Is my speedo cable broken?

[rustyrobot]

I went for a ride last week and stopped in somewhere to have a coffee. When I got back on my bike I headed off down the road and noticed that my speedo, odometer and trip meter were no longer working. It actually made for one of my best ever rides as my speed was no longer monitored by numbers but by feel, and I felt much more in-sync with the bike. I do however worry about getting ticketed for excessive speeds, and I'd also like my trip meter back so I know how much fuel I have left.

I have taken the cable off at both ends to look at it and I cant see anything wrong. At one end there is a little rectangle (like a flat-head screwdriver) that comes out of the wheel attachment and goes into the cable, which seems okay. At the top end there is a threaded cable with a squarish tip that disappears up inside the workings of the speedometer. This also seems to be in okay shape.

Is there any easy way to tell if the cable is perhaps broken in the middle or if the fault lies within the speedo gear on the wheel, or the meter itself (doubtful)? I don't want to buy a new cable for no reason.

Until then I'll just pull in behind grandma or grandpa and match their speed.

[nodrog:Me]

I might be mistaken, but wouldnt the easiest way be - take both ends off and turn one end to see if the other end turns too, and if it doesnt turn its broken?

Fanny

[onearmedbandit]

Twist one end of the cable and see if the other end turns, or quite possibly pull either end of the cable and see if it pulls out.

[rustyrobot]

I might be mistaken, but wouldnt the easiest way be - take both ends off and turn one end to see if the other end turns too, and if it doesnt turn its broken?

I actually have a high IQ. No, really. Which just goes to show what that's worth!
Thanks for stating the obvious, because I'd obviously TOTALLY missed it.

[Taz]

Do both tests (twisting and pulling) as twisting the broken cable may still turn both ends. Also spin the wheel and see if speedo drive is turning.

[marty]

If it's broken, taking one end off and pulling it with a pair of pliers will pull the damaged end out.

[j_redley]

If the cable isn't broken and your speedo still doesn't work, it could be that the drive part has worn down and is turning, but not turning the part where it plugs into the speedo...

[MSTRS:Me]

If the cable isn't broken and your speedo still doesn't work, it could be that the drive part has worn down and is turning, but not turning the part where it plugs into the speedo...

The drive part...that little nylon worm-drive gear in the front hub. Quite rare for them to shit themselves. My money is on the cable being broken.
PS - A sign that a cable is about to break is the speedo needle won't hold steady, but wavers about.

[rustyrobot]

PS - A sign that a cable is about to break is the speedo needle won't hold steady, but wavers about.

You know, it WAS doing that, but I didn't think anything of it. Turns out the speedo cable was f**ked somehow on the inside, not broken apart, but according to the guy at the speedo shop - unrepairable. Boyd's hunted around and got me an aftermarket replacement for $30, satan bless their firey souls... saving me $80plus airfreight getting the real deal from Japan.

Fantastic to be able to know what speed I'm going once again. Especially since I now realise I've been doddling around town at 45 or less.