speedometer

[Ben Rollins]

So the speedometer on my 83 venture has never worked since I bought it, I just go off RPM's. Today when leaving work,it is pouring the rain, I get up the road a bit and notice it's working, After stopping at a four way and taking off it stops. Any ideas?

Ben

[Squidley]

If you remove the headlight, you will look strait back in the void and to the right and you will see the ferrule that screws the cable into the back of the speedometer. Check to make sure it's in all the way and tight. Also check down at the front wheel on the left side (sitting on bike) and thats where the cable attaches to. It runs off the front wheel and sometimes it loosens up down there too...

[van avery]

There are two "tabs " that engage the speedometer drive on the front axle. Someone may have put the front tire on wrong and bent these tabs. You might take it off and make sure these tabs are not bent over.. Good luck.

If they are engauged correctly and you disconnect the cable at the top end, at the gauge, and then jack up the front of the bike, and spin the tire, the inner cable of the speedometer cable should be turning.

[MiCarl]

I used to have a similar tach issue on my 89 when it got good and wet. Also dropped one or more cylinders when it happened.

 

The tach reads the signal to one of the coils (2 I think) and if that part of the ignition system cuts out you loose the tach too.

 

In my case it only happened after a vigorous washing, never from just rain. I haven't observed the problem since I replaced the TCI.