Case of Missing Tach Gear

[wtdash]

New to forum and GS's. Thanks for the warm welcome, too!

Patient: 1985 GS550E (owned for one week)
Issue: Non-working Tachometer - totally dead - nothing - nada. PO told me it was broken but didn't know why. Bike runs well...no other known issues.

Pulled the mini-fairing off and removed the cable, and it's working end-to-end. Here's a pic of the engine-side of the tach cable (look OK?):

Pulled the 'gear seat' (where the engine-side of the cable connects) and there's nothing in there ('cept for some grease and O-ring?):


I saw HERE there should be a tach gear in there.

So do these gears fall into the head/valves? As stated, the bike runs fine (albeit slower than I expected).

Is there any reason that someone would run w/out the tach gear?

I read on here that the camshafts can be swapped around and make the tach gear useless, but don't know the history of this bike..so that's a total unknown.

Can I just pull the valve covers to see if it fell in?

I've got the Repair/Service manual, so I'll check the 'how to' there.

Thanks!

[Larry D]

Man, that guy takes great pics........

I don't think there's anyway that the gear could fall into the engine. My guess would be that someone lost it somewhere in the bikes life.

A new one is $24 here.

http://www.babbittsonline.com/pages/parts/viewbybrand/default.aspx

You may find one less expensive including shipping on other sites. Or take ride to your local Suzuki dealer and order one. Have the part number with you when you go so the parts guy doesn't have to fumble around trying to figure it out.

Heck someone may have one lying around in their parts collection. They're common to most of our bikes.

Edit: Well, that link doesn't work. Select Suzuki under Brand and put in this part number 26431-49200
where it says search for. It'll tell you all the bike it fits.

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. wtdash,

Just FYI, Mr. bwringer has a guide with pictures:

Replace Tach Cable Seals

I don't think you have to worry about that gear falling in the motor. If it had, I'm sure you would have noticed it by now.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[wtdash]

Thank-you!
Yes, I used my cell phone to take the pics....but it allows me to email 'em so it's convenient!

And I found that link to bwringer.

This site really is a gold mine!

[Kriegdouch]

wow thats odd. i believe there is no way the gear could fell in the motor, but weird stuff does happen i guess. i just thought that i oughta put this vid of my tach gear drive of my gs1100l, still needing one... the right one in my case, cause the little male insert to the cable broke off... anyways here u go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsviA0-HMJc