Tach cable slobbering oil.

[ToaDady]

81 gs650 , took it out for it's longest ride since 2005, 220 miles. I failed to tighten the tach cable and it went to slobbering oil, got all over the inside of the wind screen, all over my right side and down the bike,

Other than tightening it up, (it was only a turn or two attached) is there anything else I might be missing?

[Redman]

Depends on where it was slobbering from.

if thightming up the collar took care of the problem then you are okay.
if that didn’t take care of it, then need to remove the mechanism from the cam cover and replace a couple seals.

Oh, I assume you are talking about it slobbering at the engine cam cover......( not at the tach)

[Buffalo Bill]

You must be missing or have a worn out oil seal. Check the parts diagram and buy new. Bikebandit.com

[Steve]

Bike Bandit is OK, and usually ships a bit quicker than the others, but many of us shop at Parts Outlaw, where things are cheaper, and they use real Suzuki part numbers. (You are looking for items #13 and #14 in that diagram.)

Parts Outlaw happens to have a discount on shipping right now. Enter the code "Outlaw 19" at checkout, flat-rate shipping is $4.99, instead of the usual $9.99.

Price comparison between Bike Bandit and Parts Outlaw:
Item #13, Seal, band, part number 26451-45000. BB = 4.37, PO = 3.41.
Item #14, Oil seal, part number 09289-05002. BB = 7.05, PO = 5.50.

Bike Bandit is asking for $7.95 to ship this to me, add in the 11.42 for the parts, the total is $19.37
Parts Outlaw is asking $4.99 to ship, add in the 8.91 for parts, the total is $13.90.
Even with the usual $9.99 shipping at Parts Outlaw, it would still be cheaper.

Your money, your bike, your choice.

.

[Grimly]

The little oil seal in the tacho drive is one of the most expensive seals, weight for price, on the GS line, I think. Especially when you take shipping into account.
Luckily, there's a source of complete tacho drive assemblies on ebay for a mere 17 currency units, so given that I know my tacho drive shaft is definitely worn and another seal replacement is inevitable, I might just get a new assembly.

[bwringer]

Instrucciones:

http://www.bwringer.com/gs/tachcableseals.html

One other thing to add: OEM Suzuki tach cables (and all cables for that matter) are FAR better quality than the shameful aftermarket garbage peddled under a few different names, and they cost about the same -- sometimes even less. OEM cables also come pre-lubed; most aftermarket cables I've seen seem to arrive dry other than a very light coat of oil.

In addition, OEM cables seem to be far less likely to unscrew themselves, for some reason. The threads are probably better formed. In any case, I usually rummage through my o-ring assortment and put an o-ring into the fitting on the cylinder head. This does not add any sealing; the seal should prevent oil from even getting to this area. The o-ring simply gives the fitting something to "squish" against so it resists unscrewing from vibration.

[ToaDady]

it was slobbering at the tach

[bwringer]

it was slobbering at the tach

Sounds like the seal had failed and was pushing oil up the cable.

[LAB3]

My cables have slobbered all over the place after using the plastic bag method to lube them, had to learn to let them drain awhile before putting them back on.