Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

bobotech · Post by **bobotech** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 11:16 pm

I am just wondering if I could get away with using a speedo from another bike in my gauge set? I got a new speedo drive and cable today and put them on my bike. Took my biek for a drive around the block and all it succeeded in doing was pegging the speedo needle all the way around and starting to smoke. Something is broke inside it!

Anyway, so I jsut want to use some compatible speedo that will work, any suggestions?

wvc · Post by **wvc** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:58 am

what kind of bike is it

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:23 am

It's a 75 GT550. I have to wonder what kind of bike the speedo drive came off of

bobotech · Post by **bobotech** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:59 am

Yes, a 75 GT550. The speedo drive came off of a 74 GT550 I believe. I know that it came off of a 74-77 model since the lower exhaust pipe fit with the proper bracket.

tz375 · Post by **tz375** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 8:03 am

Sounds like the speedo may have had oil in the old cable or insects inside.

I'd see if there's a replacement on ebay or ask SuzukiSmokin Allan if that's a speedo he can repair. He restores gauges for the 750, I don't know about the 550.

bobotech · Post by **bobotech** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:50 am

Well i have taken the speedo out of my bike. If I put a screwdriver into the drive and spin it clockwise, I notice that it works part of the time and then other times it locks up after pegging 150mph. If it works, it feels normal but then all the sudden something grabs and drags terribly after the needle hits 150mph. Its like a bearing went completely bad. I tried lubricating it gently but I can't get inside the speedo since its sealed up with glue.

smoketriples · Post by **smoketriples** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 12:16 pm

I'm pretty sure I have a GT550 gauge set. I think the speedo side has a fairly frosted lens though....

bobotech · Post by **bobotech** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 12:18 pm

Bummer. My speedo face is clear as a bell but its glued in place. I wonder if I can pop the glue out?

smoketriples · Post by **smoketriples** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:00 pm

I've had good outcomes with GT380 and 550 gauges using the 'headlight restorer' kits. There are folks who have made glass replacement lenses for theirs, but that's beyond my expertise. Over the hill and shaky hands, I don't do detail work like that

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 2:08 pm

Yes they come apart. Sharpen a screwdriver and start scraping away at the old glue. It takes about an hour but you will eventually get it apart. I don't know what could be binding. They work on a centrifugal magnet.

bobotech · Post by **bobotech** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:57 pm

Well i got mine apart but I also messed up the lens. I took the face off before I discovered that was unnecessary. When I glued the face back on, it crazed the sides of the face.

I will have to get a new glass face made.

Anyway, I took the old speedo apart and the main part that the drive cable screws onto was broken off the speedo frame.

So I went to my local salvage yard and found a Yamaha speedo that was the same size and had the odometer in the same position. It also said Nippon on it as well. The odometer reset piece was broken on the Yamaha speedo but the owner just gave it to me for free so I took it.

Brought it home and took it apart. Uses the same exact internals as the Suzuki. Turns out that the odometer is a seperate assembly that is held on by 4 screws and was swappable with the one off my Suzuki.

I put the Suzuki gauge assembly back together and I think everything should work just fine. Problem is that its raining so I can't test til tomorrow I guess.

BRP Tourer · Post by **BRP Tourer** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:38 pm

Sounds like you got it fixed, but, just for future reference, I bought a used GT380 gauge set off ebay and put on my GT550. It works fine, only difference is it doesn't have the gear indicator.

bobotech · Post by **bobotech** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 8:17 pm

I tested it and it works fine however its not "right". I don't have the green face or the proper needle now. I was actually considering bothering to pull the needle and then the face off my old one and swapping it over but for now, I'm just glad I have a speedo.

Hopefully tomorrow its a nicer day out and i can take it out for a little run and bring my gps and see how accurate it is.

Cliff · Post by **Cliff** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:30 pm

Good luck with your speedo! I'm on my fourth one now! Can't seem to get much more than 40,000 miles out of them before either the odometer or speedo stops working! Mine buggered up last year on the way down to Deal's Gap and broke my speedo cable! For anyone who's been to the Dragon, it sucks not having a speedo!! I found a NOS speedo last fall so I grabbed it!! Now I have a 37 year old bike with only 3,000 miles on the clock! Did the Dragon again this year, and what a rush it was having a speedo this time!!

Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?

Re: Is the speedometer a fairly standard item?