Speedometer

It was finally wam enough to get my XJ750J out of the garage. At the end of summer last year, I had a loud grinding noise develop on the front of the bike. My speedometer cable broke about 30 miles from home. I only rode her twice after that. The second time, I put on a new speedometer cable and it broke 2 miles from home. It broke down at the tire end of the cable. I thought that I put it in wrong, or it was jammed up down below.

I put a new one on this week and found that the grinding sound is coming from the speedometer. Has anyone tried to open one up and fix it? I am thinking about replacing it with a generic one if I can find one to fit in the console. Anybody tried this either? Thanks

 

Hello?? Has everyone had no problems with their speedometer?

Surely someone has changed theirs out with an aftermarket one?

 

Sorry about no replies earlier -- can you turn the gear in the speedo by hand using a screwdriver? It shouldn't be dragging or causing a grinding sound - however the sound might be coming from somewhere else and just appears to be coming from the speedo.

I've had problems with the gear in the front wheel not being connected right - that can cause noise that can seem to be coming from anywhere.

 

I'm bumbling my way through a speedo right now but I've ruin one already if that gives you a clue about my learning curve. If you scrap yours, throw the pieces my way.

 

1 word--- Electrosport.

 

Blackhammer.
I have an '82 Seca gauge cluster I just took off my bobber. It's in perfect shape (everything works) that is for sale if you can use it. PM me if your interested. PD

 

I think it's just that the topic has been done to death recently - try this link or search for others:
http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... peedo.html

 

PainterD - Sent you a PM, hope it got through

kevineleven - that is one option, but that replaces the whole console + some rewiring.

greg_in_london - thanks for the link. I searched but did not find this topic in the forum already. I will give Rick Co Matic's suggestions a try.

 

You probably just need to oil the bearing on the input coupling. If that doesn't free it up you can always take it apart and spray it with WD-40 or something similar.

 

I finally opened up my speedo. I used Rick Co Matic's idea with the drill and a qtip. Sure enough, my speedo whined above 30 mph. I greased all of the gears I could see. Then I dropped the console and the Tach went in 4 pieces on the floor. So I put the remains together. Now when I ride above 40 mph the speedo whines. UGH!!!

So I am looking for replacements. I saw an 81 Seca 550 cluster. Does anyone know if it will work on an 82 750 Maxim?? I did not know if the Seca had a mechanical tach then.

 

Seca DOES NOT have mech tach. It IS electric.
At least not mine, 82seca750.
Just took mine apart yesterday. When these gears bind up they do several things.
THEY:
break speedo cables b/c the speedo is NOT moving and the cable is.
begin to break each other to get "free"
or make loud unpleasent noises.

 

Only problem I ever had on my 750 Max was coming back from a ride in the Texas hill country. Speedo started making terrible, angry buzzing noises at lower speeds. You could hear the noise bouncing off the buildings if you were coming thru a small town. Stopped at an auto parts store, bought some white lithium grease, packed some into the screw cap at the speedo end of the cable, reattached the cable and have never had another issue. But, not sure we heard the same noise and mine was only present at lower, town speeds. Didn't break the cable, either.

 

I just had the same issue, Mine had been making noise off and on for several years. I sprayed some WD-40 into the cable as well as the speedo.

Last fall, on my last ride, the speedo just stopped. This week I put a new cable on. It worked but made a lot of noise and was jumping around. After half a block, the noise stopped and the speedometer works fine...but....the odometer does not move. So I guess the noise was the odometer binding up, which broke my old cable. The new cable was stronger and broke the odometer! At least I know how fast I am going.....as long as I stay under 85! But that is another stupid forum.

 

I took mine off and cut them open. Refurbished them and then epoxyed them back together. Speedo now is dead on and tach is who knows where...