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82 750 seca gauge cluster questions

Discussion in 'XJ Modifications' started by worlds-fastest-xj-750, Dec 2, 2012.

  1. worlds-fastest-xj-750

    worlds-fastest-xj-750 Member

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    My ugly gauge cluster whinning really bad, and speedo goes crazy, its not the cable. i turned the cable with my hand and the gaue was jumpin all over the place.So im thinking that there is a il plastic worm gear in there that went bad but idk. So i have two questions:
    1, How do u seperate the gauge cluster without breaking it

    2,Next one is what round gauges will work with the 82 seca 750. And will i still be able to have a gas gauge and computer system(i doubt it) dont care to much about the neutral light but i guess that is hanndy
     
  2. maximike

    maximike Member

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    Two bolts hold gauge cluster on, but I have lubed noisy speedo without removing cluster. It is a little tricky, because the headlight is in the way. But what I did was loosen the light box, unhook cable from cluster, pull the screws from the back of the instruments, then take out the two little screws that hold in speedometer. Then you can pull speedo.

    To remove whole cluster, you have to unplug all the connectors inside the headlight bucket that run to the cluster, then unbolt the bolts from underneath that hold it on. Don't lose the metal spacers and rubber bushings that go in there.
     
  3. elGato

    elGato Member

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    I have this same problem. Whining, but then it quit all together.

    New Gauges, or repair?
     
  4. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    It's probably the cable. Even if you can spin the cable by hand it can still be binding when riding, which will cause exactly the symptoms you describe. Thoroughly clean and lube the cable, then take it out for a ride. If the problem stops order a new cable, because cleaning and lubricating a (likely) 30 year old cable will only get you by for a little while. If the problem does not go a way order a service manual so you can open the gauge cluster and clean/ lube the speedometer without damaging anything.
     
  5. worlds-fastest-xj-750

    worlds-fastest-xj-750 Member

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    o it will be back and it wont go away mine did this now and then from the day i baught it 2months ago today. Now here i am 1982 nmiles later and its been non stop humming and no speedo since1500 so prepair for it.

    But i really wana change the gauges and the stupid 10,000 leagues under the sea snorkel headlight setup. Im thinking two round headlihts and round gauges would look nice with my protaper low bars( http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRO-TAPER-SE-7- ... 9c&vxp=mtr) im bout to install
     
  6. worlds-fastest-xj-750

    worlds-fastest-xj-750 Member

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    Nah man its not my cable first thing i checked. its the speedo its self. I'm not trying to keep this dinosaur stock im making it better so round head lights, gauge's and low dirtbike bars. BUt what gauges to get is the question??????
     
  7. JPaganel

    JPaganel Well-Known Member

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    That is seriously hilarious, given that round headlights and gauges have been around for 50-70 years before the square ones made their appearance. :D
     
  8. maximike

    maximike Member

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    83 Maxim has round gauges(unlike my 82, that are even weirder than Seca, if that's possible) I'm not positive, but I don't see why they wouldn't work. I like the weirdness of the light/gauges, but mine are giving me problems and I also want to switch to dual round lights.

    The computer can be saved in switching to round gauges. I'm working on it, there's a thread under XJ mods: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=40396.html

    I did some crappy photo editing to show basic idea. I just ran out of funds to pursue it right now. (have to buy gauges, etc)
     
  9. Groundhangers

    Groundhangers Member

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    They must be the ugliest gauges on earth, butt ugly. I was lucky enough to get a chrome X cluster from a forum member. Speedo connection is different, mounting needs a bracket made up and the wire connections are not the same. There will be a few wires i will disregard. Easy enough to modifiy, just takes a little time thats all, and on top of that they look 1000 times better. Same goes for the headlight too, ill be changing that for a Bates.

    Ill let you know how i go about it a little later down the track for future references. Just got a few other things to sort out with the bike first.

    Greg
     
  10. worlds-fastest-xj-750

    worlds-fastest-xj-750 Member

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    sweet its not that i think round ones i newer style but that rectangular one is just plain redonkulous. Now that being said its kool in its own right,(totatly 80's vibe) I think that one round headlight just wouldnt flow with the bike's lines but two smaller round headlights like out of an fzr would look killer. The whole bike flows together and looks great until u get to those dorky mini apes and the weird headlight region.
     
