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Broken Speedo, I Think. What To Do? Broken Speedo, I Think. What To Do?
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  • 1 Post By turboguzzi

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  #1  
Old 26 Aug 2019
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Broken Speedo, I Think. What To Do?
Hello - 1990 XT600E, just turned over 15,000 miles. Riding on the freeway today, I heard a very faint clicking sound and the speedometer went to zero. At low speeds, it will flutter around 5 mph (and, thus very slowly add mileage to the odometer), but above 10 mph or so it doesn't work at all.

I pulled the speedo cable and both ends look fine (the previous owner had replaced all the cables on the bike just before I bought it, so it should). So it's either the drive gear in the hub, or something internal inside the speedo itself. I lean toward the latter, because I heard the noise at freeway speed with earplugs in.

The speedo can't be disassembled. Replacements are unobtainium. I've had super good luck with Vapor Trail Tech in the past, but they don't seem to have one for a bike that old. Does anyone have an opinion on what to do?

The bike is worth next to nothing so I don 't want to put serious $ in it.

Thanks!
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  #2  
Old 26 Aug 2019
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You could just put a bicycle speedo on it. They're all pretty accurate (if you put some effort into calibrating them) and some are dirt cheap. I've been using them for years and got them on three of my bikes atm.
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  #3  
Old 26 Aug 2019
dzl dzl is offline
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Where abouts are you? These cheap replica replacement speedos available on ebay oz work great on XT600's. Have one on one of my XT's and is still working fine after 30k kms.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Aftermar...0AAOSwj9hcPBvo
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  #4  
Old 26 Aug 2019
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there's little to break inside the speedo, i've been into a few of them....


most likely it's the gear dive or the interface with the cable ends gone round, either top or bottom...


nice find on the replica speedo, but check first where is the problem so you dont replace the wrong part.


cheap bicycle speedos can be fine, but i like analog!
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  #5  
Old 29 Aug 2019
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Unfortunately, It Was The Speedo
The latest installment - the cable was brand new just before I bought the bike and it was in fine shape. Not frayed, and the ends weren't rounded off. I took the speedo off and shook it and could hear rattling noises inside.

The least expensive/easiest solution was to order a TrailTechVapor, which will let me have continuity on odometer, a tach, temperature, etc etc in addition to speedo. Although RevZilla etc don't list an application, I got in touch with TrailTech and they have a universal version that will work. I've used them before, know how they work and there's even a power source from the speedo backlight. The binnacle the speedo fits in will be the perfect holding spot, so it'll actually be pretty sweet. Will post pics when done.

In the meantime, what to do about the now-empty speedo drive on the hub? I need something to cover it up/plug it so it doesn't fill up with water, dust & crud. I am thinking of a larger version of those plastic things you put on bare wires. Before I start hitting AutoZone and Home Depot, does anybody have any ideas? (At worst, I can cut down the speedo cable housing and seal it with some epoxy but that might be a little funky looking.)

Thanks again!
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Old 30 Aug 2019
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maybe longer piece of cable? and making that seal somewhere up.
or using only cable's threaded mount with glued circular rubber inside (same diameter as of cable)..
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  #7  
Old 30 Aug 2019
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you can simply remove the whole speedo drive and put instead a simple spacer made in aluminum or steel. Measure the how long it should be from the spacer you will see inside the speedo drive casing, it's a 10 min job for someone with a lathe.



thats what i do in all my race bikes where speedo is removed.
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  #8  
Old 7 Sep 2019
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I can vouch for the durability of the following tach: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trail-Vapor.../dp/B079MGV83Q

Mine would be around 9 years old and the XT was neglected for a couple of years sitting outside with only a cover over it.....still works perfect
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