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Certified Ranger Nutjob
Joined: Sat Oct 21st, 2017
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I have like 3 extra clusters so I'm playing a little.1. Best way to separate the gauges that I have found is a nice sharp thin knife that you slide under all of the connection points.
I have removed some needles in an attempt for a complete disassembly but I'm kinda stuck, can't get it apart still.
2 questions, first what is the best way to separate the gauges so I can see the overlay (have a pretty blue one from a mountaineer) and once I'm done... how do you get the needles back in the right place? I could guess, like fill my tank, plug the new one in and place the needle at full with the truck on but there has to be a pro method, someone did it in the beginning.
I have a spare set of connectors to power things up.
Any clues?
2. I know you didn't ask, but to put the gauges back on I use double sided scotch tape to hold them until I wedge them in place with the bezel.
Now to realignment.
Left to Right!
Fuel: this needle stays where it is positioned. When I remove these, I put a bit of tape where it is pointing and be sure not to turn the motor at all. To realign after forgetting where it was set, just fill the tank and put the needle on at the gas station after 30 seconds of running the engine.
Temprature: another needle that stays where it is set. While some go back to "cold" when you turn the truck off, others stay right where they are. This varies truck to truck. Best way to realign this (if you have never had issues with over/under heated engines) is to put the needle pointing half way after going on a normal length drive.
Tachometer: this needle likes to fall. So much that there is a peg keeping it from falling too far. Best way to reset this is to read RPM from an engine scanner while the truck runs. If you have no scanner, Autos like to idle at 1,000 RPM after 30 seconds of running and manuals like to idle at around 700 after 30 seconds.
Spedometer: this one also has a peg and is best put back into place when the speed is held at a constant. The easy way to do this is to set it while driving (I do not recommend. I've almost lost my truck doing this and it is not always the most accurate) the safest and most accurate however is to power up an unmodified Speedo the same way you would as if you were going to follow the guide for changing miles and then power up your needleless Speedo (with the same power source) and put the needle at the spot where the other pointed.
Oil pressure: as long as your truck has fine oil pressure, the easiest way to put this on is pointing halfway on the gauge with the engine running. There is no way to put it on without a powered gauge as it also has a stop needle.
Battery: this one is easiest. The needle always re centers to the bottom of the red zone on "low" when it is not powered. Depending on how charged your battery is, it may be harder to align properly when powered.
____________________
Past:
Baby Girl: 2006 XL 3.0 ~RIP~ 1/26/2015
Current:
Penguin: 2002 XLT 3.SLOW 4x2
River/Kaitlyn: 2003 EDGE 3.GO! 4x2... For now?
~Aspiring Mini Level 2~
The Duck: 2003 Ford Ranger FX4 Level 2 - TWIN STICKS!