telltale odometer?

[geronimotwo]

i am selling an '85 chevy van chassis.  i have it advertised as having 52,000 original miles (which i believe to be true but it is a 5 digit odometer).  one of the people looking at the van said that he could tell that it was actually 152000 because the numbers are just slightly below center in the odometer window.  he also told me that when it flips to 200k that the numbers will be slightly above center.  i have never heard of this.  any truth to it?

[never_retreat]

My old trick to tell if it rolled over was to look at the wear on the gas and break pedal. Also where your heal sits on the floor.
It takes over a 100,000 miles to wear the rubber down heavily on the pedals.

[geronimotwo]

everything in this truck looks clean, so i have always believed the previous owner, and haven't put that many miles on it myself.

[Monkeyleg]

I've seen odometer numbers above and below center on cars that are less than 100K. My Saturn has had both above and below numbers for years. My Harley has 60,000 miles on a new speedometer and the numbers aren't centered.

I'd suggest finding some old service receipts, but it sounds like you haven't had the truck long enough to make a convincing case for it having 52K.

[Boomhauer]

The numbers on those old odomoters didn't always line up exactly even on a completely legit and untampered odo.

Been a while since I drove those vintage vans, though (we have two in the family and I spent a couple of years driving them growing up but they are off the road now)

The mechanical condition and stuff like the rubber on the pedals will tell you the tale.

[geronimotwo]

again,  i am not argueing the actual miles on this van, just the odometer fact in general.  the third person to see the van gave me a deposit pending the the ability to raise the rest of the funds.

[Brad Johnson]

No truth to it at all.

Mechanical odometers, especially older ones that have been through decades of extreme heat/cold cycles like those in a vehicle cabin, often have partial alignment problems.  It's a mechanical device with very rough gears and engagement dogs.  The person's assertion that the mileage isn't correct because of a perceived alignment issue is unfounded.

If the condition and general operation of the vehicle are in line with the indicated mileage then I don't see a problem.

Brad

[geronimotwo]

he was the second guy to come along, and was trying to use the extra 100k to badger the price.  ehh his loss.

[wmenorr67]

Odometers are not completely accurate. 

[Monkeyleg]

Odometers are not completely accurate.

Very true. Odometers and speedometers can vary from the real speed or mileage by 5-10%. I don't know if the law allows a certain amount of error.

The odometer on my motorcycle is off by 2.7%. I know this because I calibrated it using the mile markers whenever riding through Nebraska. There's nothing else to do when riding through that state.

Back when I was a teen, and selling a high-mileage car, I tried the old trick of hooking a drill up to the speedometer cable to turn the odometer back. The drill burned out before I was able to turn it back any significant amount.

[grampster]

Previous comments are accurate.  Check the floor and look for carpet wear and wear on the pedals as a better indication of use, as previously stated.

[French G.]

Very true. Odometers and speedometers can vary from the real speed or mileage by 5-10%. I don't know if the law allows a certain amount of error.

The odometer on my motorcycle is off by 2.7%. I know this because I calibrated it using the mile markers whenever riding through Nebraska. There's nothing else to do when riding through that state.

Back when I was a teen, and selling a high-mileage car, I tried the old trick of hooking a drill up to the speedometer cable to turn the odometer back. The drill burned out before I was able to turn it back any significant amount.

You need to put it on jackstands and run it in reverse. Preferably near an expensive glass house.

[Monkeyleg]

You need to put it on jackstands and run it in reverse. Preferably near an expensive glass house.

:D Voice of experience here?

If I recall correctly, I was able to turn the odometer back 20-30K before the drill died. It was running for at least a day.

[Perd Hapley]

Back when I was a teen, and selling a high-mileage car, I tried the old trick of hooking a drill up to the speedometer cable to turn the odometer back. The drill burned out before I was able to turn it back any significant amount.

I bet you threw in a pair of moccasins to seal the deal.

[Monkeyleg]

I bet you threw in a pair of moccasins to seal the deal.

This was 1970. I threw in a pair of platform shoes.

Sweet car, though. 1967 Buick LeSabre, really good condition. Gold with black vinyl top and cloth bench seats wide enough for adult(s) to lie on. :) I sold it for $500.

[wmenorr67]

You need to put it on jackstands and run it in reverse. Preferably near an expensive glass house.

:D Voice of experience here?

If I recall correctly, I was able to turn the odometer back 20-30K before the drill died. It was running for at least a day.

Actually need to be a Ferrari for that to work.  Dick, this is a reference to Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

[geronimotwo]

:D Voice of experience here?

If I recall correctly, I was able to turn the odometer back 20-30K before the drill died. It was running for at least a day.

lets see:  (cheap $10 drill) X  (remove 20-30k each drill) = a new car for less than $50!