GS850 Speedo problems

[suzukizone]

1981 GS850G at least 45k miles.
Over the years many probs with speedo, Have had to replace drives, cable and actual speedo assembly.
Especially in cold weather speedo emits howling sound with volume increasing as problem worsens. Simultaneously the speedo needles twitches erratically eventually taking up a 10-15 mph spread back & forth. Sometimes will clear up but will reappear again. May clear up after some riding as if it warmed up but usually will return after a bit.
I had to replace the original(?) speedo/tach assembly about 2,000 miles ago with a set from ebay. Old speedo read 37,000 miles when it failed but had run w/o cable or drive at various times during my ownership. (Those parts were also replaced.)
This "new" unit looked gorgeous with about 29,500 miles on speedo. Worked great until late last fall when same problem reoccurred and at 32,400 the newer speedo is dead. I had, just before this, run bike without the cable hooked up to speedo & determined noise was coming from speedo & not the drive or cable.

I was told anecdotally(spell check) that this bike "ate cables" but I have had recurring probs with every part of the system.

1. Anyone familiar with this?
2. Anyone know where I can get the speedo rebuilt?

Thanks,
suzukizone

[Nessism]

The gauges are not serviceable. Some people pry open the bezel on the front to get at the mechanicals, but once inside there is no way to rebuild the unit itself. You could try lubricating it which may or may not help. You could even open up the unit and try to lube it if you really wanted to try to fix it.

If all that fails and you need a gauge, I have a set from a 1981 GS1000GL – most likely the same as yours. These gauges have 38k on them and as far as I know they work fine. Let me know via PM if interested.

[suzukizone]

GS850 Speedometer

Thanks Ed, I do believe the style is different. I don't know if the actual speedo is different or if the internal gearing is. Will reseach as best I can.
Thanks.
suzukizone

[Nessism]

Thanks Ed, I do believe the style is different. I don't know if the actual speedo is different or if the internal gearing is. Will reseach as best I can.
Thanks.
suzukizone

On further thought...the regular G and the GL gauges are different. The ones I have are the GL version. Regardless, try the lubrication business first - it's free and may help.

Good luck.

[chef1366]

I had a speedo that "howled" and lubing it cured it. Lube the area where the cable goes into the speedo and the direct other side from inside the unit.
Bikes shouldn't eat cables. You either have it routed wrong or the unit needs lubed.
Also lube the speedo unit at the wheel.

[suzukizone]

Thanks for the help. Unfortunately the unit is now dead so I doubt lubing it will help.
Hopefully I can find another one.
DH

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. suzukizone,

For future reference, this is in the Garage Section:

• How to get inside your gauges
  Get inside those gauges without destroying it.

I've had pretty good luck lubing my gauge cluster with WD40. Sometimes I take it off, turn it upside down, spray into the cable inlets. Sometimes I just leave it on the bike and spray. Mine have howled a couple of times, but keep on ticking. The speedo has started reading 5mph over in top gear for some reason. But that's OK, I know how fast I'm really going.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[SqDancerLynn1]

Turn the gauge upside down & fill the speedo drive with a light oil WIll get rid of noises

[Old Colt]

I just opened my speedometer to install one of Rudy's custom gauge faces. This speedo has not been used in a few decades. I found a clear grease accumulated on the lower part of the drum the magnet spins within. As the needle would rise this grease would bind with some of the structure preventing further movement and slowing the return to zero. Simply cleaning off this grease and lubing all the rotating parts has freed it up to be a smooth operating instrument.

[suzukizone]

GS850 Speedo problems

Well thanks for your support but I think it needs repair or replace. Have found some places that do repairs, one quoted me $225 + $9 S&H. Hope I can do better than that. Ebay looking dry on this item. Will keep you posted if I find a solution.

DH