Speedo Drive Problem

Skip · May 2, 2011

Hi Guys and Gals,
When I brought out my bike this year I had no speedometer.
I removed the cable to find it gunked up to the point of not being able to spin it by hand.
Cleaned and lubed cable and replaced,after checking for movement at speedo gage,rode and still no speedo.
Checked for function at speedo gear,nothing.Could the gummed/seized up cable have broke something in the gear?
Can't find any break down pics of speedo gear insides,anybody got one?
Just want to know what to expect so I don't tie up the bike for some non existing repair piece.

blue900 · May 2, 2011

The Drive on mine seized up after lots of miles, it started clicking. I checked it, the 2 drive cogs where bent. I should have greased it when I got the bike. I got a new one from ebay. Cleaned and greased it well. It has been working and has a more steady speedo needle than the old one.

I could not detect how to take the old one apart to repair it.

Skip · May 2, 2011

Strange,mine gave no warning,needle was always steady,quiet and I always cleaned and lubed the cable.
Maybe what ever the pieces that fail in the gear, eventually wound up inside the speedo cable housing and gunked up the cable.
May just be a chain of events. Pretty compact looking unit,thats why I wanted some input weather to hunt out a new one and keep rolling on what I got and do a swap.

gggGary · May 3, 2011

It's low failure rate part, used should be fine. $15 shipped?
Edit: Oops, Canada $10 plus actual shipping.

Skip · May 3, 2011

Thanks gggGary,I was able to pick up a used one close to home!
Thanks anyway and thanks for the great price as well!
Nice to see people who are not trying to rob you blind!
Can't wait to replace mine and take it apart to see what happened to it and give it a official cause of death.

Hntg4evr · Mar 4, 2017

Hey guys, my speedo isn't working good either. I put a drill to it and it works that way bit it isn't working at the wheel. I put the cable in the speedo drive and the cable doesn't turn. If I replace the whole speedo drive that should fix the problem right?

mrtwowheel · Mar 4, 2017

Hntg4evr said:
Hey guys, my speedo isn't working good either. I put a drill to it and it works that way bit it isn't working at the wheel. I put the cable in the speedo drive and the cable doesn't turn. If I replace the whole speedo drive that should fix the problem right?

Yep, haven't taken one of these apart yet, on Honda's the grease can kind of harden up after all of those years of neglect. If you get a used one or new, get some new grease in there, preferably after a good cleanup inside.

Scott

retiredgentleman · Mar 4, 2017

Hntg4evr said:
Hey guys, my speedo isn't working good either. I put a drill to it and it works that way bit it isn't working at the wheel. I put the cable in the speedo drive and the cable doesn't turn. If I replace the whole speedo drive that should fix the problem right?

Take a careful look at how much of the square wire cable goes into the speedo drive. Perhaps its not going in far enough. Have you viewed the speedo drive unit, with no cable installed, as you spin the wheel?

Hntg4evr · Mar 4, 2017

The cable is going the whole way down to the stopper. I have tried looking into the speedo unit and can't see anything
I had the wheel apart today and cleaned and regreased everything. It's still not working. It's up on the jack so I think I'm gonna take the wheel back off tomorrow and see if something inside isn't lined up right.

Hntg4evr · Mar 5, 2017

I think the drive washer with the tabs is broke. What do you guys think?

Hntg4evr · Mar 5, 2017

I don't think it's even there...

retiredgentleman · Mar 5, 2017

Yes it looks like its missing some part(s). I had mine apart a few years ago, but can't remember the exact parts layout. I do recall there is a part with 2 fingers that fit into the 2 slots that turn the drive gears. Try putting an add in the classified section here.

5twins · Mar 5, 2017

Yes, you're missing all the parts. There are 3 including the oil seal. The oil seal holds the two missing metal parts in.

First, the tabbed "drive" ring fits down into those two slots in the hub .....

Then the stepped flat washer sits on top of it to help hold it in .....

Then the oil seal is installed and that holds both the metal parts in place .....

There's probably nothing wrong with your speedo drive unit. But I would still disassemble it, clean it out, and re-grease it.

retiredgentleman · Mar 5, 2017

Why do POs do these dumb things :doh:

XSLeo · Mar 5, 2017

It's been awhile but as I remember the parts inside the unit that drives the cable is held together with a snap ring. Remove the snap ring and everything comes out. Clean all the old grease out, some fresh grease and good for another 30 years.

Hntg4evr · Mar 6, 2017

Now I can't even get it to start, just backfires once in a while. Was running good yesterday

BAYSA · Jul 10, 2020

So I know this is an old thread but I stick a match stick in my Speedo drive and if wouldn't rotate when the spun the wheel forwards but it would spin if a span the wheel backwards? Any suggestions?

Speedo Drive Problem

Skip

XS 650 Screwturner

blue900

XS650 Addict

Skip

XS 650 Screwturner

gggGary

If not now, When?

Skip

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Hntg4evr

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mrtwowheel

Honda Etched On Brain

retiredgentleman

XS650 Guru

Hntg4evr

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Hntg4evr

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