Spedometer Quit

Stantheman55 · Post by **Stantheman55** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 6:18 pm

This is in regard to my 2000 gl1500se During a road trip last month with 165K on the odometer the speedometer and odometer stopped working. I was hopping that when I removed the cable from the front wheel as I have done on another bike I might be able to determine if the cable broke by grabbing the end of the shaft and pulling it out. I found that you can't do that with a wing.

My question is what suggestions do you have for me to trouble shoot the system to determine if its the cable or the in dash clock mechanism, or should I just replace everything new. I haven't pulled it apart yet so I am trying to do my homework before I get started. thanks in advance.
Stan the man55

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 8:14 pm

Actually, you can pull the cable out of the casing on the GL1500. But if it has rusted and broken, which is usually the case, you will probably not be able to remove the cable from the casing. On a new one, it is totally free and removeable.

You best course pf action is to buy a new speedoneter cable and replace it in it's entirety. They sell for less than $30.

Charlie1Horse · Post by **Charlie1Horse** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 9:56 pm

Disconnect the cable from the front wheel and see if you can turn the cable with a small screwdriver. If you can, use a drill with a small flat screwdriver bit and run the speedo with the drill on reverse. See if the speedo works. If it works you probably need to replace the nylon gear in the front wheel. If it doesn't work then you probably need to replace the cable. I recently had to replace the nylon gear in the wheel unit on my 92 Interstate with about 130K on the odometer. Be sure to grease this gear well and re-grease it any time you have the front wheel off.
Russell

If I don't do Facebook or Twitter, do I still have to do Social Media Distancing???

Rednaxs60 · Post by **Rednaxs60** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:19 pm

if the speedometer cable will not turn after removing it from the front wheel, replace the cable. Take the speedometer gearbox off the front wheel, the plastic internal gear may be stripped as well. Happened on my '95 1500.

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:28 pm

You will not have to remove the wheel to see if the gear in the wheel is working. If you jack the front end up slightly so that the wheel is not touching the ground, you can rotate the wheel and see if the gear is moving the output shaft of the speedometer transmission. If you do not have a suitable way to jack it up slightly, have someone sit on the passenger seat, with the bike on the center stand. That should be enough weight to tip the bike onto its rear tire and you can rotate the front wheel.

If the output shaft of the speedometer transmission is rotating when you turn the wheel, there's a good possibility it's the cable that's faulty and not the transmission.

joeincalif · Post by **joeincalif** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 11:26 am

with 165K on it even if it is the gear and not the cable I would replace the cable also.

Stantheman55 · Post by **Stantheman55** » Mon Mar 01, 2021 3:49 pm

To Mike B, Charlie1Horse Rednaxs60 and joeincalf.

Thankyou all for your valuable suggestions. it turned out to be the cable. I called a buddy of mine at the dealership and it is coming in from another store Friday. he will bring it home with him and ill install it Friday night in time for Saturdays trip to Daytona Bike week.

I did as was suggested, checked the front wheel drive, the flat blade in the transmission spins. Next I did the reverse cable spin with the flat headed driver bit in a drill. nothing happened on the speedometer. Removing the cable from the back of the speedometer. I ran the drill again and the other end didn't move nor could I pull it out. So I have ordered a new drive cable and a outer housing sleeve.

Thank you again for all your suggestions.
Stan

offcenter · Post by **offcenter** » Mon Mar 01, 2021 4:59 pm

Since I had my dash apart to install LEDs, I checked the speedometer cable. With it disconnected from the front wheel, it should have turned easily. It didn't. It was VERY stiff to turn. It is certainly the original cable from the factory.
I figured that I was very close to having it break, so I ordered a new one from Cyclemax. Should be here any day.
22 years and over 100,000 miles on the original cable is pretty good in my book. With the new one installed, I'll be good for another 100,000 miles.

Stantheman55 · Post by **Stantheman55** » Mon Mar 08, 2021 2:46 pm

Offcenter
Since you did the dash lights a quick question? When I was attempting to get my speedometer connected under the dash I had to move the wire harness a little, I was wondering do the lights along the bottom of the panel such as the OD light in 5 gear pop out easily or are they held in tightly.

I noticed that after my cable install when we went to bike week my OD light didn't show as it normally does, and am wondering if I some how pulled it out of the back of the panel or it just gave out. I haven't gone looking yet but was curious. Any thoughts???
Thanks....Stan.

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Mon Mar 08, 2021 3:13 pm

The lights are in a rubber socket that is a friction fit into the rear of the meter panel. They can come out but it is not likely. It is more likely that the bub is simply burnt out. The bulbs sockets can be easily accessed pulled out with the meter panel in place.

Removing the crescent shaped fork tunnel fillers will help to get your hand into that area. Items 30 and 31 in the picture. Removing item 27 will help too.

offcenter · Post by **offcenter** » Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:49 pm

I agree with MikeB.
It's unlikely that they will come out on their own.
You have to grab the rubber socket and wiggle it a bit
to get them out. Most likely burned out bulbs.

P.S. MikeB, you must have mighty small hands if you can get
to those bulb sockets with the panel in place.
No way in hell that my hands would fit in there.

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Mon Mar 08, 2021 10:15 pm

offcenter wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:49 pm I agree with MikeB.
It's unlikely that they will come out on their own.
You have to grab the rubber socket and wiggle it a bit
to get them out. Most likely burned out bulbs.

P.S. MikeB, you must have mighty small hands if you can get
to those bulb sockets with the panel in place.
No way in hell that my hands would fit in there.

Yup, having medium sized hands has paid off for me over the years.

I've even been able to replace high beam bulbs in the 2001 throu 2010 GL1800's without removing the shelter.

Stantheman55 · Post by **Stantheman55** » Wed Mar 10, 2021 8:34 pm

Thank you all for your input.
My XL hands had a heck of a time getting the speed-o cable back in so futzing with the lights the way you suggested, isn't going to happen, which by the way is what I did, when I put the cable back in. I removed those three covers which was a big help.

Not having the OD light on is not a bother as it is more of a luxury to me then a necessity but since I am attempting to keep the bike in premium running condition ill fix that when it comes time to up grad the lights in the panel to LED's. I am planning on redoing the wind shield and adding progressive springs soon so that may be the time to tackle that job.

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