Odometer question

[spoman]

Is it legal to change the mileage on a odometer if you're trying to repair and not trying to sell it?

[Bert]

Is it legal to change the mileage on a odometer if you're trying to repair and not trying to sell it?

Highly unlikely that this is legal anywhere/anytime. But in the same token; it is not illegal to replace an instrument cluster or speedo, nor is it illegal to drive around with a broken speedo cable. Ya gotta remember these cars are so old now that nobody will put faith in an odometer reading anyway. My car went all the way up to 300,000km a few years ago and then suddenly read 150,000 miles and sprouted a tachometer. Ministry of Transportation has never had a consistent reading from me from anything I drive.
Use the search feature: a forum member carefully outlined a few years ago, with pictures, how to reset the odometer gears on a swap unit so as to match the original one. And honestly I can't see someone going to the 'big house' for doing something conscientious as that!

[TorqueEffect]

Highly unlikely that this is legal anywhere/anytime. But in the same token; it is not illegal to replace an instrument cluster or speedo, nor is it illegal to drive around with a broken speedo cable. Ya gotta remember these cars are so old now that nobody will put faith in an odometer reading anyway. My car went all the way up to 300,000km a few years ago and then suddenly read 150,000 miles and sprouted a tachometer. Ministry of Transportation has never had a consistent reading from me from anything I drive.
Use the search feature: a forum member carefully outlined a few years ago, with pictures, how to reset the odometer gears on a swap unit so as to match the original one. And honestly I can't see someone going to the 'big house' for doing something conscientious as that!

True, but how are they going to prove that you manipulated the odometer? You can say you just swapped the cluster, and threw away the other.

[Bert]

True, but how are they going to prove that you manipulated the odometer? You can say you just swapped the cluster, and threw away the other.

As you and me both said: highly unlikely an Authority is ever going to chase after someone that messes with a Festy speedo. Just remember what to say if you're ever accused of tampering; "the old one was broken and I had to replace it with another used one".

[muleskinner]

I have a motor bike (SYM RV250) that has a digital readout and when it the miles get to around 6500 miles on the ODO it goes back to zero. I even had the cluster replaced and it still goes to zero at around 6500. I have around 27,000 miles on it now but the ODO reads 2,500.

My opinion is you will NOT get in trouble.

[Chobobulous]

U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04

United States Code
Title 49 - Transportation
Subtitle VI - Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs
Part C - Information, Standards, and Requirements
Chapter 327 - Odometers

Section 32704. Service, Repair, And Replacement
(a) Adjusting Mileage. - A person may service, repair, or replace an odometer of a motor vehicle if the mileage registered by the odometer remains the same as before the service, repair, or replacement. If the mileage cannot remain the same -
- (1) the person shall adjust the odometer to read zero; and
- (2) the owner of the vehicle or agent of the owner shall attach a written notice to the left door frame of the vehicle specifying the mileage before the service, repair, or replacement and the date of the service, repair, or replacement.

(b) Removing or Altering Notice. - A person may not, with intent to defraud, remove or alter a notice attached to a motor vehicle as required by this section.

Thats what a quick google search brought me.

[Banana Bonanza]

In ARkansas when I renew plate every year I have to state odometer reading and tell if mileage is over 100000 miles. Over 100000 miles, nobody really cares. At that mileage, condition is everything, mileage is meaningless.

[blkfordsedan]

Im sure it varies by state, but here in Nebraska, no one really cares about the odometer on any vehicle over 10yrs old. An odometer statement isnt even require for sale or printed on the title....unless you elect to have it put on the title during the sale (i.e. the car has low miles and you WANT it to be documented). Unless you purposely alter the odometer to read low mileage and sell it at such in order to defraud the buyer, I wouldn't even worry about it at all.

[gauge_half_inch]

Basically to sum it up, if you not trying to sell it for top cash as a 30k original mileage, you should be fine. If for some reason you go to sell it, be sure to disclose its not actual mileage and your good.