ElementalWarrior
XS400 Member
Hello! I am here mostly posting the solution to my speedo problem.
My speedometer was working. But very, very slowly. If I maintained speed, the speedometer would after like a minute, finally reach the speed I was going (I was comparing against gps on my phone).
I also noticed that the speed was accurate past ~60km, without much of a delay.
I read/watched a few videos, some suggesting lubricating the speedometer itself, some lubricating the cable driving the speedometer. The latter was not a problem for me.
After biting the bullet, and tearing apart the speedo (thank you this post: https://www.xs400.com/threads/tach-speedo-rehab.20934/)[1]
I did not need to lubricate anything. What I found instead was that there was some either ancient lubricant, or some other viscous fluid on the drag cup.
Right above where this arrow is pointing
I could manually move the cup, and feel the resistance at the low end of the speedometer (if I gently placed the needle back on)
I think this used to coat the cup evenly, but over time settled out on the gravity facing side. This was likely something to prevent chatter from the cup hitting the nearby housing.
In any case, I cleaned this off, and re-assembled[2], and the speedometer is much more responsive now.
1. It was not immediately clear, in order to take off the trip knob, you have to remove the needle, gauge face, then immobilize the trip with some pliars. Then it spins off clockwise nicely.
2. When putting the needle back on, there were two grooves next to the pivot point, I put the needle parallel with the groove closest to 0km/h, then lifted the end of the needle, and placed it on the other side of the 0 (pictured below). Don't put the speedometer glass back on until you've given it a ride and checked the speed against GPS; you might have to pull off the needle and try again.
My speedometer was working. But very, very slowly. If I maintained speed, the speedometer would after like a minute, finally reach the speed I was going (I was comparing against gps on my phone).
I also noticed that the speed was accurate past ~60km, without much of a delay.
I read/watched a few videos, some suggesting lubricating the speedometer itself, some lubricating the cable driving the speedometer. The latter was not a problem for me.
After biting the bullet, and tearing apart the speedo (thank you this post: https://www.xs400.com/threads/tach-speedo-rehab.20934/)[1]
I did not need to lubricate anything. What I found instead was that there was some either ancient lubricant, or some other viscous fluid on the drag cup.
Right above where this arrow is pointing
I could manually move the cup, and feel the resistance at the low end of the speedometer (if I gently placed the needle back on)
I think this used to coat the cup evenly, but over time settled out on the gravity facing side. This was likely something to prevent chatter from the cup hitting the nearby housing.
In any case, I cleaned this off, and re-assembled[2], and the speedometer is much more responsive now.
1. It was not immediately clear, in order to take off the trip knob, you have to remove the needle, gauge face, then immobilize the trip with some pliars. Then it spins off clockwise nicely.
2. When putting the needle back on, there were two grooves next to the pivot point, I put the needle parallel with the groove closest to 0km/h, then lifted the end of the needle, and placed it on the other side of the 0 (pictured below). Don't put the speedometer glass back on until you've given it a ride and checked the speed against GPS; you might have to pull off the needle and try again.
