VDO instrument cluster : cleaning, gear grease

[bryanl]

'87 944 na

couple q's about instrument cluster:

* any recommended grease for the gears - Lubriplate would be OK if it was available in a smaller quantity. I have a Celcon (nylon + graphite) gear replacement for the worm gear - which can withstand grease - but the other ones are original and require grease.

* can the plastic housing - the black piece that holds the blinker, warning illumination pieces and surrounds the actual dials/gauges - cleanable? mine apparently has a film on it (including mildew), however, AFAIK it could be a consequence of the design. ... i.e. should it be a plain flat plastic, just clean with a mild household cleaner?

thanks

-Bryan

[wvicary]

I've never done this type of repair and always sent the units out to http://www.paspeedo.com maybe send them your questions.

[bryanl]

KLA and North Hollywood do it too, and they are VDO authorized I think. I do not know what they offer though.

if you want to repair it yourself, there is extensive documentation and discussion on this well-known problem. it helped me get mine working.

as for an update on my original questions on this apparently uninteresting thread:

[1] I looked at Amazon first for some Lubriplate - their prices are absolutely ridiculous. Checked for local Lubriplate sellers through Lubriplate's website, found one, they helped me figure out exactly what I need and its under $10.00 USD.

[2] thanks to Bill Noble, I confirmed it is an anti-glare material that is sprayed onto the inside cluster face, evidenced by spray-through on the other side (if you take it apart, you will know what I mean). The catch-22 is removing mildew or marring the anti-glare film. I opted to skip it - suprisingly you can't tell once it is installed. Bill suggests to check a photography shop expert.

I also think the gauge faces - the ones with the readings marked on them -have another type of anti-glare material on them, because they are somewhat sticky and can mar easily. Anything I touched them with (i.e. a protector sheet) failed to work because any pressure would put marks on it. any suggestions about that would be good.