Speedo fail :(

Adamantis · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 Oct 2008 Karma :

I was riding back to London last night from Bristol. Come off the M4 to the roundabout, stopped at lights. As I pull off again, my speedo/odo just stop working. No sudden jolts or anything, just nada. Got home doing the whole "crawl through speed cameras just in case". Not impressed - especially as it was meant to be my first track session tonight Sad

Today I have dismantled enough of the front to access the clocks, and done various checks:

-Pulled cable from both ends simultaneously to confirm it's still in one piece
- twisted one end by hand to confirm the other turns.

I -think- this means the cable itself is in one piece (which would be a relief as I can't find anywhere with one in stock within easy riding distance).

However: when I put bother ends back in, properly, I get no movement on the speedo.

If I just attach the wheel end (so that I can see the top end) I can't see any movement in the cable (turning) when I run the bike around the block.

So I'm stumped - even picked up a cycle speedo for a temporary fix, but the magnet is too wee and I can't get the sensor gap small enough! This may in part be down to a huge level of frustration...

So! Any ideas on wtf is up with my wretched speedo?

Thanks in advance,

Laura

Adamantis · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 Oct 2008 Karma :

(Also, yes, I appreciate that I could risk riding without one, but I'm a huge chicken when it comes to stuff like that)

DrDonnyBrago · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

What bike is it?

Also does your tacho work? I ride my bike on the tacho as my speedo takes while to kick in, 3.5k in 3rd = 30mph etc etc etc.

Follow learner drivers on long straight roads for an idea of 30mph Thumbs Up

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Adamantis · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 Oct 2008 Karma :

Bike is a Thundercat. And yeah, tacho is working. I just find it really, really disconcerting to not have a "real" speed Neutral

neil. · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Karma :

If you disconnect the speedo cable at the instrument cluster and rotate the front wheel, does the disconnected end of the cable rotate too? If not, then it's an issue with the drive unit in the wheel, if it does then it's the instrument cluster that has the problem. Thumbs Up

____________________
CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

So the cable is intact, but when its attached at the wheel end there's nothing turning it. This points at the speedo drive on the wheel. Does it feed off the front wheel or off the gearbox sprocket?

Speedo drives do pack up from time to time. Assuming its on the front wheel, take the speedo drive out and turn the bit that is driven by the wheel by hand, and see if the part where the cable fits to it turns. I have a broken one in the garage where the cable driver bit snapped (was made of plastic). Used speedo drive sorted it.

Adamantis · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 Oct 2008 Karma :

I've run it round the block with the wheel end attached, and there's no movement up top. So something in the drive part in the wheel?

Ta!

woll · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 May 2010 Karma :

Adamantis · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 Oct 2008 Karma :

Thanks for your help, everyone! We took the drill to the drive end and managed to get the speedo working, so definitely the drive then! Will order one and get it fitted asap.

At least I don't have to remove half the flipping plastic to get at the wheel end...