R60/5 Rev Counter

[leswaller]

The R60/5 that I recently bought has, amongst other problems, a broken rev counter needle and the stub is hard over on the gauge. I have read somewhere that this is quite common, but cant find any reference to the cause. Before I take out a mortgage to replace the whole instrument can anyone tell me the cause of this problem and also if there is anyone in the UK who can repair these combined speedo/rev counter instruments.
Thanks
Les

[tvrla]

The usual cause is old sticky lube. The needle startes slamming back and forth, eventually hitting the pin hard enough to snap it. With no stop, the the shaft then rotates 360 degrees and wads up the coil spring meant to return the needle to zero. With the shaft now immobile and no lube, the shaft and bushing it rides in, wear out.

Best to disconnect the cable soon as the needle gets jerky.

I'm sure there's someone over there to fix it - I repair them, but bet you wouldn't want to send it all the way here in the US.

[leswaller]

Thanks that is veryhelpful, I will strip down the cable and inspect and lube it.
Les

[tvrla]

Unlike automotive cables, the inner drive isn't removable. So you'll have to dribble lube down the end. Perhaps tape a funnel to the end and leave it sitting with a pool of oil so it can slowly drain through.

[montmil]

... Perhaps tape a funnel to the end and leave it sitting with a pool of oil so it can slowly drain through.

Ah, wirespokes, straight out of the manual for my old '53 Triumph 500cc. Aluminum foil makes a nice funnel-forming material.

A cautionary note regarding clutch cable lubing on our favored bikes; don't do it. Unless you have some non-OEM cables, the BMW cables are nylon lined and adding lube will just clog up dem puppies.

Monte

[tvrla]

Definitely only lube the speedo and tach cables with any sort of oil. The clutch has a teflon lining that is damaged by petroleum products. Usually they just need to be cleaned and maybe use some silicon lube instead.