RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

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beady
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:33 pm
Location: Portsmouth, VA

RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#1 Post by beady » Sun Jun 05, 2016 10:41 pm

As the title states, bike sat for 10 years. I’m currently resurrecting her, but the tach and speedo don’t work. I think the cables are fine (seem to remember replacing the tach cable just before I quit riding her), so what is there that could go wrong on the cluster?

Thanks,

Mike
1984 RZ350(two)
1973 RD350 w/ RD400 rims,forks,swingarm
197? R5 in pieces
197? RD60
1991 KLR250
1963 Austin Healey BJ7
1991 300ZX
1999 E36 M3 ‘vert, 5-spd, 56K miles
2002 XJR stock DD
Image

waltmil
Posts: 491
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 9:23 pm
Location: Panacea, FL USA

Re: RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#2 Post by waltmil » Mon Jun 06, 2016 4:43 am

Spiders? The US spec bikes use mechanical tach and speedo. I was having trouble with mine and was looking for a replacement but when I took it apart it was just all busted up inside. Used Bondic, JB Weld and some patience and have it working. If yours isn't broken and, depending on where it was stored, you might have bugs.
Red/White US '84, Spec II pipes, Y-boot w/K&N, Fox Shock, Mikuni carbs?

beady
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:33 pm
Location: Portsmouth, VA

Re: RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#3 Post by beady » Mon Jun 06, 2016 12:03 pm

Guess I'll have to pull the gauges and take a look, thanks.
1984 RZ350(two)
1973 RD350 w/ RD400 rims,forks,swingarm
197? R5 in pieces
197? RD60
1991 KLR250
1963 Austin Healey BJ7
1991 300ZX
1999 E36 M3 ‘vert, 5-spd, 56K miles
2002 XJR stock DD
Image

evan_calgary
Posts: 1368
Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2013 2:34 am

Re: RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#4 Post by evan_calgary » Mon Jun 06, 2016 9:26 pm

Usually pretty robust. Let us know what your problem was. Sure it will help someone in the future!

RuZty
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Posts: 3584
Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:11 pm
Location: Southern Ontario, Canada

Re: RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#5 Post by RuZty » Tue Jun 07, 2016 8:00 am

Mine didn't sieze, but was making a nasty howling sound that I could hear over the engine. I pulled the cable and stuck the tube from a can of cable lube up the hole and gave it a good shot and the noise went away. Maybe doing that and letting it sit for a while will free yours up. Also check the drive tangs in the front wheel for the speedo, they can bend out of engagement with the speedo gear.

Forzfed
Posts: 205
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2014 10:38 pm
Location: Winterpeg, Canada

Re: RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#6 Post by Forzfed » Wed Jun 08, 2016 3:56 pm

RuZty wrote:Mine didn't sieze, but was making a nasty howling sound that I could hear over the engine. I pulled the cable and stuck the tube from a can of cable lube up the hole and gave it a good shot and the noise went away. Maybe doing that and letting it sit for a while will free yours up. Also check the drive tangs in the front wheel for the speedo, they can bend out of engagement with the speedo gear.
Excellent advice! :smt023
90 RZ Race Bike
86 RZ daily driver
85 RZ low milage

garcenw
Posts: 80
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2015 12:44 am

Re: RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#7 Post by garcenw » Thu Jun 09, 2016 5:19 pm

If the cables seized in the long storage and were highly oxidized, they may have broken when you ran the bike. Disconnect both ends of each cable and make sure when you spin one end you get the corresponding movement at the other end.

beady
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:33 pm
Location: Portsmouth, VA

Re: RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#8 Post by beady » Fri Jun 10, 2016 10:44 pm

Well, both the tach and speedo started working after riding a few miles. Not sure if it was a common electrical issue of some kind or not.
1984 RZ350(two)
1973 RD350 w/ RD400 rims,forks,swingarm
197? R5 in pieces
197? RD60
1991 KLR250
1963 Austin Healey BJ7
1991 300ZX
1999 E36 M3 ‘vert, 5-spd, 56K miles
2002 XJR stock DD
Image

RuZty
-----
-----
Posts: 3584
Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:11 pm
Location: Southern Ontario, Canada

Re: RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#9 Post by RuZty » Sat Jun 11, 2016 5:40 am

Was the battery dead or low to start with?

beady
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:33 pm
Location: Portsmouth, VA

Re: RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#10 Post by beady » Sat Jun 11, 2016 11:56 am

RuZty wrote:Was the battery dead or low to start with?
Don’t think so. I used a new sealed home alarm battery, but after I bought it I charged it and my Ctek charger showed it was charged.
1984 RZ350(two)
1973 RD350 w/ RD400 rims,forks,swingarm
197? R5 in pieces
197? RD60
1991 KLR250
1963 Austin Healey BJ7
1991 300ZX
1999 E36 M3 ‘vert, 5-spd, 56K miles
2002 XJR stock DD
Image

RuZty
-----
-----
Posts: 3584
Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:11 pm
Location: Southern Ontario, Canada

Re: RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#11 Post by RuZty » Sat Jun 11, 2016 9:47 pm

With a dead battery they will start and run but the tach does funky stuff on the electronic ones, doesn't explain the speedo though. Might not be a bad idea to lube the speedo (and tach if it's mechanical) while they still work.

Hooligan
Posts: 1966
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 1:37 am
Location: Calgary, Alberta

Re: RZ sat for 10 years, speedo and tach don’t work now.

#12 Post by Hooligan » Tue Jun 14, 2016 1:48 am

Replacment speedo cables are cheap and easy to source. Just get another one.
'82 RD350LC in '81 colours, OEM pipes, UNI filters
'85 FZ750

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