Speedometer Cable must be broken?

[chicagorandy]

Cruising along on the slab this evening when my speed went to zero, odometer stopped spinning and the self cancelling turn signals? don't - lol

I deduce that my speedometer cable has snapped. RATZ! Lubing the cable was on my winter chore list, looks like it just got bumped up.

A replacement is on order with Partzilla as of 5 minutes ago and based on reading some prior posts it looks to be a pretty simple swap once the new one arrives.

In the interim I'll just mount my trusty TomTom GPS and use that. The weather is uncommonly nice here abouts and I can't let it go to waste. lol

[kjsett]

Cruising along on the slab this evening when my speed went to zero, odometer stopped spinning and the self cancelling turn signals? don't - lol

I deduce that my speedometer cable has snapped. RATZ! Lubing the cable was on my winter chore list, looks like it just got bumped up.

A replacement is on order with Partzilla as of 5 minutes ago and based on reading some prior posts it looks to be a pretty simple swap once the new one arrives.

In the interim I'll just mount my trusty TomTom GPS and use that. The weather is uncommonly nice here abouts and I can't let it go to waste. lol

Make sure (i am suggesting). Pull the cable end off the wheel and using a drill (reversible), spin it up and check to see if the speedometer works. I thought i had a bad cable and it turned out to be the gear assy froze up (This happened 900 miles from home). I went ahead and changed my cable also (have since gotten a replacement in the trunk). Would hate for you to wait and then find out otherwise.

[debron]

Broken speedo cables are not uncommom. Put it on your spring maintenance list!!

[chicagorandy]

Thanks for the tip, tried the drill test, no joy. Speedo needle does not move. The bttom end of the cable still has lube on it, perhaps the top end dried and broke.

I reckon that when the cable arrives I'll also do the speedo gears swap out for the 23 tooth one and new pinion and internals.

[Jrichard]

Hey man ---------My 94 did the samo samo???-------it b the speedo gears at the front wheel,they b stripped!!!!----------u need a new gear drive at the front wheel----------contact the 'GURU' of Voyagers---------

[chicagorandy]

Jrichard,

I am presuming that if the detached cable end in a drill does not spin the speedometer up, then the cable core is broken.

I am replacing the internal gear/pinion in the wheel hub housing because I want the indicated speed to be closer to actual per my GPS.

[drdoolittle77630]

i've had the cable come undone at the speedo head a couple of times

[chicagorandy]

I'll definitely be checking at the speedo head soon - If memory serves, I can access that end of the cable by removing the headlight?

[Lucasind]

Hey Randy, Here's a pic of how far to take things apart to get at the top of the cable,
Should take 15 min. or less.You can see the cable in there to the right ,running upward to the bottom of the speedo. Hope this helps ...............tony

[kjsett]

i've had the cable come undone at the speedo head a couple of times

Something to check. I had the left side fairing off a couple of weeks ago and since you have to pull the speedo cable off to remove it, I found the cable was loose (still on, just not even finger tight).
No idea how long before it would have dropped out (made sure it was tight this time).

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

I had this happen to me midsummer. Fortunately my daughter's were in a car next to me (they've helped me do most P-M to date so they know a lot about what's "normal") and informed me that the cable was disconnected and dragging. I pulled over, removed headlight and reconnected cable. So far its been fine, they caught it in time.
Dad (me/I) just assumed he needed another replacement speedo-cable!

Having a spare is worth the few dollars, plus the weight is nearly nothing compared to the junk I carry all the time.

[Rich C]

Cable is very easy to replace. I had the same issue.
Remove the headlight assemb. I recomend. Removing the windscreen trim
You can reach the cable at the back of the speedo head. Facing the bike it is on the right side
Should take no more that 30 min (and poss a couple of beers) so wait to test drive.
Always be safe

[chicagorandy]

Cable is replaced wth a brand spankin' new one - I lubed it up before install. Off to take a test ride in a few minutes.

Due to fat fingers without enough sensitivity I ended up taking off the left fairing to get a better grip of the knurled end. Also due to the cold the two locking tabs on top of the headlight cover snapped off - RATZ!

Anyone know if they can be successfully glued back on with some plastic epoxy?

[the2knights]

I would use ABS cement to try putting the tabs back on!

[chevyman1]

Make sure it's ABS only it's black, The cement made for all plastic pipe (ABS PVC ) doesn't work vary well.

[chicagorandy]

The test ride has the speedo and odometer working just dandy.

FWIW the other cable broke about 12" from the wheel hub.

I will search the stores for black ABS cement.

[chevyman1]

I got ABS cement at Home Depot

[VoyKimmer]

I could not find it anywhere in the Chicago area. I had to get mine on line.
It does work good tho.

[chicagorandy]

The local Ace Hardware store had it - the sales guy had to go into their basement inventory, but came up with a smal can for about $2.50.

He said they didn't normally display the product because there is no ABS pipe in Chicago.

To followup - I glued the broken tabs back on yesterday and added a backing support of some JB Plastic Weld. Will be re-installing the headlight trim today.

[chicagorandy]

Finally made it out to the garage just now and installed the repaired headlight trim. The tabs lined up fine and no negative issues to report.