Spencer_P

I'm swapping out the idiot light gauge cluster in my 96 Cherokee to a full gauge cluster and rather than swapping odometers (the new odometer doesn't work) I'd like to just swap the speedometer faces, but I'm not sure how or if possible to remove the needle? Thanks in advance.

BlueRidgeMark

Nice project. I've read a lot of success stories on this swap.

So, you want to keep the lower odometer reading? Is that why you want to swap the needle? I'm not clear on what you are trying to accomplish. If it were me, I'd try to swap the whole speedo unit. I like the speedo face on the idiot light version better, anyway.

Looking at your pics of the two clusters, there are a couple of other things I noticed:

1. You are getting just over a quarter of a tank of free gas out of this swap! Nice bonus!
2. On the down side, that oil pressure is way too high. That worries me.
3. Another problem is your alternator. 9 volts means it's shot. If you go ahead with this, you'll have to replace it.

Hope that helps!

Spencer_P

The lower mileage odometer is the correct reading for my jeep that works, so instead of swapping my odometer into the speedometer assembly of the new cluster I figured it'd be easier to just swap the face of the new cluster onto my odometer. But I'm not sure how to do this, I don't know if the needle can be removed or not. It appears the needle would need to be removed to remove speedo face. In the second picture I have the whole speedo assembly from my idiot light cluster sitting in the new cluster just for the time being. As for the gas, this thing is already paying for itself.

lawsoncl

Looking at the second picture, it looks like your done already, right? The scale on the two speedo doesn't look like they match, so you can't really swap the faces. You probably can't swap the odometers between the two either.

peligro113

Remove the needle and the two screws and the odometer mechanism will come off. I swapped my odometer mechanism onto the upgraded instrument cluster. By doing it this way I kept my odometer mileage but I lost the trip meter. If I find a odometer mechanism with a trip meter that is close to my mileage i'll replace it, but until then I'd rather keep my lower mileage odometer and lose the trip meter. Once you put everything back together verify that your speed is correct with a GPS speed app on your phone.

Spencer_P

That's what I want to do. How do I remove the needle?

peligro113

grasp with thumb and index finger and pull up or use a fork

Spencer_P

Does that work with my 96 cluster? I've tried pulling it and just tried again... doesn't want to budge.

peligro113

Yes my XJ is a 96, look at the photo below. I placed a piece of electrical tape where the trip meter went so that the white light from my leds wouldn't shine through the hole.

Spencer_P

Okay I'll try some more. I was gonna do the electrical tape too, thanks for the tip! Also your lights are so bright, LEDs I assume?

peligro113

yes

http://www.onewaylight.com/instrument-led-sets/

Spencer_P

I got it with a fork. Now my question is can I even put my odometer/speedometer assembly onto the new speedometer face? Or will my speed be off and the needle wouldn't move until 15 mph instead of 5?

BlueRidgeMark

I don't like bright lights on my dash. It looks cool and interferes with night vision.

I'll take the night vision, thanks.

Spencer_P

I plan on getting these LEDs, looks cool and not too bright

BlueRidgeMark

Go for the red. It won't hurt the night vision.