Speedometer Error

[Olliepup]

My 1986 R65 speedo reads 40 mph at 30 mph actual and 70 mph at 56 actual. While I understand these speedos aren't that accurate, is there anyway to adjust the speed readout or even have it repaired?

[Bob_Roller]

Probably best to take it to a shop for calibration .

I don't know if you have repair shops in your area, but one of our members here, Mike V. has recommended this shop, that is local for him .

http://foreignspeedoinc.com/default.aspx

Seeing as the bike season is coming to an end in the northern regions, time to get it off of the bike, and in for repair .

I've got an '81 R65 with an 85 mph top scale speedometer, it is within 2 mph accuracy, it reads 2 mph high .

I sent the speedometer in for an odometer repair in 1999, the shop said they would repair the odometer, clean, lubricate all of the mechanisms and then do a calibration .

They said the speedometer was indicating 2 mph high, and they wouldn't bother to attempt a recalibration for such a small error .

So after 30 years and 85,000 miles, it is still accurate .

We have informational radar set up on a few of the local arterial streets in my area, all of the radar displays show me as 2 mph high if I keep the bikes speed at the posted speed limit .

[Olliepup]

No speedo repair shops in my area. Found APT Instruments Int'l, Inc. in Bloomington, MN. Anyone have experience with them? San Diego is a long way from Michigan.

[Olliepup]

Thanks, Bob. Called APT and they said they wouldn't touch it. Called Foreign speedo and they said no problem.

[nhmaf]

You can also use Palo Alto Speedometer (www.paspeedo.com) though they are likely to be more expensive, they are often highly recommended.

[Bob_Roller]

I forgot about this shop that I contacted about 18 months ago about the cost of repairing a speedometer .

They are located in Richmond, Virginia .

http://www.instrumentclusters.com/

Here's another shop I've heard about, but know nothing about .

http://www.nhspeedometer.com/

[Olliepup]

Had the speedo repaired by Foreign Speedo in San Diego. Got it back last Thursday, re-assembled and installed the cluster yesterday. Other than a very cold ride, the speedo now reads only 1 mph fast at 50 mph rather than 12 mph fast.
They said they replaced a gear and the "speed cup" was loose on it's shaft. Cost was $85 plus shipping and insurance of $11.
Their service was fast and efficient. I spoke to them a couple of times on the phone and they were helpful and friendly.
Can't get much better than that!
Also, I replaced the two instrument bulbs with GE 194, rated at 3.78 w @ 14 v. They seem to be about the same brightness as the originals.
Thanks to all for the help. Wavy Dave

[Bob_Roller]

Great to hear about good service from a shop, I've got a speedometer ready to go out, as soon as I find a suitable box to ship it in .

[montmil]

Wavy Dave, how's the speedo's bezel look after the IRAN? Any boogered up spots?

Monte

[Olliepup]

Re: shipping box. They suggested to make a tube of corrugated cardboard the same dia. as the speedo head and tape a second layer inside, about 1 in. wide, for the faceplate edge to butt against. Then place the whole thing into a shipping box with appropriate insulation material. I used newspaper, which UPS frowns upon. It worked well.
Montmil, I do not understand the tern IRAN, but the bezel is fine. It has a rubber sunshield around it which has kept it in fine shape. I do have several specks of white paint on the glass, from the inside of the cluster housing. I should totally dissassemble it, remove the flaking paint and re-paint. I have heard about some BMW bezels having to be pried off to get to the speedo head. This is not like that, it all comes apart from the backside. I have a 1986 R65 monolever, which is like the R80 and R100 monolevers.
Wavy Dave
1986 BMW R65 monolever
1964 Lambretta 125LI scooter (bought new when I was 17)
1947 Salsbury Model 85 superscooter (smae age as me)

[Bob_Roller]

IRAN, it's an acronym for Inspect Repair As Necessary .