My Speedo doesn't work!

[placidfemme]

I've been having a problem with my bike for the last one and a half months where, after going on a ride (even a short ride from home to work, which is only 12 minutes) that I have smoke coming from the front wheel area somewhere...

I tried looking for the origin of the smoke, and couldn't find anything. I asked a few questions on here I think and a few questions on a Kawasaki Forum, and was told to check the brakes... And the Brake Fluid... I couldn't see any problems so I took my bike into the bike shop (Red Baron) and the mechanic took my bike for a ride, he tried aggresive braking and the such, and he could not replicate the smoke, therefore couldn't fix the problem...

He said my brakes where fine and still had lots of life left in them... And that night when I got home I noticed my bike was smoking again... I've kept an eye on the brake fluid level (just under full).

The only problem I could see was a crack/tear in a cable running down to my front wheel. When I asked the mechanic about this crack he said it was the speedo cable and that it wasn't a problem if my speedo is working... which it was...

Yesterday morning I rode to work, and everything worked fine... I even got my usual dose of white smoke from the front end somewhere... Then I left work last night... and only noticed as I was heading onto the motorway... that I was travelling at 0kph

I was shitting myself all the way home... I'm on my learners and I couldn't tell how fast/slow I was going. Got home had a look at my front end with a torch... still just a crack on the speedo cable... nothing else noticeable...

This morning on my way to work (Following my partner so I could kept to a set speed) the Speedo still wasn't working...

This pisses me off so much. Now I need to take my bike in to get fixed, who knows how much that will cost me... when it possibly could have been avoided over a month ago... this is possible also what has caused the smoking...

Anyway I'll add in here to this thread whats wrong with my bike when I get back from the bike shop (Taking it in at 9am)

*mubbles and swears under my breathe*

[Sniper]

When you take it in, tell the mechanic you want him to repair it at discounted cost as he said there would be no problem

[Lou Girardin]

Where is the smoke coming from?
Disconnect the speedo cable from the wheel, see if the smoke stops. Alternatively, when it starts smoking, lever the front wheel off the ground and see if the front wheel spins freely.
I'd get this fixed as a priority, you don't want the front to lock up on you.

[NhuanH]

there's a famous scene from a popular movie c.1977, name slips my brain at the moment:
".....forget your instruments Tammy: use the force!"

Maybe your white smoke from the front is a product of you doing a 12 minute rolling stoppie to and from work!?!?!

[placidfemme]

Thanks for all your advice. Unfortunatly I don't really know a hell of a lot about the mechanics side of biking. I was looking forward to the Spanner Night so I could learn as much as possible... but unfortunatly it was cancelled.

Sniper: I will mention it to the mechanic what he said previously

Lou: I'm not sure where the smoke is coming from to be exact, I can see the smoke only when it's dark, then I can see it coming up from the front, I've looked with a torch but couldn't locate the actual area when it's coming from.

At first I suspected that the brakes were binding because it often felt like the bike was dragging... The mechanic said that wasn't the problem, the brakes were fine... Then one day I was sitting on the curb outside work having a smoke wait for the security guard to wake up and open the gate... I was staring at my bike (as you do lol) and saw a drop of liquid drip onto the ground (on a dry day... no rain). the drop came from where the brake joins the wheel, right next to where the speedo cable hooks into the wheel.

I figured maybe the liquid was brake fluid somehow getting onto the brake pads/discs and causing smoke... but I've been keeping an eye on my fluid levels and it's not decreasing at a rapid rate...

NhuanH: *uses the force* zwwwwooooooozzzzzzzzzzhhhhhhhh

lol

I just spoke to the Mechanic, I'm taking the bike in as soon as my boss shows up... I told him that I had mentioned the problem before and he said "it's just general wear and tear".

[Motu]

Sounds like it might have a leaking caliper....the boot is holding the fluid in until it releases,then it will build up again.One problem here is that brake fluid is water soluble,so a ride in the rain,or a wash by the owner will remove all traces,until it builds up enough to show again.Different riding habits - you brake light,the mechanic brakes hard to force a problem,possibly temporarily fixing a sticky caliper piston.The speedo cable is a separate issue from the brakes,even though they are in the same area - sounds like the outer sheath is cracked,just happens with age and can stay like that for years...until the cable breaks....not usualy life threatening.

[placidfemme]

Sounds like it might have a leaking caliper....the boot is holding the fluid in until it releases,then it will build up again.One problem here is that brake fluid is water soluble,so a ride in the rain,or a wash by the owner will remove all traces,until it builds up enough to show again.Different riding habits - you brake light,the mechanic brakes hard to force a problem,possibly temporarily fixing a sticky caliper piston.The speedo cable is a separate issue from the brakes,even though they are in the same area - sounds like the outer sheath is cracked,just happens with age and can stay like that for years...until the cable breaks....not usualy life threatening.

Well I just got back from Red Baron. The problem with my speedo was that the cable had snapped, which is good because it was a quick cheap process getting it replaced (Only 15 minutes and $10).

