Xt 600 e speedo fault
 

Hi all, my bike has developed a fault with the speedo, essentially although the needle moves, it bares no resemblance to the speed I am doing, at best it will not hit more than 40 mph. The only variant I can think of is that it was originally an imported bike from Europe and the previous owner has put a UK face on it. Mileage covered is km but has the advantage that I know what speed I am doing in UK without having to do the mental maths. Has worked ok for six months so don't think that is the issue. Any advice / suggestions appreciated.
Many thanks in advance
Ian

Hi !

Have you taken the cable off and had a look for wear at either end?

Or seeing if the knurled nut at either end of the cable is loose first maybe?

Im thinking theres a bit of wear in the cable ends/ drive or speedo head and lower speeds it still works but slips at higher speeds

Thats where i'd start looking

Bill

Thanks Bill will have a look and see if there are any problems Ian

Hi there,

if the problem would be in the speedometer itself then I have an "instrument panel" for sale. The version with no tachometer, lights dash instead. European version so it's in KM/H. Taken off my own bike, working perfectly well. PM me if you need it.

Thanks for the offer but if I need to replace the replace the speedo I will look at a mph one.
I have looked at the cable tonight and it appears to be in good condition no rounding of the ends.
I wonder if it is internal, unfortunately I have no idea where to start.
Will have a search on the web and see if I can find anything.
Ian

Can you take the clock off and have a look at the square hole ? See if thats rounded off . Take the speedo drive and check that next. Gotta be one or the other faulty if the cables okay- good luck!

Bill

Cheers Bill, will have a look tomorrow.

Just a thought before I look at the bike again later, if it was cable related should it not affect the tachometer as well.
Mileage recorded remains accurate to what I do.
Thoughts?

I have a rev counter on mine and therefore a separate cable. Is yours different ian?

Sorry not explained myself very well, yes I have a separate rev counter.
The miles measured (distance travelled) remain accurate. Many years ago I owned an xl 125 and broke the cable. That obviously didn't record speed but neither did it add miles to the clock.
Hope that makes sense.
Ian

Make sense mate, im thinking theres gotta be a bit of wear in the speedo head/drive. Working enough to increase the mileage, (perhaps not accurately?) But not enough to work the speedo.

Ok will go have a look

Ok speedo off barrel that cable sits in looks nice and square, any more thoughts.
Sorry I am at a loss.
Ian

I think you have to check inside the speedo, something maybe off line or worn. Find someone that have same and test.

Not sure how far into the speedo head you can delve, anyone close by you with an xt that you try their clock on your bike?

Have you checked the sender unit on the disc brake side of the front wheel? They can jam up, or the lugs can bend. This will then cause the sender unit not to rotate in unison with the wheel (if at all) giving a false reading. A pre-cursor to this is the needle bobbing about as opposed to maintaining a steady speed.

Not that I am aware of, will contact my local garage and see if they know anyone , failing that I will try and source a second hand one cheap.
Thanks for all the help,
if I ever track down the cause I will update.
:thumbup:Cheers Ian

A quick update, I decided to go the path of least resistance and try a new cable in case I was wrong. Sadly the speedo is just the same with the new cable. One of those occasions I would like to have been proved wrong.
As they say back to the drawing board. I will probably end up replacing the whole unit as I am not sure even with locating a source of the problem in the unit whether or not I could replace individual parts.
Ian

As far as i know you cant dismantle the speedo head. Looks to be a sealed unit ian. Someone on here will know for sure.

Bill

Hi Bill, someone before me has had the unit apart so I can separate had a mph face put on it, maybe that's what's caused the problem. I have had the bike for 6 months with no issues so seems unlikely, I have managed to source a second hand unit for £30 which seems reasonable so might just replace it.
Ian

I think that's easiest and most logical solution, fit the replacement and delve into the workings of the old one. You might be able to fix it and have a spare then. Did you manage to get one in mph?

Hi Bill, unfortunately not, this one doesn't sound like it's been tampered with has the stickers on the dial to show mph, not ideal, from past experience impossible to see in the dark, I will just have to learn the mental conversion again.
Unfortunately for me where I live we are inundated with speed cameras so I've become paranoid. I already have a good estimate of mph for gear and rpm.
Just one more thing to concentrate on. Hopefully as you say I may be able to repair the current one and refit.
Ian

Got this one, if you have one with km/h we can swap, i just like to have one for spare.



http://s21.postimg.org/5c65sshyf/DSC_0800.jpg
foto upload

I was keeping an eye out for one in mph's for you, no joy , (couple of kph ones.) it seems theyre as rare as hens teeth. And dont get me started on speed cameras!i

Or buy one of these, i can recomend its good quality.

