Odometer repair?

[Don R]

81 GS1100E, I've owned it for a few months and have been repairing things one at a time, the Odometer is re-set to zero and doesn't record miles, I fiddled with the reset button and had it working once but since I fueled up and re-set it again there it stays at 000. The gas gauge seems to work at rest but going down the road it drifts towards empty.
Anyway, is the odometer integral in the speedo and is it practical to try a repair?

 

[Don R]

I got the gas gauge working between 3/4 and empty, the trip set still isn't working and the new gauge pod that I bought seems to have the same issue. I'm apparently going to be the pioneer in repairing one.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Are you sure the speedo drive on the front wheel is operating correctly? They can fail or get grungy. Is the cable in good order? Is it properly inserted at both ends. They do break.

 

[Brendan W]

Is that the instrument cluster with the odo and trip counter side by side and the reset knob off to the right of the trip counter?
At a guess the odo and trip share a spindle and a spring loaded dog engages the trip counter.
It's possible that this is just dirty and no longer slides back into engagement when the reset knob releases it?
I might try a few judicious taps and slaps before tearing into it.
The fuel gauge is a voltmeter. Have you checked the voltage actually getting to the cluster and the tank resistor?
Could part of the reason the gauge drifts as you go along is because the charging system is not delivering 14V?

 

[chuck hahn]

As for the guage drifting toward empty it sounds to me like a bad wire right at the bullet connectors. My Cooley did that and some connector repair and soldsring then cure it
Jump the wires off the main harness and see if the guage goes to full and stays there for a minute or two. If so that would tell the harness is intact. That eliminates the harness side so now reattach the tank side wires and give it a go. Hook wires up with the tank in place and wiggle the connectors while watchig the guage

 

[Don R]

Thanks for the tips. Yes, it is the one to the right side of the main odometer, the drive and cable are good because the speedometer and main odometer works. It's the trip set that isn't re-setting. It is likely that the assembly is gunked up, yesterday out of the blue the trip odometer left zero and made it to 14.5 which is right for the trip I took. I think I tapped the button while moving, maybe that started it. I got a used replacement gauge pod and the trip in it doesn't work either.
I did have a low voltage issue but it's mostly taken care of, I found an unhooked red wire after installing a new Polaris V-reg. I do need to check the voltage at the tank connections.

 

[Don R]

I took apart a replacement gauge pod that I bought that also didn't reset I sprayed a little silicone lube on the re-set mechanism and when I rolled the gear by hand something went snap and now it works. Apparently something was hung-up. I used a reversable drill and added a few tenths of a mile and it re-set every time. Next, I got out my Wizards mist and shine and cleaned the insides, it's great for plastic and lenses. I put it all back together, but I think I'll test all of the lights before I bolt it onto the bike.

 

[Don R]

My Craftsman C3 battery drill with a piece of speedometer cable chucked into it only goes 45 mph on low speed.

 

[Don R]

It was warm and I was going to swap the gauge pod but rode the bike first, for the first two blocks the trip odometer didn't read miles but I pushed the re-set button while moving and it worked for the rest of the 1-mile ride. I think I'll just keep using it, the seat split so I ordered a new cover from Z1 Enterprises. Probably the same one that I see on ebay from China but might get here sooner.