heavy shrieking noise from cooling fan, affecting speed gauge

[ba7]

So a shrieking started occasionally on the left side. would go away when closing in to stopping. 1988 ca model.
now the shrieking is a lot noisier, and coming from both sides, and the speed gauge loses control and goes crazy on speeds over 25mph maybe.
the shrieking noise now takes longer to go away. like until i hit a much lower speed.

ill disconnect the speedometer i guess.

advice needed.
thanx.

[Aussie81Interstate]

Speedo cable, might need replacing - the speedo drive may need replacing - but shrieking from both sides - could it possibly be worn out brake pads or front wheel bearings ???
Jack up the front of the bike - front wheel off the ground and give the front wheel a spin..

[bluthundr31]

As Aussie says, raise the front tire off the ground and spin it fast enough to approximate the speed that you hear the shriek while riding/slowing. If you still can't determine where the sound is coming from, unscrew the knurled nut of the speedo at the wheel, and repeat the spin. That should confirm, or rule out the speedo gauge and cable as the cause. Let us know how it goes, , ,

[Erdeniz Umman]

There may be 3 reasons for that noise.
Damaged speedometer gear in the front wheel hub, bad speedometer cable or seized brass housing under the speedometer gauge where the cable is attached.

[ba7]

thank you gentlemen, great suggestions. will get to it shortly!

[ba7]

There may be 3 reasons for that noise.
Damaged speedometer gear in the front wheel hub, bad speedometer cable or seized brass housing under the speedometer gauge where the cable is attached.

as a matter a fact, a weird update:

the needle on the speedometer itself flew away and landed on the extreme left, where the trip reset button is. cant click that unless the bike is vibrating at hi speed!

noticed the trip meter and speedometer digits are still working.

the high pitched shrieking disappeared. comes back occasionally as a mild sound then goes away.

[89 1500]

It is the speedometer head. I've had 2 do it to me an 89 and my new to me 92. Always when it's cold though. Been down the cable route and drive in the wheel which didn't make the least bit of sense seeing as how the sound wasn't coming from the wheel lol. Pulled the speedo assembly when I did the front speakers on the 89. Greased everything from where the cable went in to the internal gears. Problem solved no matter the air temp. Got the 92 and the damn speedo head was dry on it too. 40 miles from home that nauseating noise started just when I thought I didn't have to worry about it again. After a good cleaning and greasing problem once again solved.

[Erdeniz Umman]

As I mentioned before, there may be 3 reasons. And most likely the third one according to your input, the brass housing.
If the speedo wire can not rotate freely, it will start twisting inside and then spin suddenly after some time causing sudden needle movement.

You have to remove the speedometer gauge, then clean and lube that piece. When I had cleaned that part, a lot of brass pieces had come out as I squirted WD40 into there.

This link may help understanding better, although it is a BMW gauge it is almost the same as GL1500's.
http://bmwmotorradclubcape.co.za/speedo ... ozen-solid

[89 1500]

Hope you didn't depend on the WD for lubricant. WD is crap for lube. I used contact cleaner to flush both of mine then a black grease from my R/C hobby tool box to grease rotating parts. While it's down that far pull the speedo cable out of the housing and clean and grease it too.