Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

It had to happen didn't it?

Fix the rough running problem and so the Speedo decided to die on me.

I was ridding along on Sunday when I noticed the needle was jumping around a bit and when I accelerated hard it would take a while to catch up.

Anyone got any ideas what the problem is

These things are electrical right, so presumably it's either the stepper motor inside the dash or the gadget the measures the speed inside the gearbox

If it is the stepper motor, does anyone know if the dash is a sealed unit (ie can I buy a new motor and install it myself)?

Thanx

Lube the cable

*edit* doh, forgot they don't have mechanical spiral cables

I'm not really an expert on this type of thing but I'll have a go. If it's anything like the ZX9R's one the speedo pickup is on the front sprocket cover. One screw holds it in, it should be easy to pull out and check it hasn't been damaged in any way. From there you probably need to trace the wiring to make sure it isn't shorting anywhere and that all the plugs are secure. You'll probably need to do the same from the plug at the back of the instrument console.

Mick C wrote:I'm not really an expert on this type of thing but I'll have a go. If it's anything like the ZX9R's one the speedo pickup is on the front sprocket cover. One screw holds it in, it should be easy to pull out and check it hasn't been damaged in any way. From there you probably need to trace the wiring to make sure it isn't shorting anywhere and that all the plugs are secure. You'll probably need to do the same from the plug at the back of the instrument console.

Ok cheers Mick I'll give that a go. I guess if that doesn't fix it, I'll have to buy a new pickup and try that....next up will be to find a second-hand dash

Yep my zx6r has the pickup on the front sprocket


mario

First thing I'd do is locate the speedo wiring connector, unplug it and spray some WD40/RP7 or similar inside it. It may just be a dodgy connection.
Failing that, I strongly suggest you get your hands on a service manual for your machine and follow the step-by-step instructions to diagnose the problem correctly.
Best of luck
Tony

Sprayed everything in WD40 (even the back tyre...joke), all to no avail. I had a look in my Haynes manual but came up empty.

For a laugh I got a quote for a new dash...$1000! Even second-hand is $500!

Anyway, I did some snooping around on some Kwacky US forums and it's actually a common issue with 6's and 9's for 2000 all the way to 2003

Suggested fixes from their site were to try bending the pins of the connector that goes into the back of the dash out a bit to make a better contact and replacing the sensor ($100). Obviously bikes under warrently should go straight back to the dealer.

Hopefully this info helps anyone over here suffering from this issue, I'll give the pin-bending theory a go and see what happens.

how many km's does your bike have Nova? (just wondering when mine's gunna go? ??? )
and.... if you replace the whole dash, does that change your mileage to the "new" dash???
i just looked in my kwak manual (actual shop book) and it talks of how to test the "speed sensor", but then it just says "replace if needed"... no help there.
geez, tough break!

Yankee wrote:how many km's does your bike have Nova? (just wondering when mine's gunna go? ??? )
and.... if you replace the whole dash, does that change your mileage to the "new" dash???
i just looked in my kwak manual (actual shop book) and it talks of how to test the "speed sensor", but then it just says "replace if needed"... no help there.
geez, tough break!

Mine's heading for 30K, apparently it could happen at any time/age. And yep, if you replace the dash you go back to zero.

If bending the pins fails I might try a new sensor.

What's the condition of your sprocket nut? The square bit on the end in particular 'cause that's what the sensor is picking up on.

how much r the new sensors?

UPDATE:

I thought I'd try fitting a new speed-sensor so I gave PS a call and ordered one ($170). I was told by the friendly parts guy that Kwacky have 'updated' this part, perhaps because the orginals are suspect

Anyway I fitted the new unit today (20 min job) and then went for a quick ride and I'm happy to say that it is now FIXED


Only took me 4 months to get round to fixing this