Author Topic: Tachometer renewing  (Read 718 times)

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Offline mikerider

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Tachometer renewing
« on: November 04, 2025, 06:33:16 PM »
Couldn't one take a tachometer and drill a hole in the side of it and sray in alittle PB blaster to lube it up alittle?  Some say they become dry from sitting,  just wondered if this wouldn't help.

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Offline HondaMan

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Re: Tachometer renewing
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2025, 07:10:34 PM »
The drive inside is a tiny mag-slip clutch gizmo. I've sometimes found that what they need is to be run for a while, then they work again. They buzz, vibrate, the needle jitters, and then suddenly they just...work! This seems to be getting more common from bikes being found sitting for 20+ years, unused.
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Offline Don R

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Re: Tachometer renewing
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2025, 08:58:25 PM »
  If you WD40 the cable, the WD will climb all the way to the needle and stain the gauge face. I'd imagine something similar with a lube spray.
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Offline Dr. Frankenstein

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Re: Tachometer renewing
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2025, 03:32:30 AM »
Kind of related, but I just revived a KZ400H tachometer; it was so stuck it snapped the tach cable. I was going to open up the gauge itself somehow but then got the idea to just apply some heat to the drive and was able to get it turning again; I assume it was gummed up somehow from sitting for over 20 years.

I cut a length of the broken wire off the end that had the tachometer drive on it, chucked it up in my power drill and heated the cable drive on the back of the tach where the wire goes in to free it up. I put the cable in the tach and spun it up with the drill (it spins to the left, in case anyone is wondering) and squirted a little Kroil and PB Blaster in there to help it spin, and I have my tach back!  :D

Offline Kelly E

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Re: Tachometer renewing
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2025, 08:44:49 AM »
Watch out with the PB Blaster, it gets sticky when it dries out. I use it to install handgrips. They slide on easily and the next day they are stuck on good.
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Offline Dr. Frankenstein

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Re: Tachometer renewing
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2025, 10:27:02 AM »
Huh - good to know. I'll be sure to check it again before I put the new cable in.

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Tachometer renewing
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2025, 05:42:33 PM »
Watch out with the PB Blaster, it gets sticky when it dries out.

Good to know, thanks! I just bought some.
See SOHC4shop.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book
Link to My CB500/CB550 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?sortBy=RELEVANCE&page=1&q=my+cb550+book&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00
Link to website: https://sohc4shop.com/  (Note: no longer at www.SOHC4shop.com, moved off WWW. in 2024).

Offline mikerider

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Re: Tachometer renewing
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2025, 05:56:07 AM »
how about WD-40?

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