Topic: Odometer stopped clicking up

[jakec]

Hi,

Recently noticed that my odo stopped clicking up.

At first it was working fine, for about 220 miles. Then i replaced my speedo cable, and it continued working. Then, I remounted the speedo as I had tightened it too much, causing the needle to go wild at high rpm. Now the speedo works great and the needle doesn't bounce around anymore. However, the odometer has stopped clicking up.

The speedo is working (showing speed) but the numbers aren't turning over. I checked the connection at both ends to make sure the cable was seated, and i'm pretty sure it is. the only thing that I can think of that I have done which might have screwed this up is remount the speedo (take it off and reattach but not so tight so the vibration dampers can do their job).

I tried searching the forum here but only found one post for a dohc with a different speedo mechanism.

[Bodi]

Not sure how that could happen. The odo gearing is on the input shaft directly, with the speedo drive - magnetic clutch? - on the end of the shaft. Since the speedo is working, the shaft is turning... you must have pranged something inside to get the gears out of alignment?

[jakec]

If I have time this weekend I will redo the procedure I did last week when i remounted the gauge. I didn't drop it or anything. Just removed it, looked around at the triple tree a bit (I was looking for the key code on the ignition) and then put the gauge back on.

I know that It was working before that because I filled the tank at about 220 miles (trip). Now it reads 298. I got another fill up on Monday, and took note of the mileage then. I've been riding every day since, about 6 miles per day, and it hasn't gone up at all.

One thing I can think of is the cable is seated in the speedo drive, when the retaining screw is out I cannot push it in any further. However once the screw is in the cable has some back and forth play - about 1/16".

[Bodi]

Yes, but... the driving inner springy shaft has a squared end that engages the driven part in the speedo, if you get a speed reading then that's turning OK. The odo is driven directly off the speedo part that drives the needle mechanism. There is usually a worm gear formed in the speedo shaft that the odo mechanism engages. I think the gauge is damaged if that isn't driving. You have to get a look inside. Maybe a borescope through a lamp hole?

[jakec]

Ok, I will take a look at the gauge this week. It would be odd if something broke inside as I never dropped. Just handled it gently.

[Little_Phil]

Had this happen to me on a 500 gauge. It stuck on turning over from x9 to x0. From memory, the ODO numbers had become sticky to turn and a small nylon(?) gear at the right hand end had stripped where it meshed with a metal drive gear. I took the easy way out and replaced with another unit. But thought it could be fixed by removing the ODO digit roll and spacing the gear so it engaged an undamaged part as the gear was wide. I've removing the digit roll on another gauge and it's not for the faint hearted.
Trip meter still worked.

[jakec]

Thanks for the reply. I have not had time to get to this one yet and i'm debating what to do. I would like to replace the gauge faces eventually so I figured if I needed to open it up I could get two jobs done at once.

I also have a CL175 that has a working speedo / odometer, but the trip meter doesn't work. So I was thinking that maybe I could open that gauge up as a practice run? I'm hesitant tho as I have read about how tough it can be to get them apart.

[Bodi]

Getting one open is no problem. Getting it open so it can be closed again and not look like ass is a big problem. I don't think that it's possible to do without it being very obvious that the instrument has been opened, since the crimp ring is never going to look new afterwards. I don't know of a source for new crimp rings or how one could be closed to look like a factory job. The best you can hope for is that the front side of the crimp ring (where it shows when the gauge is mounted) looks OK, the back side is going to be messed up.
The odo mechanisms are pretty much standard. So parts should be interchangeable with other instruments (of the same brand). The number ring stack can be a handful to get apart and back together but it isn't impossible. They are not really made to be serviced but usually have screws and clips holding the bits in place rather than rivets and swages.

[jakec]

Not saying I don't believe you, but I see so many people showing that they have reassembled the gauges on forums, here and the Honda Twins forum. So it must be possible. By the crimp ring do you mean the chrome ring around the widest part of the gauge?

I imagine with all of those new gauge faces being sold by the 750-faces guy, the average restorer must be able to get the gauge apart and back together ok with some patience.. not that I want to. Just saying it must be possible.