Speedo cable leaking oil

[Guest]

Hi all. For a while my TACH cable has been leaking oil and it's now starting to annoy me as I use he bike more. Does this happen a lot and is there an easy fix, or should I just replace the cable. If it's replacing the cable, how straightforward is this to do?

i have a '77 GS750 E.
Thanks for your guidance!

[cowboyup3371]

Can you explain a bit more about how it's leaking oil? There isn't any oil in the speedometer cable, gauge, or gear although some oil does sit behind the tachometer gear

[Redman]

Speedo cable...? from the front wheel...?

You had the bike long?

THe cable inside the sheath should be lightly greased, but maybe someone dumped a lot of oil into it.

.

[J2Bs]

Tach, not speedo!

Hi Redman and cowboyup3371, seems I got a bit confused, and it's the tach, not speedo (DUH), and it looks like it's leaking from the head.
I saw this (for an 850, which I assume is similar?) and it looks pretty darn fiddly. Is this the same fix as I need, and anyone done it and can make any recommendations?

[AMK]

Try this...

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

[fastbysuzuki]

Hi all. For a while my TACH cable has been leaking oil and it's now starting to annoy me as I use he bike more. Does this happen a lot and is there an easy fix, or should I just replace the cable. If it's replacing the cable, how straightforward is this to do?

i have a '77 GS750 E.
Thanks for your guidance!

likely the problem lies here no 27 & 28 require renewing fairly common problem. One retaining screw and prize unit out change seals and reinstall.

[azr]

I've got to do this on my 'G', thanks for the reminder and heads up on the fix ye all.

[Burque73]

Hi all. For a while my TACH cable has been leaking oil and it's now starting to annoy me as I use he bike more. Does this happen a lot and is there an easy fix, or should I just replace the cable. If it's replacing the cable, how straightforward is this to do?

i have a '77 GS750 E.
Thanks for your guidance!

Just a note from one of my tach sleeve repairs, they can be really stubborn to remove. I successfully pulled one out without problems but on another bike the sleeve broke off in the head. Pull, wiggle and pry CAREFULLY! Don't panic if it breaks though it will come out......eventually!

Another note if your valves are due for an inspection it might be helpful to do these at the same time. I found it beneficial to pull off the right side engine cover and rotate the crank a half a turn to install the tach cable. There may be an easier way but that worked for me.

[J2Bs]

Thank you all for your helpful recommendations. Looks like I'll get a couple of new seals and very carefully pry it out.
cheers!

[Steve]

I saw this (for an 850, which I assume is similar?) and it looks pretty darn fiddly. Is this the same fix as I need, and anyone done it and can make any recommendations?

If you think THAT is "pretty darn fiddly", you may as well sell the bike NOW and get something that is maintenance-free.

Yep, these bikes are averaging 35+ years old, and some of the rubber seals on them are probably still original, meaning that they are pretty worn out by now. Once you have the parts on-hand, that is about a 10-15 minute job, not exactly what I would call "fiddly".

.

[J2Bs]

If you think THAT is "pretty darn fiddly", you may as well sell the bike NOW and get something that is maintenance-free.

Yep, these bikes are averaging 35+ years old, and some of the rubber seals on them are probably still original, meaning that they are pretty worn out by now. Once you have the parts on-hand, that is about a 10-15 minute job, not exactly what I would call "fiddly".

.

Hey fella, I'm quite new to my GS and want to learn more about how to maintain it. We don't all have a great set of maintenance experience at hand, and one person's not fiddly in another's learning curve.

[mrbill5491]

Hey fella, I'm quite new to my GS and want to learn more about how to maintain it. We don't all have a great set of maintenance experience at hand, and one person's not fiddly in another's learning curve.

"Hey fella" LMAO

[J2Bs]

Ok. It was a doddle to swap out; the tach sleeve slid out with some gentle encouragement and I changed the seals (#'s 27 and 28), but alas the exact same leak persists :-(
Is there anything else I can check or replace?

[Burque73]

Ok. It was a doddle to swap out; the tach sleeve slid out with some gentle encouragement and I changed the seals (#'s 27 and 28), but alas the exact same leak persists :-(
Is there anything else I can check or replace?

Did the drive gear have a groove worn into the smooth part of the shaft? That may prevent a good seal.

[fastbysuzuki]

Did the drive gear have a groove worn into the smooth part of the shaft? That may prevent a good seal.

As Burque73 says, also is your crankcase breather clear maybe excessive pressure is forcing oil through