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Howling Speedometer: Why?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Guest
(This is not an Alan Ginsberg poem: " saw the best speedo of my generation)

The good news is not only that I got to take a longer ride on the motorcycle, and not only that I got my wife on the back for the ride, but also and most importantly that I put 200 miles on the bike without any more failures!

Now the bad news. What used to be a rare and intermittent howl (squeal? honk?) from the speedometer has become a near constant noise, starting when I climb above 20MPH or so and continuing under I drop under 1-2MPH.

Previous experience with VDO speedometers in VWs is that the bushing on the driven shaft is bad (most likely) or needing oil (less likely.)

I made a post a while ago about my bouncing speedo and tach (mainly tach.) The bouncing is still there, but it howls whether or not it is bouncing.

Is this a basic and fixable problem, or is the speedo no good anymore?
 
Hey, good that you got out on bike, and had the wife along.

on your previous post I suspect you learned that the bouncing gauges are usually from the cable binding, then breaking free, so lubing the cables usually takes care of that.

my experience on the howling gauges is similar to what you said about VW gauges.
disconnect the cable from back of gauge, squirt in a little lube in/around the gauge drive. Try that. If that doesn’t work, next try removing the guage so can hold it sideways and get the lube in a little further (but not so much that gets on face of guage).
If that doesn’t work, then next level is taking guage apart (either pry up the ring around the glass or cut plastic open. Are postings about either) ..... or drill small hole in the side to allow spraying in lube. Are more details on each option in other postings, just giving the ideas here.
 
Redman said:
Hey, good that you got out on bike, and had the wife along.

on your previous post I suspect you learned that the bouncing gauges are usually from the cable binding, then breaking free, so lubing the cables usually takes care of that.

my experience on the howling gauges is similar to what you said about VW gauges.
disconnect the cable from back of gauge, squirt in a little lube in/around the gauge drive. Try that. If that doesn’t work, next try removing the guage so can hold it sideways and get the lube in a little further (but not so much that gets on face of guage).
If that doesn’t work, then next level is taking guage apart (either pry up the ring around the glass or cut plastic open. Are postings about either) ..... or drill small hole in the side to allow spraying in lube. Are more details on each option in other postings, just giving the ideas here.
Click to expand...

Very good. Thank you. That's about what I figured. I am still waiting for the cables to come in on the gondola from Japan.
 
I have that same thing going on with my Wing, will be attacking it before too long. :oops:

My plan of attack is pretty much what Redman suggested. I think it's a dry bushing in the back of the speedo assembly, but I have to take a LOT of the bike apart to get to it. Good thing I have to replace some light bulbs in the gauge cluster, too. In fact, it is recommended practice to replace ALL the bulbs because of the effort required to replace just one.

So, I will pull the cable off the drive unit at the wheel, chuck it in a drill to see if it gets noisy. If it does, I'll lube the cable and the speedo. I might just remove the drive unit from the front wheel and re-pack it with grease, just to be sure.

We can check some of this stuff when I get there this weekend, just make a list, we'll see how many things we can cross off.

.
 
Steve said:
We can check some of this stuff when I get there this weekend, just make a list, we'll see how many things we can cross off.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Steve. The weather is looking good for it, too. I just have to make the workshop more inviting for a guest.
 
Steve said:
Don't forget the extra parking space for MY project. :-\\\
Click to expand...

YOUR project happens in the alley. :) There's no way your trailer is fitting into the garage beside the bedridden Yugo.
 
A Tech Day in Columbus, is that what I'm reading? Maybe I'll shoot on down too. 🌞
 
storm 64 said:
A Tech Day in Columbus, is that what I'm reading? Maybe I'll shoot on down too. 
Click to expand...

As far as I'm concerned, you're welcome to come. PM me for the address. We will get started at 9am on Saturday.
 
Sounds like a good time is about to happen! It's definitely going to be a good weekend for riding as far as weather is concerned.
 
How could it possibly be a good day for riding with a storm(64) shooting down from the north? :-k

Just kidding, Norm. :encouragement:

.
 
Haha, I'm not sure where I'm going this weekend. I'm getting new tires mounted tomorrow. I might head to southeast Ohio and play in the twisties. Or ride east into Pennsylvania and hit the Appalachian mountains. However it would be fun to hangout with you and Steve and work on the motorcycle.
 
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