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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: ws76133 on April 28, 2019, 04:10:10 AM

Title: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ws76133 on April 28, 2019, 04:10:10 AM
Question:  The speedometer on my 1991 K75S still works fine, but this afternoon, the odometer and trip meter stopped.  I'll clean the speedo sensor on the final drive when I get home, but since the speedometer works, I'm not hopeful.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: Martin on April 28, 2019, 04:28:12 AM
A well known problem the gears on the odometer are literally made of cheese and crumble. New gears are available.
Regards Martin.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: TX brick on April 28, 2019, 05:42:38 AM
Overseas Speedometer in Austin, Tx does a good job if you decide to have it repaired. They did my 91 75RT.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: Chaos on April 28, 2019, 09:23:50 AM
They're not too hard to replace, just takes some patience.  Plenty of on line help.  http://www.odometergears.com/products/BMW/R+&+K+Motorcycles/42
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: stokester on April 28, 2019, 09:41:44 AM
They're not too hard to replace, just takes some patience.  Plenty of on line help.  http://www.odometergears.com/products/BMW/R+&+K+Motorcycles/42
Agreed, there is plenty of info on this site and you'll find my post about visiting Jeff Caplan at Odometer Gears and pics of what your gears probably look like.

Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: Chaos on April 28, 2019, 11:16:56 AM

... the gears on the odometer are literally made of cheese and crumble.


Actually, mine were made of compressed applesauce.  The cheese ones were an upgrade.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: RobP on April 29, 2019, 02:32:48 PM
Quote
Overseas Speedometer in Austin, Tx does a good job

+1 on Overseas Speedometer if you decide to have someone else do it.  I had Rick replace the gears in my 1985 K100RS instrument cluster.  Great guy, and he stands behind his work.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: szabgab on April 30, 2019, 03:22:09 PM
Or you can get some newly fabricated ones from a Spanish guy.  Good place to stock up on some starter buttons too :)

http://www.hardtoptire.com/producto_en-hardtop.php?id=168&id_familia=104&id_catalogo=19
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: brichbk on May 02, 2019, 12:15:08 AM
Installed a new HFP-437 Fuel Pump I got for $42 on Amazon.  It's a direct replacement for the factory one. 
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: Laitch on May 02, 2019, 02:57:28 AM
Question:  The speedometer on my 1991 K75S still works fine, but this afternoon, the odometer and trip meter stopped.  I'll clean the speedo sensor on the final drive when I get home, but since the speedometer works, I'm not hopeful.
Any ideas?
Installed a new HFP-437 Fuel Pump I got for $42 on Amazon.  It's a direct replacement for the factory one.
To many of us, that probably would seem unsuitable for use as either an odometer or a speedometer.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: Chaos on May 02, 2019, 09:56:00 AM
To many of us, that probably would seem unsuitable for use as either an odometer or a speedometer.

you need gas to drive the odometer, (well, indirectly) so I will let it pass as relevent
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: Laitch on May 02, 2019, 11:38:51 AM
:giggles
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: TriSpark on May 07, 2019, 08:21:07 PM
Mine just did the same this week ! Guess I'll be making the repair soon.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ScooterNSticks on August 24, 2019, 04:40:58 PM
I filled my gas tank and reset the trip odometer.  About 28 miles along on a ride it stopped working along with the mileage odometer.  Reset it again and still neither working.  Speedometer is fine.   After bouncing along for another 10 miles on a rough road it begins to work and continued to work fine for the next 200 miles until I returned home.

Did some investigating here and found this post.  Contacted Overseas Speedometers in Austin, Texas and got a quote to replace the gears and such. 

My question is -- How likely is it that the odometer will continue to work fine?  I can imagine why it stopped but not why it started again. 

I really want to ride for awhile -- like until December when the weather gets cold and then pull the instrument cluster if something is not working.

Any experience of these things having a short hiccup and then function fine for another 40K miles?

Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: Laitch on August 24, 2019, 05:01:26 PM
Any experience of these things having a short hiccup and then function fine for another 40K miles?
I knew a woman who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day and lived an active life until her early eighties when she killed herself with a derringer. I hope that helps.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ScooterNSticks on August 24, 2019, 05:12:08 PM
Man, the cryptic nature of information here makes my brain itch as I attempt to decipher.  As far as I can make out, in 15 years I think I'm supposed to shoot myself.

I'll just keep riding it until it becomes annoying to not have an odometer.  They seem overrated.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: Laitch on August 24, 2019, 05:20:25 PM
'll just keep riding it until it becomes annoying to not have an odometer.  They seem overrated.
They are overrated. Use an astrolabe instead. As long as you have a relatively accurate low fuel light and ability at dead reckoning, you're golden.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ScooterNSticks on August 24, 2019, 07:05:58 PM
They are overrated. Use an astrolabe instead. As long as you have a relatively accurate low fuel light and ability at dead reckoning, you're golden.

But where do you keep the charts??

The low fuel light comes on after about 100 miles.  I guess I keep track. 
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: stokester on August 24, 2019, 07:24:06 PM
<CUT>
Did some investigating here and found this post.  Contacted Overseas Speedometers in Austin, Texas and got a quote to replace the gears and such.
<CUT>
I'm curious how much they ask to rebuild it.  It's not difficult and they are available with instructions as I posted previously.

The bike runs fine without updating the odometer, you'll just have to keep an eye on the fuel lamp.  On my '93 K75S the trip meter has never worked since I've owned it and when the odometer quit I dismantled the cluster. It was apparent the gears were shot for the odometer but I still could not figure out the failure in the trip meter and without a spare I did not want to take it too far.  I've used an inexpensive bicycle computer to keep track of the tank mileage since I've owned it and have replaced the gears.

Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: Laitch on August 24, 2019, 07:29:17 PM
But where do you keep the charts??
You put them in the maritime version of City Cases—Nauti Cases.

With GPS and its swarm of attending apps, odometers and speedometers are quaint reminders of a simpler time—like Regal Beer cans and prophylactic machines that need change to be operated.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on August 24, 2019, 07:35:16 PM
As long as the low fuel light works you should be okay.  If is comes on as you say at 100 miles, just figure on filling the tank within an hour and you should be good. 

I suspect one of the drive gears for the tripmeter has lost a tooth.  If you are adventurous you can open the case and get at the odometer and make a repair in an evening.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ScooterNSticks on August 24, 2019, 08:38:27 PM
I'm curious how much they ask to rebuild it.  It's not difficult and they are available with instructions as I posted previously.

The bike runs fine without updating the odometer, you'll just have to keep an eye on the fuel lamp.  On my '93 K75S the trip meter has never worked since I've owned it and when the odometer quit I dismantled the cluster. It was apparent the gears were shot for the odometer but I still could not figure out the failure in the trip meter and without a spare I did not want to take it too far.  I've used an inexpensive bicycle computer to keep track of the tank mileage since I've owned it and have replaced the gears.

They want $250 to repair the trip odometer and odometer.  Not sure how long they would have it.  And while they have it apart they'll fix the burned out illumination lights.

My biggest concern is monitoring the fuel.  If the trip odometer fails again I'll have to rely on the fuel light.  And I can use some app on my phone I suppose to track mileage.  Would like to have some rough idea of the total mileage. 
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ScooterNSticks on August 24, 2019, 08:40:09 PM
You put them in the maritime version of City Cases—Nauti Cases.

With GPS and its swarm of attending apps, odometers and speedometers are quaint reminders of a simpler time—like Regal Beer cans and prophylactic machines that need change to be operated.

So far I'm keeping the bike quaint.  No GPS, apps  or other electrical contraptions.  I still need to put three quarters in the ignition before I can ride the bike.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: Laitch on August 24, 2019, 08:45:15 PM
I still need to put three quarters in the ignition before I can ride the bike.
Riding it with protection is good policy.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ScooterNSticks on August 24, 2019, 08:55:57 PM
As long as the low fuel light works you should be okay.  If is comes on as you say at 100 miles, just figure on filling the tank within an hour and you should be good. 

I suspect one of the drive gears for the tripmeter has lost a tooth.  If you are adventurous you can open the case and get at the odometer and make a repair in an evening.

