Speedo repair

twolane

Well-known member
I've got a mechanical speedo that needs a rebuild. I tried swapping the cable and same thing- the needle never goes up.
Has anyone attempted to rebuild a speedo on their own? Tips would be great.
If not, any recommendations for a shop in the area?
 

Tri750

Mr. Knew it All
Knowing what kind of bike is important.
Here's why:

In Brit bikes, you can get them already rebuilt on an exchange basis or send yours in if you want your specific gauge done to preserve the mileage.

On BMW's, Palo Alto speedo is the place plus, they do SOME other brands too.

Kawasaki has Z1 Enterprises where they rebuild them for Z1 and KZ only.

They are repaired normally by a cottage industry that specializes in that brand due the tooling needed to reseal the speedo's once repaired, i.e. crimping a new chrome ring around the face or having the stencil or correct paint to repaint the face.

Throw us a bone here.
 

twolane

Well-known member
Sorry! Didn't realize it was so make specific. It's a speedo off of a 1970 Guzzi Ambassador.
 

Tri750

Mr. Knew it All
If the speedo is a Veglia, Palo Alto Speedo advertises they repair those. Check the tiny print on the face to see. If another brand, post that here and I'll help you find a place.
Repairs are not cheap. Likely 200 plus is my guesstimation based on getting some BMW gauges done.

If it's not in the budget now, get a decent bicycle speedo.
I put one on my Z1 race bike just for kicks and my GPS said it was crazy accurate. Went to the AHRMA races at Big Willow and the memory stored a top speed of 121 on the back straight before the big turn. Gulp. I took it off.
Old bike, skinny tires, old fat rider, ignorance is better sometimes.
 

twolane

Well-known member
Thanks! I'll go get eyes on the gauge and go from there. Thank you for all the help.

Should I need it, care to link me to the bicycle speedo you ended up with?
 

Tri750

Mr. Knew it All
It was a Sigma Sport. Several years ago it was 20 bucks at a real bike shop. It had a wired sensor and a magnet I glued to a rotor bolt. You can get them wireless now for 40 I think.
You punch in your tire specs etc, and calibrate and you're off. For 20 bucks you won't get backlit I don't think but you can see what's out there. They make many models from plain to fancy. You should post a pic of your Goose.
 

auntiebling

megalomaniacal troglodyte
Staff member
You could try Hollywood speedometer too, but +1 to being prepared for sticker shock. It is specialized low-demand work.

I have and an old Honda speedo apart, and it wasn't terribly complicated once inside. If you can take yours apart (hardest part in my experience) it might just need some oil.

Does your odometer.move even though the needle.does not?
 
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twolane

Well-known member
Needle doesn't move at all. It's a bummer.

The only branding I was able to find on it was "Veglia Borletti" From the sounds of things I outta call Hollywood speedo today. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

As for a pic of the goose...

13871435565_5416a1b6eb.jpg
 

auntiebling

megalomaniacal troglodyte
Staff member
Twolane I get that the needle doesn't move, how about the odometer though? They are separate mechanisms and there is no mechanical link from the speedo cable to the needle, only magic (or magnets if you prefer) so sticky old oil and grease can keep it from moving while the odometer keeps counting because there Is a mechanical link there.

If nothing is moving at all then you might need a pro
 
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