Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 alpha 4/15/85; site weitek.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!pesnta!amd!amdcad!cae780!weitek!neal
From: neal@weitek.UUCP (Neal Bedard)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: Speedometer Limits, Shark Hunts ....
Message-ID: <348@weitek.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Dec-85 09:53:30 EST
Article-I.D.: weitek.348
Posted: Wed Dec 18 09:53:30 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Dec-85 05:32:46 EST
References: <1400@cornell.UUCP> <-74821361@techsup> <272@bunny.UUCP>
Organization: Weitek Corporation, Sunnyvale
Lines: 40

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