Noisy Speedo, HELP!
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:34 pm
- Location: Harrisburg, IL
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL 1500
Noisy Speedo, HELP!
I just got my first 1500 wing (1988) 2 days ago. On the ride home a LOUD squeeling noise started coming from around the speedo area. I pulled over and disconnected the cable- noise went away. When home I lubed the cable (WD 40- it was all I had) and reattached the cable. The noise returned and the needle jumped some this time. Is it the speedo at fault or possibly the cable? I think speedo head unit which has 84,000 on it. I can get a new one from partszilla for $225.00 Ouch! But it looks like a bear to get to! Anyone had same problems? Fixes or suggestions? All help appreciated. Thanks, Kenny.
- virgilmobile
- Posts: 8289
- Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:39 pm
- Location: Denham Springs,La.
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL1500 I
Previously owned
78 GL1000
81 GL1100
82 GL1100 I
83 GL1100 I
83 GL1100 standard
84 GL 1200 I
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
Better isolate the noise first....when it's noisy,disconnect it from the spedo meter,leave iton the wheel.
You know it goes quiet when disconnected at the wheel,is the noise in the cable or spedo head?
The spedo cable...mine wasn't noisy but the needle did bounce a little.I pulled both ends,removed the center cable out....coiled it up and cleaned with brake cleaner...flushed the casing with the same till it ran clear...I got my can of spray graphite and flooded the casing till it ran out the bottom...soaked the center cable with graphite spray too...reassembled and tested fine.
You know it goes quiet when disconnected at the wheel,is the noise in the cable or spedo head?
The spedo cable...mine wasn't noisy but the needle did bounce a little.I pulled both ends,removed the center cable out....coiled it up and cleaned with brake cleaner...flushed the casing with the same till it ran clear...I got my can of spray graphite and flooded the casing till it ran out the bottom...soaked the center cable with graphite spray too...reassembled and tested fine.
- joeincalif
- Posts: 569
- Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2014 10:39 am
- Location: San Jacinto, Calif
- Motorcycle: 1997 Gold Wing SE
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
A new cable is cheap if that is your problem. IF you lube the old one do not use a lot of lube/spray, the cable turns and the lube can and will work its way the cable to the housing unit and then you are in for a big expense. Happened to a friend on his wing several years back.
CABLE ASSY., SPEEDOMETER
44830-MN5-000
$18.36
CABLE ASSY., SPEEDOMETER
44830-MN5-000
$18.36

IF YOUR BORN ONCE YOU WILL DIE TWICE
IF YOUR BORN TWICE YOU WILL DIE ONCE
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
This summer I had my speedometer seize up solid. When I replaced it with a new one I discovered that the old speedometer head was seized with crud. After spraying with a cleaner and working with a screwdriver the head freed up as good as new. A couple of years ago I greased the speedometer cable with wheel bearing grease and it must have worked its way into the speedo head and dried out causing the problem. I had no noise from the speedo before failure. My new speedo was 69.00 from cyclemax in the OEM section. This was on a 99 SE
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
If your needle is jumping it is probably your cable. The speedometers are almost bulletproof, the unit works on eddy currents using a magnet inside a metal cup. The jumping needle would be caused by an uneven speed of the magnet which could be caused by a binding cable. Try the easy solutions first.
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- Posts: 83
- Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:43 am
- Location: Rosemount, Minnesota
- Motorcycle: 1996 GL1500A Aspencade
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
gford, were on cyclemax oem website did you find a $69 speedo for your wing? The speedo for my '96 is $281, unless I'm blind.
Bob
Bob
Bob Payette
Rosemount, MN
'96 GL1500A Aspencade, Red The Best Color!
144,000 miles and still going strong!
A bad day off is better than your best day at work!
Rosemount, MN
'96 GL1500A Aspencade, Red The Best Color!
144,000 miles and still going strong!
A bad day off is better than your best day at work!
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
Big Bob, no your not blind, your just looking at the wrong year. My bike is a 99 SE, check it out. I was surprised also when I saw the price.
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:34 pm
- Location: Harrisburg, IL
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL 1500
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
Cyclemax price is $246.46 for my 88. Partszilla has it for $225.00 and so far is the best price.
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
Wing nut, remove the cable from the back of the speedometer and insert a small screwdriver into the speedometer head. If you can turn the connection inside the head of the speedometer and it is nice and smooth your speedo is ok. If it feels sticky or hard to turn, spray some plastic safe cleaner in the head and work it with a screwdriver until it frees up. I bet its your cable
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:34 pm
- Location: Harrisburg, IL
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL 1500
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
Will give it a try but it's not easy to get to!! Thanks
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
if you can't get it from the top go up from the bottom. Makes it easier to get a good grip. U may have to remove the plastic cover that is under the fairing to get your arm up there.
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 18729
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:16 pm
- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (wife's!)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
I normally lubricate my speedometer cable with graphite lubricant. This very slippery lubricant sprays in as a liquid (it's black, and stains everything it touches, kind of like black spray paint), but as soon as the solvent carrier quickly evaporates, it leaves behind a dry graphite coating. This is very slippery, and an excellent lubricant, and will not migrate up into the speedometer.gford wrote:This summer I had my speedometer seize up solid. When I replaced it with a new one I discovered that the old speedometer head was seized with crud. After spraying with a cleaner and working with a screwdriver the head freed up as good as new. A couple of years ago I greased the speedometer cable with wheel bearing grease and it must have worked its way into the speedo head and dried out causing the problem. I had no noise from the speedo before failure. My new speedo was 69.00 from cyclemax in the OEM section. This was on a 99 SE
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:34 pm
- Location: Harrisburg, IL
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL 1500
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
I've went ahead an ordered a new cable to see for sure it's the problem but I'm starting to think it's the speedo head unit.
- Fatboy46
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2015 8:16 am
- Location: DFW Texas
- Motorcycle: 1997 Goldwing 1500 Aspencade with Roadsmith Trike kit
Re: Noisy Speedo, HELP!
WD 40 is NOT... NOT a lubricant.
oil + WD 40= gunk.
grease + WD 40= thick gunk.
usually, graphite is the speedometer cable lubricant of choice.
Honda MAY have it's own preference, if so,,, use that.
oil + WD 40= gunk.
grease + WD 40= thick gunk.
usually, graphite is the speedometer cable lubricant of choice.
Honda MAY have it's own preference, if so,,, use that.