Author Topic: Clicky Brakes or Speedo? (Read 4564 times)

Oldschooler · « **on:** July 10, 2005, 01:56:46 AM »

I have a 1996 600 S and can't seem to locate a rapid clicking noise. The noise surfaces at about 20mph or so and is speed proportional. That is the faster I go the faster the noise. The only way I can think of to describe it is like your holding a small plastic straw in a fan, just enough for it to make noise. It's not overpowering but even my passengers can hear it. As I slow so does the noise and it seems to go away below 20mph. I have contorted myself into every circus position imaginable trying to find it while riding. I can't tell if it's from the front wheel or maybe the back of the Speedo, but it does sound more like it's down near the front wheel. Any ideas?

Please send em my way. Thanks!

chupacabra · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2005, 07:01:56 AM »

Get up to speed that you can hear the noise then shift to neutral and turn off the motor and listen, make sure its not a motor noise.
Disconect the speedo put some tape on the cable so it dosen't fall out and try to hear noise again.
Put on center stand and start up and put into gear, be careful, listen for noise.
Just some things that may help.
Let us know what you find out.

Good luck Dave

Oldschooler · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2005, 03:13:59 PM »

Okay, it’s not an engine noise as I have many a time sucked in the clutch and dropped the motor to idle. I should have said the noise is actual road speed proportional. Anyway, when I unplugged the speedo cable from the front wheel all is quiet. I guess this means its speedo related but what in the heck is it so I can get rid of it?!?! Again it's not a loud noise. But it's kind of like Chinese torcher, it's just loud enough to remind you it's there and then you can't hear anything BUT that.

ray nielsen · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2005, 04:04:15 PM »

Yo should be able to remove the cable from the sheath to lubricate it. I have used regular chassis grease, spread along the cable by hand. It worked well on previous bikes and seemed to last a long time.

Usually the inner cable can be removed from the bottom OR the top depending on construction. Putting it back involves getting the square cross section to go into place in the speedometer head, but it's easy to determine by feel.

Oldschooler · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2005, 05:01:55 PM »

Okay,
I only had Wheel bearing grease. That worked for about 3miles or so. Then it slowly came back. I only put a film of grease along the cable because I wasn't sure how mush to put on it. I'm "car" mechanically knowledgeable, but haven't greased a Speedo cable since probably 1980 or so. Even then it was the big beefy car Speedo cable. Is wheel bearing grease heavy enough? I know it was for the car cables.

Red01 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2005, 08:26:12 PM »

Wheel bearing grease should do just fine... did you have the cable out of the sheath? Does it have any kinks or frays?
Try disconnecting the cable from the speedo head and see if the noise still exists. If it does, you know it is cable realted, if it's gone, then the noise is in the speedo itself.

Oldschooler · « **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2005, 02:05:19 AM »

Ah ! Good idea on disconnect from Speedo head. I'm at work though... will have to try it in the morning when I get off. Will let ya know. Thx

And Thx to all who replied so far also. I just got this bike two weeks ago. Since I got it I used this form to fix a minor oil leak, Dead instrument cluster & Tach lights. This is a fantastic web sight.

I've been riding since I was 13 years old,

all dirt or enduro's, and now I'm... Uh... umm.. 43

This is my first Street only bike. Feels strange to ride it. But it's a blast to ride, and I just ride it, I'm no squid nor do I ever want to be. I got all that stuff out of my system with the enduro's. It's a wonder why I'm not dead. I'm glad most of these sport bikes weren't around when I was young. I remember when the GS 750 and GS 1100 were the "big" bikes and we thought they were insanely fast.

Thx again