Koso DB 01R Multi Function Electronic Speedometer | eBay

Hi xtrock definitely interested, I will need to get the replacement first, check it works , I assume it's the speedo that's at fault. Once sorted I will look at shipping costs and pm you if that is ok.
Ian

Shipping is insane here, checked and its 27pound...

Does the previous fit?

1984 Yamaha XT600 XT 600 Speedometer Odometer Assembly with Cable 84 - 89 | eBay

93 YAMAHA XT600 ENDURO 91? 92? 94? 95? 96? 97? SPEEDOMETER GAUGE GAUGES CLUSTER | eBay

And what about the DT speedo, looks like same size.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-dt1...item4621e53aff

Maybe 350 speedo fits?

1993 YAMAHA XT350E XT 350 E XT350 SPEEDO SPEEDOMETER | eBay

When I got my bike it was already fitted with a Facomsa eSpirit digital speedmeter, I gather the original drive failed.

Facomsa

I highly recommend this unit, it's backlit, has warnings for high beam, neutral, indicators etc and is easily set up. I have a friend with a Koso, it even has a tacho built in, another excellent piece of kit. Sometimes it's better/cheaper to go for a new solution that is proven than keep replacing old parts in my opinion. I know this doesn't 'help' but maybe an option?

Hi have decided to buy the second hand unit, Charles 87 I need to apologise as I have been reading the posts on my phone and have missed yours until tonight, consequently I am hoping it is the speedo but if the new unit doesn't work apart from crawling into a corner and crying at the money spent I will definitely look at the disc end again.
Thanks to everyone

I can remeber once i mounted the gear wrong and i think the speedo acted something like yours. Its very long time ago and i dont remeber how and what was not in place down there. Bought a new gear and then i could see what was wrong, take off the wheel and check if the pins are bent or if you hit them wrong.

Job for the weekend hopefully will have new speedo then will get that fitted if problem continues I will then check the sender unit/ gear. Current speedo has now failed completely on way to work :confused1:
Praying its the speedo (easy fix with new speedo)
wished I had spotted Charles post earlier but too late now.
Ian

I was thinking you had that gear checked since you didnt reply to the post about unit, and your not there due to the km/mph problem hehebeer

Quick update new speedo arrived and fitted, no change checked drive at same time, speedo cable turning when wheel spun but very slight clicking noise from gear, so am assuming some wear in there, now awaiting new gear, I suppose I have now got a spare speedo to go with my spare cable. Costly mistakes for not reading the posts properly, guess that's what comes of trying to read something on my phone. Failing eyesight and all that.
Thanks once again for all the advice and support.:thumbup1:
Ian

Gear maybe not broken, it can slipp if its not monted back correctly.

Heck, we all wind up with spare "stuff" for various reasons. Just watch for those how are needing what you have and do them a favor and sell it to them...

I am hoping someone will have a spare clutch cover for the early Xt600's. None on eBay right now.

Steve

I had exactly the same problem on a 1984 xt600, it was the drive unit mounted on the disc side of the front axle, fortunately I had a spare from an xt600e and it has worked for over a year without issue, I didnt take the old unit apart but it felt very sloppy, there is a worm gear in there and if it wears I think it flops around in the housing, my speedo just wasnt reliably getting upto speed and was very erratic.

I found the cause by putting a battery drill on the wheel end of the cable and spinning at low speed, my speedo was responding very quickly to changes in drill speed (after I had swapped to a new cable !) so swapped the drive unit and voila !

Quick update new speedo gear fitted today and speedo now working :D
Lessons learned.
1. Make sure I read the thread properly so I don't miss the solution.
2. Don't read threads on mobile phone see above.
3. Keep all spares, never know when I might need them (or someone else)
4. Remember the collective wisdom of the HUBB.

Hopefully as I am mechanical novice I will learn as I go along, I read the threads as they come up and hopefully some of that knowledge will be absorbed.

Thank you to all who have advised me and tolerated my musings. Safe Riding. bier

Great:thumbup1: Did you find out what happend to the old one?

Not yet when I have enough time I will examine it properly, superficially it looks identical to the replacement.

Great news! Always a good feeling when you fix something yourself. Well done.


Bill