(cheap!) odometer gears?

[BerniniCaCO3]

I just bought a '90-'91 PI instrument cluster from a forum member, who tells me that the odometer/ trip meter gears have stripped out.
My own car's gears work, at any rate, though I have not pulled them out to see whether they might be on their way to becoming worn out.

I went to odometergears.com and was floored by their asking price: $96 for a set of 2sets (2 worm gears, 2 pinion gears), + shipping!!
Looking on ebay I only found minutely cheaper; $88 shipped for the same. I really can't justify that. I'm already spending $65 on the instrument cluster, $60 for matching black gauges, and might want to spend $100 on a fuel sending unit (mine works, and can't explain what hte fuel gauge is doing, but the resistance values are too high and it throws my readings off), so ANOTHER $100 just for 4 teensy plastic gears.... really, are there no cheaper options?

Should I just use mine? They're 120,000 miles old. I won't know how they look until I pull the instrument cluster back out, probably, only when I'm doing the swap.
There was a statement, on MSG, that the white gears last forever and the black ones wear out; different plastics.
If mine are white and apparently unworn, definitely reuse them? I don't know which years/models/clusters had the better plastic and which had the softer plastic.

thanks!
-Bernard

[pantera77]

Your lucky they made them to 120k. The ones in my 91 Marq only made it to 96K, though the ones in the 91 wagon made it too 200K. When I swapped a 140 into the wagon, I just replaced the pinion gear, and reused the old worm gear. Bad idea? Prolly, but it works.

[SVT98t]

If you have white ones, reuse them. But the white ones were from like 96+. I bought a single set of white gears for the Tank's odometer. Like a week later, the trip went out. I just kept throwing black gears in there until I ran out of them.
So, my trip doesn't work. Oh well. Im not paying $50 for trip gears, even though they're identical.
Good luck.

-ryan s.

[BerniniCaCO3]

I don't suppose finding a 1996 crown vic at the junk yard, that those gears will fit? (hoping beyond reason).
Alright, if they're THAT bad, and THAT notorious, I s'pose I'd better pony up. $85 is still <<$ than a new car That's how I convince myself of every fresh repair.

I've got, for the pair mind you, trip and odometer:
speedometergears.com $96 shipped
mpgautoparts.com $86 shipped
odometergears.com $85 shipped

...Basically all on a level. Anyone find another cheaper quote? And, anyone have experience with any of the three, good experiences or bad? speedometergears.com has a warranty, for the extra $10; if I'm likely to ever make use of that in the next few years that I might own the car for?

[mrltd]

Well since odometergears.com lists 90-97 as the same parts....I'd guess that they would be the same....However, seems like a JY find would have the same issue. And it looks like a PITA to get the speedo out. I'd pony up the $$ and get it done and over with.

[gadget73]

if you know a good retired bored machinist who is into clockmaking, you can probably get a set made in brass. They would last forever, but find the guy to make you such an item.

[rellik god]

Ford Odometer Replacement Gears


#F16. Fits 1994 - 1999 Mustang and others, Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, Bronco, Taurus, Explorer. Fits Ford late 1980's to late 1990's. The freight for these is only $2.00 with the United States Postal Service. Buy 2 #F16 at one time and get a 10% discount. Buy 4 or more #F16 at one time and get a 20% discount. Will not fit Ford Ranger or Explorer. Cost $39.00 for the pair.

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