Tachometer question: broken cable or gear

[ATX 850]

83 GS 850G

Finally got the bike running, but can't get the tach to work. Disconnected the tach cable with the bike running, but it was not spinning. Should I replace both the cable and the tach gear itself or just start with the cable?

Can I pull the cable at the motor and insert a wire to see if the gear is working....or is that just asking for trouble?

Thanks

Chris

[Steve]

You can unscrew the cable at the engine end (leave the adapter attached to the engine) and see if it's turning.
If you remove the adapter, the driven gear can come out and you will have a serious oil leak.

.

[chef1366]

You have a broken cable. Replace it.

[magnus]

yup, should be broken cable. it sounds exactly like what mine is doing. new cable from the local suzuki dealer was like 12.85 or something like that. under 13 bucks.