I don't think it is a myth. When I was repairing mine I saw that the action
of resetting made that part of the mechanism move in the opposite direction
from which it 'normally' moves in advancing the odo, etc.
There's a certain amount of slip in there but I could see how continually
resetting it at speed could eventually loosen the gear.

Cya,
Robert

On 6/23/08, Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I don't resent mine ever, but the thing about resetting is a myth.  :-)
>
> Larry A.
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 4:59 AM, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:
>
> > Buried in the archives somewhere are the names and websites of some
> > companies who repair these things. I fought mine for quite a while, then
> > bit the bullet and bought a new one from Camelback VW in Phoenix. Best
> > move I could have made. Of course I resolved NEVER to resent the thing
> > while the van is in motion.
> >
> > John Rodgers
> > 88 GL Driver
> >
> >
> > Neil2 wrote:
> >
> >> Hey volks,
> >>
> >> A couple of weeks back the odometer failed.  I've read in the archives
> >> that
> >> resetting the trip meter while in motion can cause odometer failure.
> >>  Anyone
> >> know which models are affected and which are not?
> >>
> >> Now for the feature presentation . . .
> >>
> >> A post in the archives contains a clue I've been looking for to resolve
> >> one
> >> of three new problems (odometer, speedometer, trip meter): "Then there's
> >> the
> >> matter of getting the speedometer needle back in the right
> position......"
> >>
> >> My odometer and trip meter weren't working and speedo was working when I
> >> purchased the van.  I removed the assy from the housing and reinstalled
> it
> >> and suddenly it was working.  Months later (summertime) while in warmer
> >> climates it stopped again.  I opened her up and found the black gear
> that
> >> sits on the outer edge of the shaft and meshes with a worm gear, was
> >> rattling around inside the case.  I didn't know it's tendency to crack
> or
> >> slip in warmer months so didn't inspect it before reinstalling.  I guess
> >> it's the gear to which most of the archive posts refer.  While monkeying
> >> with it I managed to break the speedo needle, the cable mounting clip
> and
> >> one of the housing corners.  To make matters worse, the trip
> >> meter/odometer/speedo still don't work AND the needle sits at 60 mph!
> >>
> >> Anyone have an idea how one goes about getting the speedo needle back in
> >> the
> >> correct position?
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Neil2
> >> '82 Diesel Westy (Duckie)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>