Noisy Speedometer

[florence]

My speedometer has developed an annoying squeal as soon as it reaches 30MPH and remains noisy at any speed above.  It is incredibly noisy, enough to make pedestrians look on aghast.  I wondered what on earth was happening the first time until I pinned it down to the offending gauge.

My question is, has anyone else experienced this fault?  I tried squirting some oil inside but it has not helped.  I'm not sure I can face the effort of taking it apart unless I can be certain of success

[SteveD CB500K0]

Reminds me of when I worked in the US in the 80s. Rental cars had speedos that buzzed if you went over 55.

So I’d say it’s your speed limit warning Steve


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[Sesman]

Try dropping kent400 a line. He must have seen all the problems and fixes?

[kent400]

I suspect the speedo is one of the Seiki large type, no point in spraying WD or whatever in the bulb apertures the noise is coming from the drive spindle housing and you could try some light oil in the housing. Ideally the speedo needs to come apart, the mechanism ultrasonically cleaned and lubricated at both ends 

[beardylondon]

I had the same issue and Peter Horton (Kent400 on here) stripped it down and rebuilt it for a very good price, highly recommended.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I've had two sets of Clocks restored by Peter, top notch job.👍👍👍

[taysidedragon]

My original speedo squealed like that. I swapped it for another speedo with similar mileage on it.

[florence]

good advice, thanks.  Not the large type, it is the same dimensions as my CB350K.   I have managed to find one online for a CB450K which looks the same and the ratio is correct.

I will save the old one and strip it down if I get a quiet moment.  (Annoyingly, the Land Rover brakes will have to take priority for the time being, I need to pick up some pigs)

[Bryanj]

The 450 does not have the trip meter but works just the same as 500

[florence]

I wonder if the seller listed incorrectly.  It has trip meter and a green face, same shape and speedo goes to 120 just like the 500.  Bargain at £25 for speedo and rev counter.  Hopefully they work.

I will post a picture once fitted.

[Seabeowner]

Some of the 450s came with the trip meter some (probably the earlier ones) did not.

[beardylondon]

Personally I wouldn’t bother, as even if it’s cheap, it’s just a matter of time before it fails.

For a bit more money, it will be dependent on the work needed, you can get Peter to sort out your original clock.

I wonder if the seller listed incorrectly.  It has trip meter and a green face, same shape and speedo goes to 120 just like the 500.  Bargain at £25 for speedo and rev counter.  Hopefully they work.

I will post a picture once fitted.

[florence]

Personally I wouldn’t bother, as even if it’s cheap, it’s just a matter of time before it fails.

For a bit more money, it will be dependent on the work needed, you can get Peter to sort out your original clock.

Clock has arrived and is identical to 500 one, although rev counter is different.  I will fit as an interim measure just to keep running.  In the meantime, thank you, that is a good suggestion and I will ask Peter if he can help.   The odometer has stopped working too so it might be beyond repair. 

I've never had the original clock, was lost by previous owner when they dismantled the bike.  I bought the bike as a project in 1995 in several cardboard boxes and spend a couple of weeks putting it together on summer evenings in 1995 so I could go on holiday.  In the box of bits was a KMH speedo which had come from another 500 which must have been a European import.  That worked for many years until I found a MPH speedo which was on ebay about 20 years ago.  Has been working fine until recently.

The good news is, if you aren't a purist, it seems most Seiki speedos from that era, even from different manufacturers bikes, use the same ratio 2240:60MPH and can be fitted.

[Seabeowner]

As with the different speedos I think that some CB450s had an 18" from and some a 19" front so would have thought they had a different ratios. But maybe not as it's only a few percent.

[florence]

Pretty sure the later cb450 has 19" wheel.  Anyway, will put on this weekend and give it a road test.