Odometer and trip meter not working

[pingding]

i have a 87 honda vt250 , just woundering if any one knows of common faults that would cause the odometer to not work or if it has just been disconnected.

ive checked the fuses

cheers

[xwhatsit]

A bike of that vintage will almost certainly have a mechanical cable to make it go, so fuses won't help you there.

I'd say there's probably a cable going from the front wheel (or possibly the gearbox, but most likely the front wheel) to the underside of the odometer unit. When the wheel (or gearbox, if it comes from the gearbox) turns, the cable turns too. Unscrew the cable at the odometer end, and check if the little square needle-like thing is turning when you turn the front wheel (or gearbox -- run bike in first gear on the centre stand if you have one, otherwise you'll have to ride it and watch the cable too).

If the cable isn't turning, then 10c says the cable is broken. $40 or so, make sure you lube it first.

[McJim]

I had a 2003 VTR250 and the odo cable went from the front hub to the unit. Sensible place really - accurate so long as you put the correct size tyre on it. Doesn't get muffed by change of sprockets.

So the cable is a rotating cable - undo the thread at the speedo end and at the hub and check each end turns when you manually turn the other end.

It may have collected water and rusted through at some stage. $40 should get you a replacement from somewhere.