I've looked at the detailed instructions that I could download from the the Odometergears site.  Not sure if they're too complicated for me or if I just would rather pay to have someone else do it.  Still sorting that out. 

Things are different with this K75 than with my Vespa.  Riding through snow and salt for years with the scooter found me washing it once in the spring and the very, very occasional wax job every few years.  I basically maintained a rat scoot.  I've had the K75 for about a month and have washed and waxed it three times already.  It's like it's some high maintenance date.  The damn thing feels like it is aligning with horses and boats as a place to send money and time.  Oh well, I'm smitten.  It's a joy to ride.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ScooterNSticks on August 24, 2019, 08:56:56 PM
Riding it with protection is good policy.

And it's smooth for my pleasure.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: szabgab on August 25, 2019, 03:24:10 AM
I've looked at the detailed instructions that I could download from the the Odometergears site.  Not sure if they're too complicated for me or if I just would rather pay to have someone else do it.  Still sorting that out. 

Things are different with this K75 than with my Vespa.  Riding through snow and salt for years with the scooter found me washing it once in the spring and the very, very occasional wax job every few years.  I basically maintained a rat scoot.  I've had the K75 for about a month and have washed and waxed it three times already.  It's like it's some high maintenance date.  The damn thing feels like it is aligning with horses and boats as a place to send money and time.  Oh well, I'm smitten.  It's a joy to ride.

Oh, the honeymoon period... Usually the first road salt riding period puts stop to the three times a week TLC waxing routine :)

Cluster wise - unless you are ham-fisted, the issue can be tackled on your own. You will have to spend that 250USD on your bike soon enough, so I would tend to do it on my own. You have to be careful with certain things but like everything else on this bike being slow, methodical and attentive let's you do most of the things
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ScooterNSticks on August 25, 2019, 06:55:20 AM
Oh, the honeymoon period... Usually the first road salt riding period puts stop to the three times a week TLC waxing routine :)

Cluster wise - unless you are ham-fisted, the issue can be tackled on your own. You will have to spend that 250USD on your bike soon enough, so I would tend to do it on my own. You have to be careful with certain things but like everything else on this bike being slow, methodical and attentive let's you do most of the things

Looking at the instructions on how to make the repair -- hamfisted seems appropriate.   I can see myself completely whacking things up.  I'm good with a sledge hammer and shovel.  But little gears that require a gentle hand and concentration, oh boy...
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: alabrew on August 25, 2019, 11:49:18 AM
"Not sure how long they would have it.  And while they have it apart they'll fix the burned out illumination lights".

If I remember correctly, Overseas works on BMW's on Thursdays or Fridays?, generally get it back the next week.
I mailed mine in and then went on vacation and it was at home when I returned.
I believe they will git everything working unless you ask that they don't.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ScooterNSticks on August 25, 2019, 03:00:21 PM
"Not sure how long they would have it.  And while they have it apart they'll fix the burned out illumination lights".

If I remember correctly, Overseas works on BMW's on Thursdays or Fridays?, generally get it back the next week.
I mailed mine in and then went on vacation and it was at home when I returned.
I believe they will git everything working unless you ask that they don't.

Thanks for the information.  That sounds reasonable.  Maybe I'll ride for a few more weeks and then send it in.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ruben on September 23, 2019, 09:32:30 AM
Gear free!
fuel guage included.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: RobP on September 23, 2019, 09:51:34 AM
Quote
Any experience of these things having a short hiccup and then function fine for another 40K miles?

My tripmeter and odometer conked out intermittently, then they went back to working fine.   I did not want to take the risk of having them go out on a trip or when it was more inconvenient, so I went ahead and had the cluster rebuilt.
Title: Re: Speedometer works, odometer doesn't...
Post by: ScooterNSticks on September 23, 2019, 12:44:59 PM
Mine died yesterday.  Just pulled off the speedometer and am now searching the house for a box to ship it out for repair.

Going to send it to Rick Borth at Overseas Speedometer in Austin, Texas.  So for a couple weeks I'll be riding my Vespa exclusively.