort of solvent on it. 

Also check out Cruizin Central on eBay. He does all sorts of dials; and you can email him with any custom designs you want. So if you want like certain logos etc...he'll send you a mock of what it will look like then you accept the order and he'll take care of the rest. Fantastic dials and he can do basically any design you want. 

Edited July 30 by Jarsky