Good day all,

I just got my 1966 Toro and I have some burned out bulbs in the instrument panel. I understand that, in order to remove it, you have to drop the steering column and the manual says to remove the gear selector pointer first. Just wondering, how does this pointer come out? I took a quick look and it's certainly not obvious.

Thanks!

 

"If", and I mean if, it is anything like most gear selectors/indicator, the gauge/pointer is attached to what resembles a large paper clip - located directly underneath the pointer & attached via one sheet-metal type screw which holds the paper clip wire in place. On most vehicles you'll need to remove a small (5"x5") metal panel plate directly under the steering column for you to visualize the paper clip wire holding the pointer in place. Remove/Loosen that screw and the paper clip wire holding the pointer/gauge indicator can be removed. Note the location of the metal paper-clip wire to make it a little easier to remember its original placement.

 

It's not.

Look at page 9E-7 in the 1966 Chassis Service Manual, specifically the lower RH corner of figure 9E-9. The indicator is a rigid part that is held to the shift tube on the steering column by a screw. There is a small cover on the LH side of the column that you remove to access this screw.

 

Thanks, Joe.

 

Awesome! I can see the little set screw that secures it.

So, I want to be super careful with this one as breaking that thing would be terrible and probably hard to find. Once I pull that set screw, does the pointer just pull out? Installation is just a matter of sliding it back in?

Thanks again!

 

Yes, but you'll likely need to rotate or wiggle the pointer on the way out and back in. I assume this is plastic, and that plastic will be brittle with age, so obviously take it easy. Good luck.

 

Curious as to why it has to come out anyway? Why can't you just leave it?

 

I assume that lowering the column will break the pointer if you leave it, as will pulling the instrument panel out.

 

I went through this about a year ago. I did leave the needle on , but you have to be very careful not to let anything bump it-the metal will break easily. I didn't know how to get it out at the time. Later, after having put the dash back in, had to take it out again, and then I broke the needle. Luckily I had an extra tilt wheel with the needle, and I could see how to get it out. You need a tiny allen wrench to remove the needle.

 

That's great info, exactly what I was looking for and it makes sense now why they want you to remove it. I wonder if you just released it with the allen screw and let it drop a little so it's out of view but still in there.....possibly making it easier to get back into place rather than completely removing it?

 

Sorry to reply so late, I would definitely remove the needle. This was my first time attempting to remove the dash in any vehicle. It is very easy to put the needle back on. Even for me as someone who never tried it before.