What i thought is a shunt is that metal strip that appears to be between the terminals. but it could be a bi-metallic strip that is moving the needle which is usually how the non-ballsitic (slow) gauges work which give an average reading as opposed to a moving coil meter which would "flicker" and difficult to read. On looking at the last picture the "shunt" appears to the bi-metallic strip that moves the needle, and is heated by voltage flowing through coil the strip being 2 different metals will expand at different rates and deform (straighten out or curl further) as you are getting a full scale deflection it seems that there would be too much current flowing so something could be shorted. try measuring the resistance across the terminals and compare it to the one you repaired.

PaulJM said:

If you cut one end off you can check the value against the code on the body of the component (the coloured rings)

Click to expand...

do you have to cut the diode to messerle it?
Just wondering if they could be measured keep things intact?

Ideally you need it isolated otherwise there could be another path which would give a false reading. It depends on the circuit, it may only be connected at one end on that meter (with no wire on terminals). if you get 2 very different readings in each direction it is probably ok. If all the components measure ok that only leaves the coil which will be unknown or perhaps the bi-metal strip is mechanically damaged (bent) but that would likely show as needle not going back to zero