Screeching speedometer

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tlbranth
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Screeching speedometer

#1

Post by tlbranth »

Screamed like a millenial with a dead phone battery. I knew it had to be the bushing where the cable attaches that needed some lube. Obvious was to remove and up-end the gauge to let oil in via gravity. However, with all the custom stuff I'd have to take off first, I thought hanging the bike upside down would be simpler. But...I had an old tach cable from my CB750. I took out the middle bit that drives the gauge, hooked it to the speedo and severely taped a PB Blaster straw to the loose end. A quick squirt forced some lube up into the bushing and fixed the problem. dancr It might not last but I can always repeat.
Terry
Don't own a Vanagon
Don't work at Boeing
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1999 GL1500 SE
2002 Honda VT750 "ACE"
1975 GL1000
1970 CB750
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pidjones
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Re: Screeching speedometer

#2

Post by pidjones »

I gave a shot of lithium grease to one on a CB750F. Just the straw stuck in where the cable connects and a quick shot did it.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
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Ex 1979 GL1000
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Re: Screeching speedometer

#3

Post by Fred Camper »

Always been told you can over do it and get oil on the lens so you two folks know how to use restraint.
Proud member of the NGW Cartel (Rochester MI)
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1976 LTD - '993 LTD...and so it begins'

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pidjones
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Re: Screeching speedometer

#4

Post by pidjones »

Fred Camper wrote:Always been told you can over do it and get oil on the lens so you two folks know how to use restraint.
Just a quick shot. If you do it in normal mounted position, there is a lot of mechanism between the connection and dial.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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tlbranth
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Re: Screeching speedometer

#5

Post by tlbranth »

pidjones wrote:I gave a shot of lithium grease to one on a CB750F. Just the straw stuck in where the cable connects and a quick shot did it.
So Pid, how'd you persuade lithium grease to go through the straw?
Terry
Don't own a Vanagon
Don't work at Boeing
Life is good

1999 GL1500 SE
2002 Honda VT750 "ACE"
1975 GL1000
1970 CB750
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pidjones
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Re: Screeching speedometer

#6

Post by pidjones »

tlbranth wrote:
pidjones wrote:I gave a shot of lithium grease to one on a CB750F. Just the straw stuck in where the cable connects and a quick shot did it.
So Pid, how'd you persuade lithium grease to go through the straw?
It is spray lithium grease. From the same folks as Liquid Wrench. Kind of foamy when it comes out of the tube. I mainly use it on tractor linkages.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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Sidecar Bob
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Re: Screeching speedometer

#7

Post by Sidecar Bob »

When the tach on my winter machine started screaming I tried all of the stuff people claim quieted theirs (including a new cable) but the noise always came back. Next I bought newer instruments and built a new instrument panel around them but before Xmas that one started making noise and by spring it had stopped working (yes, I did lube it, no it didn't last).

I eventually smartened up and replaced the instruments with something that doesn't rely on spinning cables.

When the 'Wing's instruments started making noise I lubed it and ordered an electronic instrument panel....
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
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cmyoch
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Re: Screeching speedometer

#8

Post by cmyoch »

What instrument panel did you install?
1976 GL1000
1978 Yamaha XS650
1984 Harley Davidson XLH1000
1969 Camaro Z28
1977 Redheaded Wife (Better move her to the top of this list)
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Sidecar Bob
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Re: Screeching speedometer

#9

Post by Sidecar Bob »

I have Danmoto 180 digital "cockpits" on both of my bikes. I like them very much but I can no longer recommend them because I found out a few months ago that they will be discontinued when the existing stock is gone.
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
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tlbranth
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Re: Screeching speedometer

#10

Post by tlbranth »

Robert: I get your point of wanting to be shet of mechanical dodads in favor of nuevo electronic ones....however....some of us, and maybe many of us like the old stuff. Isn't that why we fuss with 40 year old bikes instead of new ones? I couldn't tolerate one of those digital thingies on my old GL or CB. When I added an oil pressure gauge it was mechanical so I could get the full 270 sweep instead of the anemic 90 degrees an electric gauge puts out. Yeah yeah I know I don't need the accuracy. I like the pre-smart stuff and am willing to put up with its limitations. That said, my GL1500 (which does have some electronics aboard) with 150,000 miles or so on it has mechanical gauges with no problems yet.
Terry
Don't own a Vanagon
Don't work at Boeing
Life is good

1999 GL1500 SE
2002 Honda VT750 "ACE"
1975 GL1000
1970 CB750
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Sidecar Bob
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Re: Screeching speedometer

#11

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I just wanted to let anyone reading this in the future know that lubricating a 40 year old instrument won't guarantee it will stay quiet.

BTW: I think it is more age than miles/Km that makes a speedo or odo get noisy. The tach on my CX wasn't anywhere near 150,000 miles/240,000 Km when it became irreparably noisy.
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
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cmyoch
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Re: Screeching speedometer

#12

Post by cmyoch »

I'm dealing with a noisy speedo and as of yesterday, now a noisy tach. My afternoon ride yesterday was not as enjoyable as it could have been. I thought I had a spare set of gauges around here somewhere to practice refurbishing on but I have yet to find them.
1976 GL1000
1978 Yamaha XS650
1984 Harley Davidson XLH1000
1969 Camaro Z28
1977 Redheaded Wife (Better move her to the top of this list)
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