Advice on plugging my tach hole. 82 xj550

I'm removing my instrument cluster because my speedo is unreliable (not just by feel, tested against GPS) and my tach doesn't work at all. I also just don't want them on there, I'd rather replace my cluster with something minimal later on down the road.

I know how to get the whole thing off, in fact it already is except for the tach and speedo cables. Once I pull the tach cable out, what are the options for stopping it up? A specific part, a generic bolt, stuff some bubblegum in there? Just let it puke oil and laugh maniacally? If left to my own devices I might cut the cable then pinch and hammer it closed as a makeshift cap, but somebody might want that cable if I sell the cluster.

Also, if anyone is interested in an instrument cluster that might need some work (at very least needs light on tach side) let me know. I might be interested in a parts swap or something.

 

What model is your bike?

 

82 xj550 maxim.

 

I know you said you wanted more a more minimal cluster, but in case you don't end up wanting to mess with the tach cable, I've got an '83 550 cluster in really great condition that I'm trying to get rid of. You can PM if you're interested.

 

I appreciate the offer, but I want to go with something small and digital. Just need to plug that hole by friday.

 

By friday might happen if you start a converstaion with member Chacal today. There is a tach drive plug and he sells it.

 

I'll hit him up. If the price is right and the turnaround is quick I'll doo something the right way for once. If not, I think I might try to find an acorn that will thread on there.

 

I talked to Chacal and the price was right but the shipping window was risky, so I'm holding off until mid-august. Its not a expensive bit, but I'm pretty broke right now, so I'll just throw it in with my Revelcal Big Carb Weekend order. (If you can't tell, I'm really looking forward to spending a weekend with just me, my dog, my carbs and a bottle of tequila. I'm gonna get some mardi gras beads and see if I can get my carbs to take their tops off...)

The Tach cable was buggered anyway with a split on one side coming out of the plug, so I clipped it, pulled the cable out of the tip, and hammered it closed. Just call me "Previous Owner"

 

Man, you contradict yourself left, right, and center! Pretty broke, but can afford tequila and beads, no time to wait for MrSpeedy to ship from XJ4ever, but time to take apart the carbs! Boobs, booze and making it run are prioritized over silly things like tachometers, and a healthy dose of comedy to boot!
It seems we have a few things in common! lol

 

Over the years I have found that if you're a real looker you don't have to pay for your tequila, but you always have to pay for your bike parts.

 

no money for parts UNTIL I GET BACK FROM WORKING THE STURGIS RALLY.
no time to wait for parts UNTIL I GET BACK FROM WORKING THE STURGIS RALLY

now that I'm done working my ass off, I have time and money to shove into the bike. Until I'm out of money. Then I will have to spend my time making money. At which point I'll have no time to spend on working on the bike. Then I'll have money and time again. Rinse, lather, repeat.
Does anyone else do it this way around here, or is this the kind of place where everyone has the luxury of just throwing money at problems until they disappear?

 

oh yeah, this is the internet... I should have remembered to put a smiley winky face at the end of that so everyone knows I'm saying it with a smile and not just being a dickhead.

 

I just work two jobs for 9 1/2 months of the year. Makes the hobby somewhat affordable.

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but iirc about 98% of the members here work a job(s).

Gary H.

 

That used to work really well on kids but i've never found anything to throw at a bike that didn't make more problems

 

I'm a full time engineering student, part time tech support, do random extra gigs through the year, manage a non-commercial radio station and have been head of some small non-profit organizations (but I'm getting out of those to free up some leisure time) The money I make doesn't go very far, and I have to squeeze bike parts out of a teeeeeeny tiny budget... so to me, being able to buy any part you need whenever you need it without having to wait or save and being able to work on the bike any given weekend or evening... those two things just don't exist. Set a goal, put it in the budget, work toward it, carve some time out of the schedule, make it happen.

someone might be inclined to say to me, after hearing this, "sounds like you don't have the time or money to own a bike," to which my reply would be,"sounds like you were born with a butthole where your mouth should be."

