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Speedo

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by mmcgee, Feb 1, 2013.

  1. mmcgee

    mmcgee Member

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    doesn't work. The bike light comes on, so I don't think it's a fuse. What are some common solutions for dead speedometers? Is there a way to test the unit on the front tire before I try to replace both parts?
     
    mmcgee, Feb 1, 2013
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  2. maximike

    maximike Member

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    Well, yeah. Unplug the cable from the back of the speedo. Spin the front wheel. Does the cable turn inside the sleeve at the upper end? If so, cable and speedo drive at the hub are working. If not, could be bad cable. Or bad meter clutch. Cable itself is easy to check out. Take it all the way off, if it's broken, part of it will pull out of its sleeve.

    What often happens (happened to me) is that at some point somebody put the front tire on clumsily and bent the tabs on the speedometer drive clutch that turns at the wheel. Then it can no longer engage the drive to turn the cable. Cheap part, kind of a hassle to replace.
     
    maximike, Feb 1, 2013
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  3. maximike

    maximike Member

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    You are talking about a mechanical speedo, right? No mention of what bike you have. But I think they are all mechanical on XJs. There's no "speedo fuse." And to test just the speedo, just find a small screwdriver or something, stick it in the back where the cable goes, and spin it. You should be able to get a little movement of the needle. At the very least, do it for a while, watch the odometer tenths move.
     
    maximike, Feb 1, 2013
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  4. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Most common==

    a broken cable. Disconnect the cable at the back of the speedo. Put the bike on the center stand, have someone tip the bike back so the front wheel is off the ground. Spin the wheel, and see if the cable tip stipp rotates. If not, try pulling the cable center out. I bet your's rusted through and you'll only have half the cable length in your hand.
    If it doesn't pull through, disconnect the bottom of the cable, spin the wheel and see if the pick=up center is turning. If not, your pickup is bad, or someone didn't put it back on properly when the wheel was taken off. There are two dogs in there that must line up with notches on the hub.

    Depending on the type of speedometer, there are some that are repairable inside the instrument, there are others that are not.

    What bike are you talking about?

    dave fox
     
    hogfiddles, Feb 1, 2013
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  5. mmcgee

    mmcgee Member

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    Sorry it's an XJ700 1985. I'm a lousy mechanic. Thanks for the tips. That will get me started.
     
    mmcgee, Feb 1, 2013
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