Speedo cables....

[Hermit]

The speedo cable that came with the bike (1979 GS 750) broke a couple weeks ago. I was able to procure a replacement at the local dealership for a reasonable price. I installed it. The speedo worked again, hooray...but it was a little....off...kinda squeaky and "surge-y" (if you know what I mean) so I re-installed it, making sure that the slotty bit on the cable was lined up with the slot thingy in the speedo drive. Went riding...no speedo at all. Never quivered. Re-installed (ie: unscrewed and re-screwed) a couple times, no dice, no speedo... :x

Pulled the whole cable out....broken...Already. Been ridden maybe 10 miles since I installed it the first time and it "worked".

So, what, if anything am I doing wrong? Is there a procedure or order in which this should be installed? Is there a step I'm missing or something? I'm really confused as to why I can't get a /cable/ to work...

Every time....I do something small, and it turns into a nightmare...I'll have to tell you about the time I had to replace my license plates on my cage...let's just say it required a sawzall and a lot of swearing...

[airportcop]

Speedo problem

How did the speedometer work before the cable broke the first time? If it is anything like my 1980 GS 550L, you need to make sure that your gear drive mounted on the front wheel is okay. Mainly that it turns freely and smoothly. You do need to make sure that when you install a new cable that it is properly seated on both ends. Hope this helps.

[Hermit]

Well, originally, it worked just fine. Then it started making noise....lots of noise....then it (for a short time) surged and what not until it just quit working entirely.

When I say surge...how to describe....the needle would oscillate wildly...like I'd be cruising along at 40 or so and it would start swinging from 35 to 80, back and forth and then eventually peg out...then when I came to a stop it would sorta act normal, but with lots and lots of noise.

So, how to check smooth operation of the speedo drive? I'm not sure how to get the front wheel off the ground and get it spinning fast enough to make sure it's working properly....

But, and pardon my ignorance, if the speedo drive isn't working, why would the cable break? I'm thinking I must have seated it wrong or something...user error...pretty typical for me...

BTW, the new cable WAS lubed, very nicely, in fact.

[vstan905]

Just a guess here, but it kind of sounds like the speedo itself is tight or locked up and the cable couldn't turn it and thus the cable broke.

[duaneage]

WD-40 into the speedo cable hole.

[bjrehill]

I know the cables need to be lubed before you use them. Did you lube it first?

[vstan905]

WD-40 is a lousy lubricant. It evaporates quickly. Good for penetration and unbinding things, but not good as a permanent lube. A good cable lube or light oil is best.

[duaneage]

If you use a "good" lube in the speedo it will collect dirt. Wd-40 cleans and evaporates leaving just enough film to do the job.

[vstan905]

Sorry, but I disagree. WD-40 will totally evaporate and will not leave anything behind. Cable lube is made for this purpose. With all due respect, usign your logic you shouldn't lube anything that dirt could get to. WD is great stuff, lousy lube.