Speedo or speedo cable problem

[Henk]

My guess is that the cable is shot. One end, probably the bottom will have a collar on it to stop the inner floating in the outr. My guess is that if you grab he other end you will be able to pull half the inner out. The reason they go intermittent for a while is that the ends can bind and the whole thing still sort of work after it has broken, the mechanic working on the bike earlier may have manipulated the cable during the work to bring an already existing problem out of the woodwork but I wouldn't be pointing the finger at them, just bad timing, it was likely either shot already or only likely to last another couple of months at best.

[MSTRS:Me]

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Cable... Yes, there is and it was totally out.

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... I think the cable won't stay in even though I screwed it back in securely.

There is confusion (at least on my part) in what you are saying.

Your bike uses a mechanical cable to operate the speedo. That assembly consists of an inner cable that rotates when the wheel is turned, and an outer sleeve that is secured to the front wheel hub by either a threaded collar or a retaining bolt, and at the back of the speedo prolly using a threaded collar. Yes?
Is the collar coming undone, and the cable (outer sleeve and inner cable) is detaching from the back of the speedo?
Or if you undo it from the speedo and then turn the front wheel, the cable inner doesn't rotate inside the outer sleeve?

[FJRider]

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Happened again this afternoon... I think the cable won't stay in even though I screwed it back in securely.

Some duct tape, maybe?

Find some Loc-tite ... put it on the threads at both ends. (not much is needed)

[Tigadee]

Thanks FJR. The mechanic changed the front forks oil to 15wt as the suspension felt soft, so it's possible that something he did may have jarred the cable loose.

I'll re-attached it and hopefully screwed it back in tighter, so hope this is the last of it... If it comes loose again, I'll do the test you mentioned.

[Tigadee]

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Your bike uses a mechanical cable to operate the speedo. That assembly consists of an inner cable that rotates when the wheel is turned, and an outer sleeve that is secured to the front wheel hub by either a threaded collar or a retaining bolt, and at the back of the speedo prolly using a threaded collar. Yes?

Yes.

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Is the collar coming undone, and the cable (outer sleeve and inner cable) is detaching from the back of the speedo?

Yes.

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Or if you undo it from the speedo and then turn the front wheel, the cable inner doesn't rotate inside the outer sleeve?

Uhhhh, haven't checked or noticed that. But after re-attaching and moving again, the speedo works...

[Tigadee]

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the mechanic working on the bike earlier may have manipulated the cable during the work to bring an already existing problem out of the woodwork but I wouldn't be pointing the finger at them, just bad timing

Indeed. He is a good mechanic and has a high rep, so it is probably as you say. And it is a 20 year old bike, after all...

[MSTRS:Me]

So the threaded collar holding the cable/sleeve to the back of the speedo keeps undoing?

Refit, maybe using a little Loktite on the thread, do it up as tight as you can by hand, and then GENTLY apply a little extra (quarter/half a turn?) using shifting pliers.

[Tigadee]

Done. Thanks, let's see if it holds...