Clock Adjuster Binding

[Jay Laifman]

The original clock on my 73 stopped working probably 20 years ago. I bought a quartz one off a newer 911, without the aluminum center, and it worked for a long time. Now it has failed. In the interim, I have learned about the low temp solder issue, and I even fixed the earlier clock on my 67, adding the diode and capacitor. The '67 gauge is still working fine 10 years later. I'm planning on doing the same for my 73 - and get the correct little aluminum center gauge back in. However, I just noticed something I think may have caused the 73 gauge to stop working before - and maybe many of the clocks out there.

The adjuster at the center of the clock does not pop out 100% each time. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it releases, but not all the way, and creates friction. Friction is what overheats the clock and pops the low temp solder fuse.

I put a couple small drops of penetrating oil into the back side of the little knob. It now definitely moves freely. But it will still catch or bind sometimes.

Anyone have this before and fix it? I really hate to pry off the bezels. So I'm not in a rush to do that if it won't lead to a solution.