79 GS1000 tach cable

[Rodman]

I replaced a broken one with a Suzuki OEM cable and the crimp is loose on the side that goes to the engine. This cable was purchased one year ago and already toast?? It seems the OEM parts should be better quality than aftermarket. Should I write this off as a manufacturing fluke and get another or go aftermarket?

[Roadrash]

Crimp it back together and use again, I've done it with mine several time. They don't seem to last a long as they use to.

[gearheadE30]

I have a used original one from a GS750 in good shape that should fit. My guess is your tach is binding, though. I've had that cause a few cable failures on other bikes. The rotating magnetic disc and its supporting bushings can get grit in them over time and put a lot of load on that cable, which really isn't designed for any load at all.

[sedelen]

I replaced a broken one with a Suzuki OEM cable and the crimp is loose on the side that goes to the engine. This cable was purchased one year ago and already toast?? It seems the OEM parts should be better quality than aftermarket. Should I write this off as a manufacturing fluke and get another or go aftermarket?

It's no fluke, I had the same thing happen to mine which was replaced maybe a year or so ago. Cable pulled free from the crimp that goes to the engine. I re crimpt it back together and it worked just fine, for a few hundred miles, then I noticed the tach needle was swinging wildly, and then it worked normally and then it quit working altogether. You guessed it,
it unscrewed itself from the crimp. If the tach needle spun the opposite direction it would screw tightly and work I think, until it wore lose enough to free spin in the crimp.......
So....... (and this just happened the other day on my '79 GS1000E).
I was going to order another cable, and I thought, let me try to repair it.
So, I used acetone to completely clean the cable and the inside of the crimp, put some red lock-tite on it and put it back together and re crimpt
it. I haven't put it back on the bike yet.
If it fails, this is one OEM part I won't buy again, I'll try a aftermarket cable first.
And........... the same thing happened to my GS1100 about a month ago.
I had to replace that cable, because when I tried to re crimp it, the crimp just broke apart.
Don't know if this helps or not but at least you know you're not alone on this one. This cable is still fairly new and in great condition, I lubed it with graphite before it was installed new, so I don't believe binding was an issue.

[Rodman]

Thanks for all the input, a new cable is on the way. The tach was growling the last time I took it riding, so maybe its needing some cleaning and lube but they are not meant to be taken apart. Although I have done this once before, at the bezel, not a fun project. I did run across a gauge cluster on ebay for cheap and snagged it up but the cosmetics suck but the tach works, lights and fuel gauge too. I tested the original when I tested the ebay gauges and it wasn't growling then??? I guess I'll decide after the new cable gets here what the final solution will be. Thanks again!