Tacho troubles - electronic solution?

Previously mike_sullivan wrote:

I suspect my Tach is cream crackered, the instrument in question has functioned flawlessly since I bought the bike17 years ago. Whilst on a recent ride the neeedle suddenly started sticking & twitching all over the dial. After dismantling the drive end I found that the needle would stick after just twisting the drive cable a little anti clockwise, tapping the glass will free the neeedle. Does anybody have any idea if this is fixable - the instrument in question is the original Veglia?

Alternatively I could opt for a replacement electronic replica for a rather salty price. Does anybody have experience with fitting these e.g. into the mk III pod - I also notice a cable in my loom (mk III) which is labelled aselectronic tacho unused, can I utilese this (low user knowledge of electrickery).

Hi Mike

You could give these a try;

They did a repair on my 1988 car speedometer, I can recommend them.

Roger

The original rev-counter could be repaired and there are a few people who offer their services in the classic bike mags. If you think about it, because the speedo is taken from the rear wheel and the rev-counter is reading the engine speed which itself is related to the back wheel via the gearbox, all you are doing is seeing if your clutch is slipping.

The good thing about an electronic tacho is that it gets rid of the rev-counter cable and you could seal up another potential oil leak for good.

There is a book available on fixing your own speedo but it generally involves scrapping the bezel then finding a replacement.

Pople once took a wiggly line Veglia from me as part payment for a Smiths repair so I think that he may do some work on them.

I had a similar problem with the Veglia speedo on my Commando.

i managed to get the bezel off by carefully prising it with a screw driver, then I was able to reuse it after the repair, though I think the Smiths replacements that are easily available may fit.

my problem was grease and oil from the cable had got into to the speedo. If it gets onto the needle return spring, that stops the needle going back to the sop rest. If the grease gets into the magnet dish, that causes the instrument to massively over read .

So ist mainly just a job of cleaning the grease/oil out, then lightly re oiling with a light oil.

Clean any excess grease from the top 6 inches of the cable so it don't happen again, and don't over grease the cable.

There are sites on u tube and the net that cover generic instrument repairs.

Hi I've had an inner cable break near the clock end it all frayed and every time it tried to drive the rev counter it would have the effect of flicking the needle all over the place .Baz

Hi Mike,

I have an electronic tacho and speedo from Andover Norton, they fit perfectly, you will need to order the clock kits which are just a couple of male / female spacers.

Part numbers below (other suppliers are avaibale ....)

Hi Mike

A couple of years ago, I took a Veglia down to Speedograph at Nottingham

http://www.speedograph-richfield.com/

but they were reticent to touch it, preferring Smiths - also £80 + vat then. Is your Veglia a green globe or NVT logo - I would assume the latter being a mk3? I have a number of spare Smith's instruments with NVT logo that are surplus to my requirements. Alan

Hi Mike - I sent you a message on this board but I don't know how you pick them up - I also put my details on a PM to you on the AccessNorton site - if not, contact me via alsesh@aol.com Cheers Alan