Dancing or jumping spedometer needle

[Steel Toed Tank]

My first thread!
Anyways, I recently installed a new Parts Unlimited spedo cable and now the needle bounces a lot.
If I'm doing 100kmh it will bounce back and forth between 90-110. Sometimes it it doesn't bounce at all and just does what it's supposed to.
I tried a few things to see if I could make it bounce or stay steady, but there seemed to be no correlation between what I was doing and the spedos behavior.
The Spedo was NOT working when i bought the bike so I don't know how long it's been doing this.
Is it something simple like oiling the line?
Is there something wrong with the new cable?
Are these bikes prone to this?
Is my spedo about to grenade on me?

Any help from you wise and knowledgeable gentlemen would be appreciated.


Tank

[Buffalo Bill]

Welcome, biker!

An intelligent question from a newbee, wow!

Yes, the gage needs to be taken apart and the bearings lubed.

How? Well it don't unscrew neatly like with most other bikes.

You have to carefully pry & bend the edges of the steel from around the side of the body where it folds over the plastic back, until you can pull it apart.

When you got it lubed and cleaned, put it back together and tap down the metal, back into it's original shape.

Wait 30 years before repeating this procedure.

Bill

[Steel Toed Tank]

AND I used the heck out of the search function before posting my question, lol.
I'm one of the "wise old sages" on a forum of a very different nature and as such I understand all too well the "whats the least I have to do to get PRO results like you guys" mentality.
I know how frustrating it can be to always have to ask, "where are you, whats your set-up, what have you done to it so far, etc etc before being able to offer any help.

Thanks for your answer, I know what I'll be doing today!


Tank

[allojohn]

Before you tear the speedo apart pull the trip reset out and spray some WD40 in there, then go for a run. You might get away with it.

[koolaid_kid]

Did you lube the cable before you installed it? This is a requirement, btw.

[Steel Toed Tank]

Before you tear the speedo apart pull the trip reset out and spray some WD40 in there, then go for a run. You might get away with it.

Already have it off the bike.
I can't figure out how to get it open though.
I'll have a go at lubing it.

Did you lube the cable before you installed it? This is a requirement, btw.

No, no I didn't.
Suppose I will now though.
I'll take it for a spin and let you guys know.



Tank

[chuck hahn]

Shot a few squirts of PB Blaster into the one on the 77 750 when i got it from the hole the cable goes in. It would work but it was really slow on response. A few miles later it was moving as one would expect. Since they are off the bike, give them a little lube down below as well.

[Steel Toed Tank]

Yup, smooth as glass now.
I put a drop of oil down the cable hole on the back of the spedo and a few drops into the cable and slid the long spring back and forth through it.
Just went for a ride through the whole range of speeds and it worked perfect.
Thanks a lot everyone!!
I love this place.


Tank

[koolaid_kid]

Beats the heck out of taking the speedo apart, doesn't it?
BTW, most of us learn by experience, so don't think you are the first person to install a new cable without lubing it.

[chuck hahn]

I lube them by removing the core and rubbing some grease along the entire length.

[Steel Toed Tank]

Beats the heck out of taking the speedo apart, doesn't it?
BTW, most of us learn by experience, so don't think you are the first person to install a new cable without lubing it.

I didn't see an easy way to get it apart, that's for sure.
One of the best things about GSR, learning from others experiences (mistakes), lol.

I lube them by removing the core and rubbing some grease along the entire length.

Oil was all I had on hand, but grease is on the shopping list now.



Now that the spedo is so smooth and steady, I noticed my tach wiggles ever so slightly, so it's going to get oiled too.
And the other cables as well, while I'm at it.


Tank

[chuck hahn]

Little lube on the lever hinges, the cable end at the clutch lever, oil the foot brake lever where it passes thru the frame. A drop or two on the side stand hinge and the center stand hinges.