neal@weitek.UUCP (Neal Bedard) (12/18/85)
In article <272@bunny.UUCP>, cpr0@bunny.UUCP (C. Rosebrugh) writes: > > Seriously, though, what's the regulation behind the maximum numbers on a > speedometer? How come the majority of them went to 85MPH some years back? > Why the change back to big numbers AND, if there is some "law" limiting > the largest number on the dashboard, does it apply to foreign cars > also - my 325e's speedo goes to 140+. 140+? Wishful thinking, perhaps. :-) The requirment came into being with the 55 mph speed limit. As Mikey implied, the recent lifting of this requirment (1984 model year, I think) reflects a changing attitude toward the 55. How can anyone forget that the lifting of that misguided law was one of Re-Ron Reagan's long since forgotten Republican coronation - er, convention - platform planks... > > Also, if a rip the stopper pin out of a speedometer (the pin the needle hits > at max mph), is the needle movement still "linear" (given that the actual > motion is circular)? > > Any insight to questions posed will be appreciated. And now for the Technical Advice, since this is net.auto.tech, not net.auto.vanishing-point: Gee, Chris, why not just use your tach instead? If in my car 2500 rpm = 55 mph in fifth gear, then redline = 143 mph. Weeeeeee!!!!! > Chris Rosebrugh I realize that the bulk of this article was non-technical. May I suggest that further discussion on this topic be taken up in net.auto. To the motoring enthusiast, the only meaningful limit is that of adhesion. :-) -Neal -- 55. It's a law we can do away with. UUCP: {turtlevax, resonex, cae780}!weitek!neal
bsisrs@rruxe.UUCP (R. Schiraldi) (12/20/85)
>> >> Also, if a rip the stopper pin out of a speedometer (the pin the needle hits >> at max mph), is the needle movement still "linear" (given that the actual >> motion is circular)? >> >> Any insight to questions posed will be appreciated. > >And now for the Technical Advice, since this is net.auto.tech, not >net.auto.vanishing-point: > >Gee, Chris, why not just use your tach instead? If in my car 2500 rpm = 55 mph >in fifth gear, then redline = 143 mph. Weeeeeee!!!!! > And what about us poor souls that don't have a tach, Chebby in their finite wisdome felt it best to only install a fuel gauge (that is never accurate!!) and a speedo. I have looked into putting real gauges in my piece of sh.. uh I mean my car, but there isn't any room :-(. The only thing I can do is to install some dynamite in the tail pipe and hope the insurance will cover it ;-) Rich Schiraldi (one day left and counting....)
cpr0@bunny.UUCP (C. Rosebrugh) (12/22/85)
In response to a response to my original posting (this should go out by mail, but we don't mail too well around here). My original questions: > > > > Seriously, though, what's the regulation behind the maximum numbers on a > > speedometer? How come the majority of them went to 85MPH some years back? > > Why the change back to big numbers AND, if there is some "law" limiting > > the largest number on the dashboard, does it apply to foreign cars > > also - my 325e's speedo goes to 140+. > > 140+? Wishful thinking, perhaps. :-) Actually, speedo goes to 150. No, not really wishful thinking - had it at 125 on the Mass. Pike Eastbound yesterday, along with a 5-series Bimmer. That's about where the old "Eta" engines stops, though. > (The only sensible part of the response was here.) > > > > Also, if a rip the stopper pin out of a speedometer (the pin the needle hits > > at max mph), is the needle movement still "linear" (given that the actual > > motion is circular)? > Gee, Chris, why not just use your tach instead? If in my car 2500 rpm = 55 mph > in fifth gear, then redline = 143 mph. Weeeeeee!!!!! Brilliant, but how many cars have a tach?!! Weeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! And, how many engines have the high end torque to follow your formula of top speed!!! Weeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!! Weee!!! - do you leave your car out of gear while you pour on the gas in the same way you leave your brain out of gear while you pour on the words?!! > I realize that the bulk of this article was non-technical. May I suggest that > further discussion on this topic be taken up in net.auto. What's not technical about the gearing and the pinning of a speedometer?! In another article, someone says that pinning a speedo doesn't do anything to it (since coupled electromagnetically), but a friend has a Saab 900s whose needled was pinned, and subsequently uncalibrated, twice. > -Neal -- he's one we can do away with. > UUCP: {turtlevax, resonex, cae780}!weitek!neal Thanks to those who responded with useful info. Chris Rosebrugh, GTE Labs, Waltham, Mass. !harvard!bunny!cpr0
mikey@techsup (01/03/86)
Actually, I was told the 85 speedo went west because of some federal corporate paperwork reduction act passed in 1980. Since the 85 speedo was a control of the fed on the manufacture and required reams of forms, it was one of the first to go. mikey trsvax!techsup!bbimg!mikey ps. 55, you all know by now.