Topic: CB550 Speedometer woes

[trebor1782]

Hey, I could use some help over here.  I own a 1977 CB550F and I am having some serious speedometer woes.  I've been trying to get this bike running for months now but this stinking speedometer is getting in my way.

When I purchased the bike and first ran the bike I noticed that the speedometer was not functioning.  Perturbed, I poked around and found that the cable was snapped.  An old bike, not running for years upon years, I noticed rust and assumed the rust had worn away at the cable.  Upon replacing the cable with a new one, the new cable snapped in the same fashion.  As the connector spins at the wheel and the cable was replaced, my only alternative left seems to be the speedometer itself.  I'd love to get into the speedometer and try to unfreeze the stinker, as I am on a small budget, but I can't figure this guy out.  I'd love some suggestions on either how to open up the casing or find an inexpensive replacement, preferably the first option.

Thanks

[Killer Canary]

Once you've got the speedo separated from the rest of the instruments, you'll note a silver band around the circumference about half way down. If you make a thin cut across this and gently pry it off you'll be able to split the speedo.Then you're on your own. To put it back together I put a thin bead of automotive Goop in the ring and clamped it tight until dry. Hope this is some use to you.

[carl550k]

this may help,


http://www.salocal.com/sohc/tech/tech.htm

[kghost]

Yep, go to the site listed above.

Thats about exactly how I do mine.

[MikeDeB]

I use a jig to stabilize mine when I pry the ring.  Much better than cutting the rings.  What you have is a siezed input shaft.  It's the one the cable attaches to.  On the other end of that shaft is a large rotating magnet.  The only thing geared to it is the odometer.  You may try dribbling some light machine oil down the inside of the input shaft housing and see if that frees the shaft.  If not, you'll have to disassemble the housing and at the worst, replace the drive mechanism.  The rest of the assembly should be good.  Also, a 3 or 4 inch piece of the old cable makes a good bit to test speedos/tachs with.  Just install in a drill, reverse the drill and test.