kz1000st tachometer

My Tach on my 17979 KZ1000E1 is kaput and I am having difficulty finding a replacement. One guy on e bay has one and will mail to me but the manual says they are first, non repairable, second oil filled and should not be turned over. What are the odds of that with the Post Office. Has anyone had experience with mailing these gauges? Does anyone know of a different tach that would work at the same ratio as the gear drive on my cable? I have new gears and cable and they seem to be working OK. Any and all help appreciated, or direction to a replacement tach.
Thanks

i had the tach apart on my 1979 shaftie and never saw any oil, just a regular tach with a fuel gauge inset.

Yea, they are not oil filled or anything different than any other KZ tach other than being standard KZ1000ST part, which is always unique to the model. I would guess with 99% certainty you can use any KZ1000,750, 650, 550 ect tach and it will work just fine. Just won't look original. Nothing special about the KZ1000E, just used a cable from the engine to the tachometer just like all the rest did back then.

So does anybody have any ideas or information why the factory shop manual say it is oil filled and not to turn it over? Also, are they repairable?

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I had mine restored at Z-Resto Gauge restoration, you can call them up & ask if your gauge is oil filled or not, I believe you should"nt leave any gauges upside down or on thier side, for any length of tine....Pete

had to resize pic.

The oil they talk about is the dampening fluid used on the spindle shaft, it is a small container on the shaft, it has fluid to prevent the needle from freely jumping around. My Z1r had a fluid leak when I transported it interstate, unfortunately I now have a stain on the tacho, it still works ok and can be replaced using a thin needle. sorry about the poor picture, you can just make out the dark shadow on the bottom face.

here's a better picture, all cable speedos and tacho have this fluid, you can put a "THIS WAY UP" label on the box I'm sure all delivery services take note of it

Thanks for all the information, I ordered one on ebay and will see what happens, doesn't have to-travel far, just from Texas to New Mexico.

you should be right, mine was being recalibrated and I think it went by road (Australia- East /west = >4000kms) in the heat. I did refill the fluid but by then the facia had stains - bugger.