Headlight knob and getting and odometer problem?

[Kell]

My speedometer/odometer will not work properly, it kind of got stuck turning over to 20,000 (more like 320,000). It makes the needle bounce, sometimes it clicks to the next mile, but most of the time it just bounced as it tries to click the tenth's over.

Anyway, I can't get the 46 year old knobs (headlight and wipers) off to take it apart. I am pulling hard, I know what hard is, and this stuff is brittle. Has anybody tried heating it? I am worried it will melt it. I guess I can try to clamp the shaft but I am afraid of tearing up the switches. Any advice?

Also, I am hoping by manually getting the 2 in the right spot everything will start working again, it is just kind of stuck down there. Any lube I should put on this?

[ArkansasDave69]

The wiper switch knob has a small allen head set screw on the side. Loosen it and it will come right off. The headlight knob is a little more difficult. Reach under the dash till you can feel the top of the switch. It has a release button, push it down while pulling the knob out.

[Kell]

Thanks, I don't know why I was thinking it was like the old school radio knobs you just pull off, but I really don't remember even though I grew up on these things. On the way home my speedometer starting working again, maybe I hit a big enough bump? I'm up to 20 miles now, we will see what happens 80 miles from now when it hits the next digit.

[swamp rat]

I think you will find the speedometer cable in sever need of lubrication, that can cause the bounce. it may need replaced.

There is a button on the back side of the light switch push it and pull the knob, it comes off with the shaft.

[jr1966]

The headlight shafts can be a pain. When you pull it out - push in back in just about a 1/16th then-- push button and pull out. I hurt my finger till I tried it that way.
JR