Speedo Cable Replacement Options

Garry_Coates

Garry_Coates

Joined
May 16, 2017
Messages
75
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Bike
Honda ST1100 ABS/TCS
Hi All,

at 194,000 km my speedo stopped working. Checked the cable at the wheel and the slotted end is worn flat so it cannot be turned even with a screwdriver. I have ordered the speedo cable assembly (44830-MT3-000) and it should turn up next week. The nylon gear in the wheel still works but I will put that on back order.

I note that I have two options:

1. Remove the windscreen, garnish and inner screen and replace the entire cable. I can see and reach the cable top in situ but cannot undo it with fingers.

2. Replace just the the inner cable for the moment and do 1. at a major service.

My question relating to 2: How do you get the inner cable out with the external cable still in place? The the inner cable at the wheel end is recessed. I cannot find anything at the end to undo or loosen.

Regards

Garry
 
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Mine used to just pull out from the bottom. It would drop out a bit at the bottom end when I detached the cable from the wheel drive, so I'd remove it completely, to keep it safe. The top end of the inner cable has a flat end that mates with a slot in the speedo - so when reinstalling into the outer cable, in order to seat the last cm the inner cable had to be turned at the bottom end while pushing it gently upwards. There was a very obvious 'feel' at the bottom end as the top end located into the slot.

I always assumed that is how it was meant to be, but others may know better.
 
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It should just slide out. Maybe rap a screwdriver handle on the end to help loosen it. It may be stuck if never lubed, or it may be broken, in which case the broken cable will likely catch inside the housing.
 
It should slide out, Gary. Shake the cable housing. Maybe a strong magnet can pull it out. The real issue is how the heck did the end wear so badly that the slot is gone!

Regards, John
 
Hi Guys thanks for the feedback which has confirmed I am not missing something. This is the original speedo cable and now 26 years old and 194,000 km. The inner cable probably is not broken but has worn the slot end down so it is now recessed 5mm into the external cable. I cannot get pliers or anything to grip it as the opening is too small. Possibly only a strong magnet or drill an ezyout to apply some force. Tried tapping it and shaking it but I think the other end may be tight. I am going to wait till I have the replacement before further work.

Option 1 does not seem too bad.

Regards
Garry
 
Hi Garry:

One possible way of fishing out the cable would be to obtain a tiny watchmaker's broach, stuff it up the cable shield and see if you can snag the bottom end of the cable with the broach. If you are not familiar with such a tool, here is a web-link that illustrates them: Watchmaker's broach. You certainly would not need a full set, just one broach of the correct size.

Michael
 
BTW, in 23+ years on the ST1100 email listserv and forums, this is the very firST report of this kind of problem. STill begging the question, “How did this happen?” What does the blade on the end of the speedo drive mechanism that engages the slot on the cable look like? Curious.....

John
 
John OoSTerhuis said:
STill begging the question, “How did this happen?”
Click to expand...
Further: why intend to extract the cable from the old sleeve, instead of replacing the whole thing?
I just grab the threaded bushing on the speedo input with a pair of pliers, unscrew it, replace the bugger... (observe proper routing when installing the new sleeve...)

Pic for reference:

7a.5a.3c.10037185.JPG
 
Another little tip for when you get this issue sorted out and go to re-attach the cable housing into the speedo drive at the wheel. Be very careful how tight you try to make that mounting screw, as the thin plastic shell that surrounds the screw head is very easily split, if you go too tight. Just snug it up.
 
Bush said:
Another little tip for when you get this issue sorted out and go to re-attach the cable housing into the speedo drive at the wheel. Be very careful how tight you try to make that mounting screw, as the thin plastic shell that surrounds the screw head is very easily split, if you go too tight. Just snug it up.
Click to expand...

I can confirm this. As I tightened the bolt the plastic shell just broke in half. :doh1: However I still managed to snug it with just half of the shell very easy. Speedo works fine, but I do get a sudden jump in the speedo needle ( for an example it jumps from around 0 to lets say 40mph and goes down right away) when taking off or when riding at very slow speeds. This happens from time to time, not very often. Idk what causes it..
 
Bush said:
Another little tip for when you get this issue sorted out and go to re-attach the cable housing into the speedo drive at the wheel. Be very careful how tight you try to make that mounting screw, as the thin plastic shell that surrounds the screw head is very easily split, if you go too tight. Just snug it up.
Click to expand...
huntingdog said:
I can confirm this. As I tightened the bolt the plastic shell just broke in half. :doh1: However I still managed to snug it with just half of the shell very easy.
Click to expand...

Happened to me too, or more accurately, "I did this to myself too."

I wrapped safety wire around the plastic and the hub drive to ensure everything remains connected. Don't know when or if I'll ever replace it as it works fine.
 
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huntingdog said:
I can confirm this. As I tightened the bolt the plastic shell just broke in half. :doh1: However I still managed to snug it with just half of the shell very easy. Speedo works fine, but I do get a sudden jump in the speedo needle ( for an example it jumps from around 0 to lets say 40mph and goes down right away) when taking off or when riding at very slow speeds. This happens from time to time, not very often. Idk what causes it..
Click to expand...

There are a lot of us who have split that housing, :oops: and even when split, you can still use it and the screw does seem to stay in place just lightly snugged. I never even wrapped the split with anything and no problems.

As to your bouncy speedo, I suggest you lube the cable sparingly and no grease should come closer to the speedo head up top than about 4 inches, as grease getting into the mechanism of the speedo may damage it. I use a light, white grease for that application.
 
It would be a good idea to remove the front wheel and the drive that the cable goes into.
Disassemble it and check the gears for wear. Clean everything up and regrease, reassemble it before you install the new cable, either just the inner cable or complete new one.
Just thinking out loud here.
Gary.
 
Bikeric said:
basin wrench
Click to expand...
Wow thats an interesting wrench but I couldn't find it when looking without the name you provided. I ended doing the dismantle from the top and removed the old cable. The old cable is still fine but the tang on the wormdrive in the wheel had broken and was stuck in the cable split. The inner cable was a dry and the tang probably stressed under load on a long ride or potentially damaged at the last tyre change. The nylon gear in the drive assembly still perfect. I replaced the drive with a secondhand item and now all is good. Plenty of grease applied to all.
Thanks Guys.
 
Garry_Coates said:
Wow thats an interesting wrench but I couldn't find it when looking without the name you provided. I ended doing the dismantle from the top and removed the old cable. The old cable is still fine but the tang on the wormdrive in the wheel had broken and was stuck in the cable split. The inner cable was a dry and the tang probably stressed under load on a long ride or potentially damaged at the last tyre change. The nylon gear in the drive assembly still perfect. I replaced the drive with a secondhand item and now all is good. Plenty of grease applied to all.
Thanks Guys.
Click to expand...
Hi there, it's a plumber's tool for tightening up taps in washbasins in hard to get-to places. Usually has fittings for 15mm pipe fittings one end (the end I used) and jaws for 22mm pipe fittings at the other end..... Glad you sorted her out in the end!
 
For those interested the ST1100 Speedo Drive assembly sells on Aliexpress for $11aud. I ordered this as a plan B and it arrived in under 3 weeks with a honda emblem cast into it. Looks ok but it has gone into the spares box as I fitted a second hand oem.

Regards
Garry
 
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