Speedometer cable replacement

[jduke]

Can anyone point me to a self-help on this?

[AndrewA]

There is no "cable" - The speedo is electronic.
What issues are you having?

[jduke]

It only shows about 5 to 10 miles per hour. When I'm running through the gears it might run up to 30 or 40 but then drop back to basically nothing. Any suggestions on where to start looking?

[jduke]

I also noticed my turn signals don't self-cancel as they did before the speedometer crapped out. Any connection?

[Moybin]

If the self-cancel works the same as it did on my K100 it essentially 'counts' the speedo pulses to figure out when to cancel.

I would look to see if you have a problem at the other end, electrically speaking. Perhaps the sensor that feed the speedometer circuitry with pulses is not reading properly. I think this is a proximity switch that reads the teeth on the hypoid gear in the rear end (more knowledgable members please blast me if I am wrong).

I work with proximity switches all the time. They have a gap or clearance tolerance which is quite small, usually only a 3 to 10 mm maximum. If your sensor has backed out, it might not be reading the teeth and generating a signal. Thus no speedo output.

[jduke]

I changed the rear tire recently but the speedo worked fine for about 3 - 400 miles then quit working. I'll check the rear end tonight and see if I moved something when I put the new tire on.
Thanks!

[rob_wijhenke]

What tire brand did you choose? If you switched to Dunlop, Metzler or Michelin you found it. These tires are notorious for giving false information to the sensor which is mounted at the last part of the shaft drive. You could try fixing it with a large portion of stork grease.

Good luck!

[jduke]

Continental RoadAttack. I can't believe a tire can cause a speedometer problem...
What do you mean by "stork grease"?
Is there anything else I need to be looking for?
Thanks for the help!!

[wswartzwel]

If the wiring looks ok you might try removing the sensor from the rear end and cleaning any metal filings off of it.

[jduke]

Since it stopped working while the bike was moving, I wouldn't think there would be anything wrong with the wiring, but thanks for the suggestion to clean the sensor. Rob suggested a "large amount of stork grease". Any idea what he means by "stork grease"?

[Bob Hancock]

Jerry,
Have you ever hunted snipe? You don't use stork grease on motorcycles....you rub it on a snipes tail.....or something like that.

[rob_wijhenke]

You know, the long legged bird's secretion that you aply in large quantities to rotating parts. That stuff!



You can order a jar here:

http://www.thegreasystork.com

[jduke]

OHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhh, I get it. A JOKE!!! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Funny except when it's on ME....
Seriously, is there a particular grease I need to use?

[rob_wijhenke]

Nope, I would remove the sensor, clean it and put it back. Sometimes there's some dirt or oil residue stuff on it. Don't grease it!

[jduke]

Thanks! I'll take a look at it tonight.

[Moybin]

Okay, I know the speedo is electronic. The speedo on my old K100 was electronic, too. I could open the case on that speedo and adjust the circuitry to change the 'counting' so it was more accurate. It took a couple of tries (I like trial & error since I don't have to spend $$ on instrumentation I use once in a blue moon).

Does anyone on the forum know if the S speedo can be similarly adjusted? I had the instrument cluster out over the weekend to reverse flow clean my oil cooler and don't remember seeing any holes for a screwdriver to get to a potentiometer. Comments?

[Raven]

Originally posted by rob_wijhenke
Nope, I would remove the sensor, clean it and put it back. Sometimes there's some dirt or oil residue stuff on it. Don't grease it!

Don't you feel better now that has been cleared up Rob?

The poor guy has vision of big bucks for a new speedo floating through his head and then you come up with stork grease!

Shame on you!

[Eron Flory]

Your problem (with the speedo and turn signals) may be with the plug that goes to the instrument cluster in the right side relay pod. It is the black plastic box just inside the right side fairing. Mine was loose from the factory and all the instruments and probably the right side switches go through that one plug. Unfortunately you have to remove the fairing to get to it then take of the cover on top and check to see that the lever is fully seated that locks the plug into the socket.

[jclark]

The other place to look is ( drum roll please! ) the connector at the end og the speedo pick-up. It's located behind the right side rear fairing cover above the rear brake resevoir. It's ty-wrapped in a bundle there. The pins are prolly broke off from the wire.

There. Either Eron or moiself is correct ( or someone else later ), and if I'm right Eron buys me a beer, or verse vicea.

jeff
..oh, and I forgot: :P

pps - this could have been searched for as a prelim...

[jduke]

I tried to search using "speedometer" and the only thing I saw was that about every Porsche in the world must have a bad speedometer....