  11. worlds-fastest-xj-750

    worlds-fastest-xj-750 Member

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    So this kid i know went and baught the same bike \,color and year as mine, but his is slower and totally scrap metal, Anywho i thatuht that was weird, i mean why would u want the same bike as a person u know? But having two secas in the same town that are identical is just not gunna cut it. I did manage to get him to paint his but he rattle caned it black looks terible and yet all the lil ladies get on his instead of mine( and hes no brad pitt, by any means) i think the windshield scares em off but its not going any where sees how i ride it all year long. But i digress even tho i bought mine first i decide to just totaly build it up and bring it out to its full potential. Then im taking it to blackhawk,elkhorn and hopefully dragons tail. I just cant wait to see it done. :)
    So thats my reason for starting a build project.
     
  12. spamaha

    spamaha New Member

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    In what way other than mounting and wiring? Is the Seca speedo cable not compatible with a Maxim cluster? Can you provide year-model reference for interchange?
     
  13. worlds-fastest-xj-750

    worlds-fastest-xj-750 Member

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  14. spamaha

    spamaha New Member

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    At the risk of sounding rhetorical, I'm gonna answer my own question--just in case somebody else is working a similar mod. Today I connected what I believe to be a 750 Maxim speedo/tach [edit for clarification, this is from a 1983 model] onto my '83 750 Seca, just to verify that speedo and tach are compatible with my bike. Removing and bypassing the fish-finder will be another project as time permits, but I wanted to verify the new speedo/tach function without actually mounting it yet. Here's what I found:

    1) The two-bolt mounting to the fork assy measures the same width and looks like it will clear the key-switch below the cluster.

    2) Seca speedo cable threads right onto the Maxim speedo.

    3) Seca TCI output drives the Maxim tach, but I need to splice the wires because the plugs are different.

    The only thing I'll miss will be a fuel guage, but I've already decided I'll convert the Maxim cluster's oil warning light into a fuel warning light that comes on when I get down to about 1/3 tank. If I toast my mill because I didn't check my oil level while curbside, I deserve it. OTOH at 75mph in traffic, I'd rather have a heads-up that I'm approaching "reserve territory."
     
  15. wilddog

    wilddog New Member

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    How do you make the fuel gauge function as a fuel warning light? I removed the fish finder and would like to have a little light for low fuel.
     
  16. worlds-fastest-xj-750

    worlds-fastest-xj-750 Member

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    they make aftermarket fuel gauges. But the maxim gauges are just as dorky as the spaceship control panel. But thats just me.
     
  17. spamaha

    spamaha New Member

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    You solder together an integrated comparator circuit based on a 741 op-amp and using a FET as a light switch, then "tune" the circuit to operate in conjunction with your fuel tank sending unit. When finished, you can dip the entire circuit in epoxy and tuck it away under the tank or behind the headlight, etc.

    I'd build a bunch of these if I thought there was a market.
     
  18. spamaha

    spamaha New Member

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    That's what I'm putting on my '83 750 Seca. It will better compliment my 7" round headlight, teardrop tank, and steel Sportster rear fender. I didn't realize earlier 750 Maxims had a bigger, ugly cluster. When I toss the Atari, I'm willing to sacrifice the self-diagnostics. I rode for many years without such modern gizzmos as a kick-stand indicator, battery electrolyte indicator, or burned-out head/tail light indicator, or even an electric starter for that matter!
     
  19. Steve R

    Steve R Member

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    What is a fish finder? The cluster from the Maxium have the fuel gauge? Do you think one from a XJ1100 Maxium might work?
     
  20. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    fish finder, atari, all are not so nice terms for the super boxy gages that are on some of these bikes. Here's what I've got:
    Atari.jpg
    Just a big black plastic box. Many want to switch to ANYTHING ELSE! For any further questions, it may be wise to start your own thread...
     
  21. Steve R

    Steve R Member

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    Your gauge cluster looks nice, want to sell it? I would love something else, but seems like a lot of converting and splicing. My was wrecked and is falling apart.
     
  22. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    I will be removing mine someday. Need a new set before I ditch the old, though. I am still in the very early stages of this project.
     
  23. Steve R

    Steve R Member

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    Can't wait to see it when you done!
     

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