Speedometer Repair

[Bengt_Phorqs]

OK, here's what I think is a fairly common problem with beemers in general and that is a non-functioning speedometer.  I ran a search for the past year in the Technical Q&A but didn't seen anything specific.  

My thought is to put the bike on the wonderful Harbor Freight m/c stand, disconnect the speedo cable at the housing, start the engine, put it in gear and see if the cable is turning.  At least I can eliminate a problem at the bottom of the cable.  Thoughts on that?

If I do need to send the speedo off for repair, I know there is a place in Austin, TX and there's always Palo Alto speedo.  Any other suggestions?

[Bob_Roller]

That would work, you could also remove the speedometer drive cable from the transmission, and put the cable end into the chuck of a low speed drill motor.

While you the cable disconnected, you can clean the cable, by pouring a solvent (alcohol) into the top end ,and let it drain out of the lower end into a pan, then put a light oil in there and let it drain out.

A condition clalled 'nervous needle" where the needle kind of pulses, can be solved by a good cleaning and lube of the cable.

The two shops you mention, are about the only ones I know of that repair BMW motorcycle speedometers.

Palo Alto has a good reputation for quality work, but it is quite costly, and turn around times, are not the quickest.

The shop in Austin,TX., I have not heard anything about the quality or cost of their repairs.  

[montmil]

...If I do need to send the speedo off for repair, I know there is a place in Austin, TX and there's always Palo Alto speedo.  Any other suggestions?

Are you talking about Lone Star BMW in Austin or another joint?

Monte

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Monte, the place in Austin is Overseas Speedometer.  www.speedometer.com.  I don't know anything about them other than they have advertised in the BMWMOA mag for some time now.  I thought first about removing the cable from the tranny but my Clymer manual doesn't have any information about it.  I do need to replace the drive shaft boot so may just get into it when I start that project.  
   

On the up side, I installed the new tank and seat yesterday and made about a 10 mile test ride.  Everything runs like it should and I was quite surprised at the acceleration around 6000 rpm in 4th gear.  It's coming together quite nicely.

[Darwin_R65]

My odomoter had failed but the speedo still functioned. (inidcated speed not distance) sent my speedo away (in Australia) and it cost me AUD$187,  came back like a new speedo, and I figured the cost was the same as exceeding the speed limit by less than 15km/h.

But for it not to be working at all?  both speed and distance failing does indicate no cable drive or a cable has slipped, or the speedo cog from the driveshaft.

Can you disconnect from the back of the speedo and push the bike a couple of feet and see if the cable turns.?

John

[Bengt_Phorqs]

A bad cable or bad cable connection is the only thing that makes sense to me.  The P/O had some peculiar mechanical methods and I suspect that there may be a rational explanation like that.  For example, he was baffled that the front brake didn't activate the brake light.  Turns out one of the wires at the brake lever was disconnected.  It doesn't get easier than that.

[Bob_Roller]

Just learned about another speedometer repair shop in the Los Angeles area.

North Hollywood Speedometer and Clock Repair.

http://www.nhspeedometer.com/

They specialize in BMW motorcycle indicator repair.

Here's another shop on the east coast of the US, in Virginia.

http://carradio.com/

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Well, I moved the El Luche Libre project out of doors today, set it up on the HF m/c stand after disconnecting the speedo cable at the top.  Cranked it, put it in gear and watched the cable just spin around like it knew what it was doing.  Ergo, the problem has been isolated to the speedo proper.  When I get the urge and the budget I'll pull it off and send it to one of the repair shops.

Spent the rest of the days working on the bikini fairing trying to sort out the front turn signal lights.  I now have a plan, and since Feyonce' is in a bowling tournament tomorrow should have all day to finish up.  Photos to follow!

[Eaglemedic]

My speedo & mileage counter just stopped suddenly on my 79 R65 (36,000 miles).  I will try your ideas mentioned and let you guys know what I find.  Glad to know we have alternatives to Palo Alto Speedo.

[Bob_Roller]

I sent emails to both shops, and got responses from both, the typical repairs are around the $200 range.

Turn around times are about 2 weeks including shipping time for US residents.

[Justin B.]

I remember that the cost for a new one from Chicago BMW was less than that, unless there has been a significant price increase since last time I checked...

[Eaglemedic]

Found the reason for my dead speedo right away, thanks to some of the ideas on this string.  Bad cable, rusted and broken in half.  The bottom of the speedo unit spins and I can see the needle move so I am going to order a new cable.   Cable replacement looks pretty straightforward.  

[chopper_harris]

You will find that it is most likely to be the nylon drive gears inside the speedo head.
They begin to wear after 40-50k miles, and the teeth strip very quickly after that.

There is some adjustment possible, to bring them back into mesh, but that is a short term fix.
I'm in the UK, and no one here seems able to offer a viable repair.
I did try Palo Alto, but with return shipping I could have bought a new speedo from Motorworks.

I look out for cheap speedo heads on eBay.

----

This shot shows an input shaft gear in good condition (left) next to a worn gear (right), which I have pushed onto the shaft for comparison.
Wear (cupping) on the white gear will stop both speedo and odo/trip from working.





Wear on the yellow gear is common (the pinion gear is copper) , and will stop the odo/trip from working.

[Bob_Roller]

I remember that the cost for a new one from Chicago BMW was less than that, unless there has been a significant price increase since last time I checked...

The current  'list' price for a speedometer is $384, at Chicago BMW, with 20% discount that would make it around $307 plus shipping costs.

[Justin B.]

Crap!! I priced one about a year and a half ago and it came out to under $200 with the discount!!!  Parts prices are definitely waaaay out of line.  That Vapor is looking good if any of mine ever go out...