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Speedo accuracy.

  • Thread starter Thread starter spyug
  • Start date Start date
It is possible to "calibrate" a speedo with home tools. I had to do this with a Volvo when I replaced the speedo gage needle..
  1. On the vehicle, make sure that the basic gearing is about right, ie, if you travel ten miles you get ten miles on the odometer.
  2. Take the speedo cable off the bike and chuck it (clamp it) in a variable speed drill. The drill has to have the ability to be set on at any speed.
  3. Slowly increase the speed until you are clicking off one mile in 60 seconds on the odometer. The indicator should be reading 60MPH. The operating principal of a speedo is magnetic "drag" pulling the needle against a spring.
  4. If it isn't, you'll have to excavate inside the meter. There are two possibilities.
    1. The needle needs to be moved.
    2. The biasing spring is rusted, bent, etc. (unlikely)
  5. While you're in there, set the mileage to whatever you want (just kidding!).
Reading 80 when doing 30 sounds like the aluminum shell is dragging on the needle shaft.
 
Many thanks MF70. this is almost word for word what I was told this morning by my regular wrench.

Not being too satisfied with this situation , I went down to speak with Brian at Ultimate Cycle. I've been dealing with Brian for years and trust him for the honest scoop. He was on vacation when I first got the bike and his shop was overloaded with work so I took it to my locally Yammie dealer who is just a few blocks from me. Brian tells me alot of the certification process is left up to the mechanic writing the cert.. His understanding of the ministery guidlines is that the mileage recorded must be accurate but the speedometer part of things is a "nice to know". Like me, he feels that an optomistic (i.e. reads faster) speedo is safer than a sluggish one.

I've cleaned and lubed the gearbox and the cable so I'm thinking things must be wacko in the speedo itself. I am going to time it against a GPS this afternoon and if it is still weird then I'll try your procedure.

I can't believe the hoops I'm jumping through on this. It just goes to show, you can never tell how easy a project will be to get road worthy. I was pretty certain this was going to be a snap. I still think I got a great bike for a decent price so I'm still happy. I'd be ecstatic if I could ride it a for more than the 1/2 mile to the dealer.

Its getting closer I think.

Cheers all,
Spyug.
 
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The final, and official, word on this subject, courtesy the Ontario Government:

(Let us never think they are quick in responding to the public)


Carrier Safety and Enforcement Branch
3rd Floor, 301 St. Paul Street
St. Catharines, Ontario
L2R 7R4

October 12, 2007

Dear Mr. Martin:

Thank you for your e-mail of July 17, 2007, regarding accuracy of speedometers. The Honourable Donna Cansfield, Minister of Transportation, has asked me to respond to you on her behalf. I welcome the opportunity to respond.

Motor vehicles in the Province of Ontario must pass a visual safety inspection before a registration can be transferred from one person to another. The safety inspection is comprised of a minimum set of standards found in Regulation 611 of the Highway Traffic Act. One section of the regulation addresses speedometers in saying ?The speedometer shall be tested by driving the vehicle and the speedometer shall be in good working order?. A general mechanic would not possess the equipment to gauge the accuracy of the speedometer but, only has to verify that it works. Also, some motor vehicles that are to be transferred are not licensed for the road. As a result, the road test of the vehicle may be confined to the parking lot of the inspection station. This short road test will indicate if the speedometer works but, will not be a long enough test to indicate its accuracy.

If you have any further questions regarding the Motor Vehicle Inspection Program please contact Doug Reece at (905) 704-2885. He will be pleased to assist you.

Thank you for your interest in the safety of Ontario?s roads.

Yours truly,

Original signed by?


Peter Hurst
Director

c: The Honourable Donna Cansfield, Minister of Transportation
 
You can use a GPS or get on a highway that has mile markers, ride for 10 miles at a steady speed, and do the math.

Greg O.
 
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