I spoke to him again about the smoking problem... And still no luck, he had another look around the brake/caliper area and checked my brake fluid levels and said everything is fine... he gave me the following possible explanations:

1. I'm braking too much using the front brake, thus overheating the brakes causing steam (Despite that I've told him it's not steam, it's smoke... it's white and it smells like burning stuff...)
2. Liquid off the road (Water... oil...??) is flicked/flung from the road onto my exhaust (behind the front wheel theres 4 tubes going towards my pipe) and the heat of the pipes cause's either smoke/steam and that might be what I'm seeing.

Now the problem with both those scenarios is:

1. As far as I'm concerned you only brake too much when you lock the brakes... I've never locked my front brake. Also he has told me this before when I asked him last time, so I adjusted my braking technique and for 2 weeks used 80% back brake and about 20% front brake... it still smoked...

2. Liquid off the road doesn't make sense to me... this happens in dry and wet weather. And when it's dry what are the chances of having liquid splashed onto the pipe EVERY time I ride... that makes no sense...

So all in all I'm happy that my speedo is in working order again But a little disapointed that the smoking issue is still an issue...

Motu: I'm not sure how to check if I have a leaking caliper... All I know is what I've written above and in this thread... I'm not the brightest crayon in the box when it comes to mechanical stuff... I usually just do the woman thing and nod and say "uh huh ok yes yep" lol and then try to figure it out based on what people have advised me.

Thank for all the help...

[FlyingDutchMan]

For the speedo cable - you just need to know how the revs equate to speed. On my bike in 4th @ 6000rpm ~ 50km/h. In 6th @ 9,000rpm ~105. I don't imagine it'll be that far out from that on yours. My speedo hasn't worked for about 4,500km (guesstimate obviously). I replaced the out & inner speedo cable, then the hub promptly broke 48.5km later.

[MSTRS:Me]

But a little disapointed that the smoking issue is still an issue...

If all works as it should & mechanic says there is no problem, then just monitor your fluid level over an extended period. There should be no discernable loss. Oh....and don't try to take your bike into a pub or restaurant. No smoking laws you know.

[placidfemme]

For the speedo cable - you just need to know how the revs equate to speed. On my bike in 4th @ 6000rpm ~ 50km/h. In 6th @ 9,000rpm ~105. I don't imagine it'll be that far out from that on yours. My speedo hasn't worked for about 4,500km (guesstimate obviously). I replaced the out & inner speedo cable, then the hub promptly broke 48.5km later.

Yeah it's all good now... Only had to ride home without a speedo, back to work again and then to Red Baron...

[placidfemme]

If all works as it should & mechanic says there is no problem, then just monitor your fluid level over an extended period. There should be no discernable loss. Oh....and don't try to take your bike into a pub or restaurant. No smoking laws you know.

*sulks*

*forgets about taking my bike on that special date I had planned*

*gets on my chromed vespa and scoots off* lol

[vifferman]

I'm not the brightest crayon in the box when it comes to mechanical stuff...

Despite you saying that, the observations you made in your post are astute and show that (a)you approached the problem logically, and (b) you are aware of what's going on with your bike. Noting unusual sounds, feels and smells, etc. with your bike is an important part of riding it. The points you made about the source of the smoke show that you're not stupid either, just naiive when it comes to mechanical issues. That's inexperience and lack of knowledge, not necessarily mechanical idiocy.

The drop of fluid you saw may point to a very slight leak in the brake system, and merit further close inspection for possible leaks. For what it's worth, brake fluid produces very white smoke when heated, much denser than steam.

It's a bit suspicious though that the speedo cable failure and the appearance of this smoke coincide - it's not unlikely that friction from lack of lubrication of the cable produced the smoke and the failure.

[placidfemme]

Despite you saying that, the observations you made in your post are astute and show that (a)you approached the problem logically, and (b) you are aware of what's going on with your bike. Noting unusual sounds, feels and smells, etc. with your bike is an important part of riding it. The points you made about the source of the smoke show that you're not stupid either, just naiive when it comes to mechanical issues. That's inexperience and lack of knowledge, not necessarily mechanical idiocy.

The drop of fluid you saw may point to a very slight leak in the brake system, and merit further close inspection for possible leaks. For what it's worth, brake fluid produces very white smoke when heated, much denser than steam.

It's a bit suspicious though that the speedo cable failure and the appearance of this smoke coincide - it's not unlikely that friction from lack of lubrication of the cable produced the smoke and the failure.

Thank you for your comments I'm hoping the problem is related to the speedo cable issue, the next few days will be a good indication. If the smoking stops then we can assume it is because as you say lack of lubrication on the cable.

The mechanic showed me the broken cable, where it snapped was right up near the handlebars (or near where it connects to the speedo), and the crack that I mentioned above, was lower down towards the wheel (about 1cm from where the cable connects to the wheel). I will continue to keep an eye on my brake fluid levels and also keep an eye open for the smoke. If it continues I will post again

thanks again

[Lou Girardin]

Next time it smokes, stop and push the bike. Note if it takes more effort than usual.

[placidfemme]

I only notice the smoke when I stop anyway, while I'm riding I can't see or smell the smoke... just once I've reached my destination or sometimes when I stop at traffic lights