First Ever XJ Repair: Tach

Haven't really done anything to the bike since i've got it. besides the turn signal, but that's a rather embarrassing story. i've also only had it for about a month though. i will have some time off from work when i get back from my honeymoon though!

The tachometer has never worked, PO didn't know what was wrong with it.
i looked over the calble, where it connects to on the engine, and where it connects on the tach. it was frayed to the 'coil' halfway through, the cap that secures it to the engine piece is broken and barely threads on but the metal parts sits fine, as does it the side it connects to the tach.

the tach is lit so i figure that it's not an electrical prob, though i could be wrong.

i'm thinking replace the tach cable, and it will magically work! Anybody have a brand or style they recomend?

i'm don't have a lot of mechanical experience, and i've only got a basic toolset and an apartment complex covered parking spot as my garage.

 

Take off the cable and see if it spins freely, its mechanical only, the bulb is just for light. You Can ride with it off anyway, just loosen it with a plyers

 

see if the tach, or the inside of the cable spins freely?

yeah i figured the light was the only electrical part in the tach, otherwise they'd just make the whole thing electric.

i've taken it off and tried to clean it/plug it back it a few times. it's looking like i should just get a new cable.

found this one on amazon http://www.amazon.com/Tachometer-Cable-Yamaha-XJ550R-XJ650/dp/B003QV9YH0

however, don't you guy's have a preferred vendor hanging around... chacal i think? i'd buy local, but i don't know a damn thing about my local shops.

 

the cable, but yeah Chacal is our vendor, he's the man. he's at the very top right of this page

 

They did, just not on your bike or mine.

Did you find this? http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15303.html

And this, although you may not need it right away, you will as soon as you start to put some miles on the bike: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=19538.html

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR REAR BRAKE YET??? http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html

 

yup i go the brakes professionally checked and replaced where needed.

i'm rather paranoid about brakes. because i like to go fast, and i like to stop when going fast.

yes, excellent thread. however i'm hoping i won't need to crack it open, but if the new cable doesn't do the trick then i'll be spending lot's of time on that thread.

hmm i'll keep that in mind, that could definitely be relevant.


and i found a cable, one of my buddies from when i was in the navy has a junkyard and he seemed confident it's the correct cable.

 

ok i received my new tach cable in the mail.
one side is capped with a plastic cap, the other is not.

i though the end were identical, now i'm doubting that.

does it matter which end connects to the cluster, and which to the engine?

and is there anything i need to know or do, or is this just plug and play?

 

the new cable has a long metal sheath on one end and a threaded cap, the other end just has a threaded cap. which goes where?

 

the "long metal sheath" end goes toward the motor, with the sheath curving upward. The plain threaded cap screws onto the back of the instrument itself. Don't FORCE it; you may need to "waggle" the cable around a little bit to get the inner cable to engage the tach and not just jam into it. I always wiggle it around until I can get the ferrule to sit squarely against the stub coming out of the tach, then screw the cap on.

 

ok thanks, i'll fit it on shortly!

i'll be so stoked if the tach fires right up!

 

well, bad new:
installed the new cable and started her up. it sat at about 1.5. gave it a couple revs and it would slowly climb to 2. turned it off readjusted the cable and tried, same result.

gonna take it out for a ride later to see if it responds differently to a ride, hope so.


if not i guess cracking open the tach is the next step.. bummer.

 

well i took it out with the same results.

guess i'll be cracking open the tach.