Anyone had this happen with a speedo?

Yellow_Cad · Dec 11, 2012

I've got a recently rebuilt Smith speedo. When the bike sits for even a week or two, the speedo does not work for the first 3 to 5 blocks and then it kicks in and works fine. The odometer is working all along. Does anyone have any idea what could be going on with this? Thanks for any input.

Rohan · Dec 11, 2012

If you've had a replacement speedo cable, have you checked that the end into the speedo doesn't have the inner too long, which can cause problems apparently ?

Greased your speedo drive and inner cable lately ?

Sounds like the speedo itself may be a bit tight inside there somewhere - which really shouldn't be. Maybe it'll go away with use.... ?

Hobot · Dec 11, 2012

This is how my Trixie speedo failure behaved, failed to register till traveled a ways then pretty good till eventually just quit and investigation found cable broken in middle. It must of rubbed ends enough to work up to a point. Clock end of cable should just be flush to the rim of the screw on fitting.

Yellow_Cad · Dec 11, 2012

My cable is new and greased and I have always had positive drive all the way up to the speedo end of the cable so not the cable and not the drive on the wheel. I bought the speedo from a reputable supplier as newly rebuilt. I have had the speedo for about one year and it only started this not working for a few blocks in the last month or so.

Hobot · Dec 11, 2012

If ya know its not speedo drive nor cable or its slid to far up into or not enough in clock then might have to send your clock back or look up how to open and service it. I was pretty sure it wasn't my few years old cable as it spun at end turning wheel but when i pulled on it only half of it came out the top.

Yellow_Cad · Dec 11, 2012

hobot said:
If ya know its not speedo drive nor cable or its slid to far up into or not enough in clock then might have to send your clock back or look up how to open and service it. I was pretty sure it wasn't my few years old cable as it spun at end turning wheel but when i pulled on it only half of it came out the top.

That's true but before I went back to the supplier, I thought I would check on this board to see if anyone else had experienced the same isssue with the speedo not working for a few blocks and then working.

Rohan · Dec 11, 2012

If your cable has broken in the middle, or started to unravel, or speedo drive started to self-destruct, then only consulting this board may not assist much ?!!

Things that now don't work need to be checked, now..... ?

BrianK · Dec 12, 2012

I go through speedo drives at a pretty regular clip. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but if so I don't know what. 3-5K miles is average for a drive on my bike. The top hat spacer is in there and not being crushed, and the axle and dummy axle are torqued to spec.

Hortons Norton · Dec 12, 2012

If the odmeter is working the whole time I would think it is just the shaft on the needle sticking. I'm no expert but thats what I would guess, When mine were rebuilt they said they polished the shaft. That kinda sounded funny. :roll:

Hobot · Dec 12, 2012

I consider the speedo drive and cable a consumable on similar scale as tires and drive chains. I was so sure recent speedo failure was the drive again so double surprised when cable pulled in half but drive still working for at least 10,000 miles now - about double me prior record. Maybe luck of the draw to get a well built drive. Hope we hear of a solution to besides a failed clock sent back.

Anyone had this happen with a speedo?

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