Speedo/Odometer questions, Gears, lube, and more Options

[bbrock]

So I completed the odometer repair following the tech article on the bird. PIA but it seemed to go well enough. But I have a few questions before I button this thing up.

1. It was recommended that I replace the plastic drive gear while I'm in there as they are prone to failure. But I"m not sure what gear needs replacement and the most likely suspects are metal on mine. Does this not apply to me?
   
   
   
   
   
2. While in there, I freshened the grease on the worm, and other gears with multi-purpose grease. Later, I read that petroleum grease breaks down the plastic gears and is responsible for the failures. Should I clean out the grease and replace with a different lubricant? If so, what?
3. In testing, my odometer advances the mileage when the trip meter reaches 9/10 of a mile. Is there a way to align these so the odometer advances in sync with the trip meter as it rolls over a new mile? My trip meter and odometer never worked since I owned the car so I don't know what is normal and maybe I'm being too picky.
4. This is an idiot question but is there any magic that would whiten the tenth mile wheel short of removing and painting? Dreaming the impossible!

Thanks again for all the great advice from the brain trust.

[bbrock]

Thanks a million for your help. This answers a ton of questions! I got the dried up goo at the spinning magnet cleaned out and relubed. You are right, night and day difference. I've decided to just wait and see how long the pinch holds on the pot metal gear. Everything is aligned, reset, and working right now and I just don't feel like clipping shafts and digging back into that mess. It's not like pulling the gauge is major surgery. But now I know how to proceed when that day comes.