Noise from Tach...

[Guest]

I put on a new tach cable and about 10 minutes into a ride it was making an awful noise. I disconnected it and shot WD-40 into the cable (probably not the best but it was all I had at the time) and let it sit all night. This morning I connected the cable and started the bike, same noise. My guess is that I need to, 1: lube the cable with cable lube even though it is new and looked lubed and 2: take apart the tach and lube it too. Sound like I am on the right track?

[BassCliff]

Hi,

If WD40 is all you have (silicon spray is generally better), try squirting a bit inside the tach where the cable connects. To do a little better job, take the gauges off and turn them upside down before you spray into the tach cable hole. There are hundreds of posts concerning the inner workings of the gauges, how to take them apart, and clean them. Have a go at the search function.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[MiloBramble]

I did spray up into the tach connection hole...I will also take them off and turn upside down like you suggest, thanks. For the time being I disconnected the cable from the tach and zip tied it out of the way. I gotta ride in this beautiful weather but I don't want the noise or any damage that it might incur.

[koolaid_kid]

First: WD-40 is not a lubricant. It is a Water Displacer.
Second, what you probably did was wash any existing lubricant off the inner cable.
Third: You really do not want to disassemble the tach.

I would recommend recovery this way: Remove the cable completely. Clean out the cable by using some sort of cleaner. Brake cleaner works for me, but others have their preferences. Let it dry and use your cable lube or a graphite lube and lube the cable. I have also used 3-in-1 oil with excellent results.
You may try spraying some sort of lubricant into the bottom of the tach where the cable mounts, and make sure the cable fits snugly into the tach housing. It almost sounds like the cable was not inserted properly, but it is difficult to determine that long distance.

[MiloBramble]

First: WD-40 is not a lubricant. It is a Water Displacer.
Second, what you probably did was wash any existing lubricant off the inner cable.
Third: You really do not want to disassemble the tach.

I would recommend recovery this way: Remove the cable completely. Clean out the cable by using some sort of cleaner. Brake cleaner works for me, but others have their preferences. Let it dry and use your cable lube or a graphite lube and lube the cable. I have also used 3-in-1 oil with excellent results.
You may try spraying some sort of lubricant into the bottom of the tach where the cable mounts, and make sure the cable fits snugly into the tach housing. It almost sounds like the cable was not inserted properly, but it is difficult to determine that long distance.

Will do,,,thanks for the suggestions.

[MiloBramble]

Took off the tach, turned upside down and sprayed lubricant in the hole for the cable....noise gone. Thanks to all for suggestions.