Gauge repair: Applicable to speedometers and tachometers

Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Created: 2004

Updated: 2023 January 10

There are a number of companies that rebuild old instruments such as speedometers, tachometers, etc. I have not used any of these, but I thought I would provide references, nonetheless.

Iggy Scarpitti recommends: One thing to ask of any restorer is if the new bezel will be plastic or metal.

Chris Beauchemin recently (2023 January 08) informed me of the following: I've made a few calls (Palo Alto, Foreign Speedo Inc, etc) to find options for Veglia speedometer restoration. It seems like Joel Levine is my only option. His price seems to reflect that! The above shops used to work on these Veglias, but no longer. The Yamaha alternative is looking more appealing, but I really want to keep my Veglia in operation.

• Alpha Instruments - 4801 Keele Street, North York, Ontario M3J3A4, Canada - (416) 736-4267 - Ask for Ted

  Note: I've heard from one customer who was less than completely satisfied with Alpha Instruments.

• APT Instruments International, Inc.

  Note: APT no longer repairs motorcycle gauges.

• Bob's Speedometer
• D&M Restoration

  57 Creekside Park Ct. Suite B, Greenville, SC 29615, (864) 254-9989

• Joel Levine Company

  Note: Thanks to Mike Tiberio who posted this information on the old Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group (which has now moved to Groups.io).

  Note: I've heard from two customers who were less than completely satisfied with Joel Levine Company.

  Note: Thanks to Lee Davis for providing me with his experience on 2014 May 05 about the Veglia speedometer off of his 1970 Ambassador:

  Work looks good. Turnaround time: 4 weeks. Cost USD $509.00. Original speedo had really deteriorated lettering, rusted trim ring. Appears as new now. Several phone calls from Joel himself to see what was wanted, such as resetting odometer to zero. Pleased with the work, though pricey.

  Note: Thanks to Jonathan Sobol for sending me his feedback:

  I'd like to give some feedback regarding my recent speedometer repair by Joel Levine Co. in 2016.

  My 1973 Police Eldorado's speedometer suffered a drive shaft shearing, the result of ancient grease creating too much resistance on that input shaft (where the speedo cable connects to the speedometer).

  Joel Levine repaired and refurbished the speedometer and shipped it off the day after he received it. Total turnaround time including shipping was 9 days. Cost was USD $275.00

  The day he received it, he called me with a question about the hairspring. It was not stock Guzzi. I had no idea about that since I bought the bike used.

  I told him to use the hairspring he found, and we would take it from there.

  The speedometer was returned, and I found it inaccurate. He had me rotate the rear wheel 6 times and count the revolutions of the cable end.

  I applied the formula he gave me to determine which hairspring was needed.

  I returned the speedometer, and he put the correct hairspring in and shipped it back to me.

  After it arrived, I installed the speedometer once again, and it is spot on.

  There was no extra charge for the second round of work, and he paid the shipping back to me.

  The second round of work took the same time as the first, 9 days, 8 of which was shipping time, and Mr. Levine's part was only one day.

  I can recommend Joel Levine Co. very highly, for his work, his integrity and price point.

  Would you please put a note of approval from me in your page regarding Joel Levine Co.?

• Joe's Speedometer (address: 6704 Tampa Ave, Reseda, CA 91335, phone: 818-468-4414; email: [email protected])

  Thanks to Peter Marechal for providing me with Joe's information. More from Peter:

  The pictures are of my speedo before/after. The photo really doesn't do it justice.

  

  

  Mark Etheridge of Moto Guzzi Classics reports that he has Joe install new VDO tachometer internals into broken original tachometers.

• Mo-Ma Manufacturing

  Note: Thanks to Dmitri Makarov who posted this information on the old Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group (which has now moved to Groups.io).

• Nisonger Automotive

  Note: It has been reported that Nisonger does not repair Veglia gauges.

• North Hollywood Speedometer & Clock Co.

  Note: I've heard numerous positive reports about North Hollywood Speedometer.

  Note: Thanks to Lee Davis for providing me with his experience on 2014 May 05 about the Veglia speedometer off of his 1970 Ambassador: No contact/questions. Just e-mailed when speedo was done. Cost: USD $325.00. Original speedo was very bad. Appears new. Turnaround time 6 weeks. Very pleased with their work.

• Oliver Bienz - 15670 Roper Ave., White Rock, BC. V4B 2G8, Canada - (604) 535-6221
• Lionel Otto Instruments - 124 Evans Road, Salisbury Queensland 4107, Australia - phone: 3277 3888 (STD: 07 - International Dial: +61 7)

  Thanks to John McGonigle for sending me information about his experience with Lionel Otto Instruments. In John's own words:

  Looking at your site I noticed the page on gauge repair. I have recently had mine redone at Lionel Otto in Australia. New bezels, glass and a general clean up. I'm happy with the result for AUD660. Obviously shipping is a factor for US owners but the gauges don't weigh much and at the same time they benefit from the USD/AUD exchange rate.

  

• Overseas Speedometer and Instrument Service

  Note: I've heard that they only work on BMW instruments and decline to work on Veglia instruments.

• Palo Alto Speedometer

  Note: I've heard of several reports that service has gotten very slow and that returns due to any number of problems is a regular occurrence.

• Peter Bond Gauge Repairs

  31 Avington Grove, London, SE20 8RY, UK

• Powl's Speedometer Repair

  2340 Dairy Road, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601, (717) 898-2552

any: http://www.powls-speedometer.com/ No feedback
• West Valley Instrument Specialists

  Note: Thanks to Iggy Scarpitti who posted this information on the old Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group (which has now moved to Groups.io).