Tach Repair

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bpatton

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May 19, 2009
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The tach one my '73 Commando has gone haywire. It's either zero or 6-7,000rpm. It worked fine ten years ago which was the last time this bike was run. After one of the longest resto's around I fired it up last week for the first time. It is a Smiths so I assume it's rebuildable. Is there anybody stateside doing that? Did I harm it by not having disconnecting it right away? I was hoping that some spin time on it would get it back in the swing of things, so to speak. One hour and the problem didn't resolve so I disconnected it.
 
I got my reconditioned gauges from Joel Levine in Atlanta, Georgia (joellevine.com I think). Nice guy, quick turn around.
 
Foreign Speedo rebuilt two Smith's gauges for me in the early 90s for about $100 each. They have held up well and still work fine.

Foreign Speedo
2246 1/2 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 298-5278
 
I used Foreign Speedo in San Diego too (I live relatively close by, so easy decision).

They knew their stuff, did what they were supposed to do, and price was lower than advertised elsewhere.

Nice guys.

Keith Kelly
 
No , it's not true the Veglias can't be repaired . Palo Alto rebuilt my Veglia tach last summer after it died . Cost was about 175 and it works GREAT . It is actually steady and doesn't bounce around the actual reading the way every other old British gauge I've ever seen does . I plan to send them the speedo off of my MK III , the Moto Meters off of the Beemer , and the Veglia speedo off of the Ducati . My friend got a rebuilt set of Smiths clocks for his Mk III from Nisonger because he likes the looks of the thinner needles on the smiths . The fluctuating needles on those things drives me crazy . I admit they do look better than the fatter needles on the Veglias but now that I've experienced accurate clocks , count me in the minority who prefers the Veglias .
 
hi bpatton,are you using the same cable as 10 years ago,if you are then i would suspect that first
 
@ rond944: thanks for your positive reply. If someone could give me the name of a good repair shop for Veglia's in Europe, I would appreciate it.
 
chris plant said:
hi bpatton,are you using the same cable as 10 years ago,if you are then i would suspect that first
Click to expand...

Chris,

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll pull the cable tomorrow and check it. It has the fitting at the engine end and a brass ring or ferrule, ( is that the word for it?), on the cable at the tach to keep it from going too far into the tach, so I wasn't able to clean and lube it well. It felt free and does spin ok.. The drive gear could be binding too.
 
Yeah, with Norton clocks ALWAYS replace the cable first before spending big bucks.

DAMHIK.
 
You can pull the cable completely out of the sleeve, and clean, inspect and re-lube it. If it looks suspect at all, replace it.
Cables are not that expensive.

I paid $22 for my speedo cable last week (picked up a shopping bag that wrapped around the speedo drive and broke the cable, could have been bad)
 
Paul said:
@ rond944: thanks for your positive reply. If someone could give me the name of a good repair shop for Veglia's in Europe, I would appreciate it.
Click to expand...

Nobody :?:

Today, the new speedo cable broke again, or better: as well.
The first one broke 2 cm. from the speedo. I fitted a new one and next the gear broke. I replaced it as well and now, the cable broke at the rear wheel... On top of this, the speedo and tacho needles wobble both heavily.
I would like to keep the original look as much as possible but I begin to doubt... Is it possible to fit the original Veglia dials into electronic gauges ?
 
Paul said:
Paul said:
@ rond944: thanks for your positive reply. If someone could give me the name of a good repair shop for Veglia's in Europe, I would appreciate it.
Click to expand...

Nobody :?:

Today, the new speedo cable broke again, or better: as well.
The first one broke 2 cm. from the speedo. I fitted a new one and next the gear broke. I replaced it as well and now, the cable broke at the rear wheel... On top of this, the speedo and tacho needles wobble both heavily.
I would like to keep the original look as much as possible but I begin to doubt... Is it possible to fit the original Veglia dials into electronic gauges ?
Click to expand...

There may not be a good shop in Europe. Ironic no?

I'm sure the shops in the US will be more than helpful. Any reason to not use them?
 
Palo Alto did a great job refurbishing a green ball speedo for me a couple of years ago. They did tell me that using an old speedo cable would void the warranty so that's well worth checking.
 
swooshdave said:
Paul said:
There may not be a good shop in Europe. Ironic no?

I'm sure the shops in the US will be more than helpful. Any reason to not use them?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

:oops: I guess you're right swooshdave...
I'll have to find information about shipment time and costs though.
 
Nelson said:
Palo Alto did a great job refurbishing a green ball speedo for me a couple of years ago. They did tell me that using an old speedo cable would void the warranty so that's well worth checking.
Click to expand...

I've sent them a quotation request. Are the needles of your gauges stable now ?
I remember the Veglia's on one of the Ducati's I've got in the past: they were very bad as well - even new.

Yesterday I tried to send an e-mail to the British "enquiries@speedorepairs.co.uk" but got a message that the address is invalid.
 
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