160 MPH Electric Speedometer (Rare)

Can this speedometer type be repaired?

This is an electric speedo, not mechanical.  I've been running this meter on my 82 KZ1100 four years with no problem, and it has just developed an erratic needle issue.
I tested it with a different harness, which did not correct the problem.  So I assume there is something going on inside that needs attention.

 

Have you test the speedometer sending divice (sensor)? Any pics? What´s the problem, bouncing  needle?

wrote:

Have you test the speedometer sending divice (sensor)? Any pics? What´s the problem, bouncing  needle?
 

Checked everything I could think of, and installed my old (essentially nos) 85 MPH speedometer that I had on the bike for one month before swapping it out for the 160.
The 85 worked perfect when hooked up to the 160 wiring harness, so that test essentially isolated the erratic-bouncing needle problem to the speedo unit itself. 

I have that 85 MPH speedo unit reinstalled on the bike, and can already tell from a short ride today that it will take some getting used to.

 

When you say you tested it with a different harness, do you mean different sending unit? My understanding of electronic speedometers is that the frequency of electrical pulses from the sending unit determines speed. 

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When you say you tested it with a different harness, do you mean different sending unit? My understanding of electronic speedometers is that the frequency of electrical pulses from the sending unit determines speed. 
 

Everything works properly up to the speedometer unit itself.  This was verified by connecting my old (essentially new) 85 MPH speedo unit to the same wiring harness. 
The sending unit is working properly.

Question is, are the electric speedo units able to be dismantled and repaired?  If so, I need to find a capable source (in the USA) to fix it. 
If not, then perhaps it's ebay time.

I'm not familiar with your particular unit, but my general outlook is that anything is repairable - if you're thinking of replacing it anyway, may as well crack into it and see if there's a bad solder spot or something. 

BAD DIODE?

wrote:

I'm not familiar with your particular unit, but my general outlook is that anything is repairable - if you're thinking of replacing it anyway, may as well crack into it and see if there's a bad solder spot or something.

 

I think it was early 2017 when I got the 160 speedometer via some horse trading with a fellow forum member. 
As it came, the case was in poor and unusable condition.  I had a nice spare 85 case with a faulty speedo inside, so I swapped the guts and ended up with a nice working thing.
 



Images 4/10/2017

While apart, I was very apprehensive about touching the components for their complex appearance.  So I would prefer to leave the tinkering to an expert...or just sell it (as-is) to some other adventurous soul.


Image 4/16/2017


Image 4/19/2017 (85 MPH Junked Speedo Guts)


Image 4/19/2017 (85 MPH Ditto)

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While apart, I was very apprehensive about touching the components for their complex appearance.  So I would prefer to leave the tinkering to an expert...or just sell it (as-is) to some other adventurous soul.

 

I would start by contacting Z-Resto ( zresto.com/ ) and see if they work on electronic gauges.  It may be that they only do the mechanical gauges.

If they turn you away, I'd be curious to take a look at it and try to fix it.  When you swapped the guts, how did you crimp the ring that holds the case halves together.  Would it be pretty easy to open it up again?

The easiest way is to switch the electronic boards. Only two solder joints (black and red wire).
Sometimes re-soldering all connections on the board with fresh tin bring it back to life. 

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Sometimes re-soldering all connections on the board with fresh tin bring it back to life. 
 

That's what I was thinking.  All of the components on that boards look pretty simple other than the IC.  But my guess is that if the gauge is somewhat working, the IC is probably ok, as they don't usually fail half-way.  I suppose some of the capacitors could have failed.  But most simple devices like this have a very long life. 

I'm guessing that is an analog meter movement (not a stepper motor).  Is there a damper in the meter movement?  Do they go bad?  Can they be fixed?

wrote:

wrote:

While apart, I was very apprehensive about touching the components for their complex appearance.  So I would prefer to leave the tinkering to an expert...or just sell it (as-is) to some other adventurous soul.





 

I would start by contacting Z1 Resto ( zresto.com/ ) and see if they work on electronic gauges.  It may be that they only do the mechanical gauges.

If they turn you away, I'd be curious to take a look at it and try to fix it.  When you swapped the guts, how did you crimp the ring that holds the case halves together.  Would it be pretty easy to open it up again?




 

The ring fit snugly into a cutout in a piece of 1.125" MDF, and was supported by a strip of thin plastic sheet wrapped against the hole perimeter under it.  After fitting the case pieces into the hole, I used a hammer and wood to force the back of the ring over the assembled case halves, and followed that with a flat tip screwdriver to press it flat.
Viewed from the back the crimp job looks somewhat shy of professional, but in my way of thinking that part of the ring would be rarely if ever seen anyway.
The crimp ring would pry up quite easily using the same jig, but that was tossed out when I closed my shop that October.