 

Engineering. So your intelligent enough to know how your comment regarding making money may have come off right? I wouldn't have commented had you said you're a full time college student. Words are powerful. Just saying.

Gary H.

 

keep that attitude and some day your jaw will be wired shut

 

This is not the place where throwing money makes problems disappear. For that you've gotta click the link to XJ4ever.com. Parts will never be free.
Also, if you spend any time reading the diy how-to section or technical chat or xj modifications, you will learn, rather quickly, that this is the place for people who turn wrenches, not people who pay people to turn wrenches. That's why we're all here, to learn from others who have done it before us. Now, you may feel that insulting these people will get them to help you, but I would counter that asking questions nicely will probably get you further. Some of these old dogs get grumpy. Not Polock, he's always cheerful.

 

so far none who have tried to break my jaw have succeeded, and I never deny anyone the chance to try.

 

Yeh, it seemed like you and I were having some snappy banter complete with lols and smiley faces and then it became a "how salty can we be?" thread. Three cheers for the internet.
I've been through the threads, I was lurking here for quite a while before I joined. I have seen that there are a lot of helpful people, a lot of hard working wrenchers. I have also seen that there are some who are firmly of the opinion that this is not a poor man's hobby and that if you're not restoring your bike to showroom glory or crafting a custom bobber you don't need to be riding an XJ.

Now if this isn't the kind of place where a guy can crack wise and make a few ornery jokes without everyone getting all upset all over their keyboards, I reckon I can just go back to lurking.

 

so anyway, how did you plug the tach drive up? You'll have a better chance to do a clean fix if you know what size the threads are. I'm thinking a lot of drive cables have the same threads, is there a boneyard handy

 

Imo it absolutely IS that kind of place. Also imo members don't need to lurk.

Gary H.

 

I clipped off the tach cable, hammered the sleeve shut and bent it over, then screwed it back on. It still spits a little bit of oil, but not from the crimp... just from the bad seals where it leaked before.
There is a boneyard a few miles from my place, but its a semi-private place and you have to show up by appointment so I haven't wanted to make that appointment until I make a list of everything I'm going to look for there. I've also been meaning to just order a few parts from chacal now that I'm back but I've been busy with other stuff, being as school starts again on monday.

Things are also slightly complicated because my buddy with an 82 XJ1100 got tagged by a truck last week in an intersection, and I've been spending more time with him and his bike than with my own. The wreck wasn't too bad,Very low speed hit, but hit him at about 70 degree angle. He's sore and road rashed but nothing broken. but it did tweak a few things and we are still deciding if its worth it for him to fix or if he just wants to buy a used goldwing and get back on the road right away. If he decides to unload it I'm probably going to pick it up from him - albeit at the cost of delaying the repairs on my 550 - and stick it in the garage as a long term bobber project.

rocs: "Imo it absolutely IS that kind of place. Also imo members don't need to lurk."

Good. Everyone should just assume everything I say has some wacky googly eyed smiley face after it. My pappy always said "You got a real smart mouth, son."

 

Having a ridiculous cartooney avatar helps with that! You're still fairly new here, it may take time for your humor to get through. I have had this discussion before, with me in the hot seat for goofball comments.

Wait till they get a load of my bike. It's gonna be a mule.

 

Matti,
Your humour, like mine, was just too many cold winters for you without a toque...

 

Nope, I'm not follicle-rich. I never go out without a toque after labor day. In fact, I've got one in my car right now. It's Canada, you never know!

 

So where did you develop that awesome sense of humour?
Must be a Canadian thing.....

 

Laughter is a psychological "pressure release" for when the brain encounters something it isn't expecting or can't understand. Since I'm sorta insane, everything I say is unexpected and/or incomprehensible... Is that humor?
PS As for a Canadian thing, John Candy, and the SCTV gang Mike Meyers, every Kid In The Hall, Rick Mercer, etc. proves that being funny is indeed a Canadian thing! Oh yeah, Jean Chretien too!