Annoyed

[Kijona]

This is becoming somewhat of a nuisance for me and I can't think of a way to remedy it.

The little knurled collar that holds the tachometer cable into the drive on the top of the motor on 97 keeps coming out. No matter how much I tighten it, no matter how much I beg it, it keeps loosening up. Today I went to start the bike and I noticed my tachometer wasn't working. I shut the bike off and saw that the cable had actually backed COMPLETELY out. What's really funny is...it did it while the bike was sleeping. Tach was working last time I rode it - so either a gremlin came and loosened it for me or it just decided to back all the way out while it was just sitting.

I thought of using some threadlock but a) I don't know if it's suitable for high temperatures and b) I don't know if that's necessarily a good idea. I had also thought to maybe use some teflon thread tape but I don't know if that's suitable for high temperature either.

[slipperymongoose]

Use a drop of loctite 243

[Kijona]

Use a drop of loctite 243

Hmm...I assume that's the non-permanent stuff.

I guess I could also use something like silicone gasket maker? Didn't think of that...

[slipperymongoose]

Yeah it's non permanent locks anything up to 20mm dia.

[gsJack]

My 97 GS did that too about 13 years ago and the speedo and tach cables would also sometimes come loose on top at guages and fall out.  I started tightening those kind of cables on bikes a notch tighter with pliers after tightening by hand and haven't had one come loose since.  Don't like Locktite on things like that, tight enough does the job.  Those little pliers in the on bike tool kit will do the job nicely.

[The Buddha]

Second the pliers and the important thing is, dont clamp down on the thing mercilessly. It will break. You should get the pliers teeth and the knurling in the collar to "mesh" and use as little clamping force as you can.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Kijona]

My 97 GS did that too about 13 years ago and the speedo and tach cables would also sometimes come loose on top at guages and fall out.  I started tightening those kind of cables on bikes a notch tighter with pliers after tightening by hand and haven't had one come loose since.  Don't like Locktite on things like that, tight enough does the job.  Those little pliers in the on bike tool kit will do the job nicely.

Coincidentally, the last time I tightened it was with the pliers under the seat. I don't know what it is but it doesn't want to stay tight. I tightened it with a pair of channel-locks this time around. I'll see if it stays.

[burning1]

Had the same problem with my clutch cable adjuster, and ended up using the plier trick.

No fun being 5 laps into an 8 lap race without a working clutch.

[Shepa]

My speedo cable used to unscrew every now and then, so I used some teflon tape on the thread, and tightened the bolt with pliers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thread_seal_tape

[slipperymongoose]

Yeah I hate tightening the absolute beJesus outa nuts n bolts, mainly for fear of stripping or snapping, second it's gonna be a Buddha Loves You of a thing usually to get off when it comes time to do that. That's why I said drop of loctite. It's fast n easy, and it works.

[xanthras]

Right or wrong, I used a little teflon tape and it hasn't moved since.

[adidasguy]

There is a rubber gasket in the thingy on the engine head. that seal presses on the cable as you screw it in. if the seal is bad, you would not get the friction of the rubber gasket on the cable screw thingy part and it could work lose. The flat bottom of the cable end (on the right) goes into the recess and presses against the rubber gasket.
Oil is not under pressure in the head so you may never see an oil leak there.

[gsJack]

.............................Oil is not under pressure in the head so you may never see an oil leak there.

Doesn't leak when cable is loose but they do leak after the inner seal on the rotating shaft wears out, the larger static seal for the "thingy" to cylinder head doesn't leak.  Replaced inner seals on both my 97 and 02 GSs after 40-50k miles or so when they started leaking with tight cable.  Been a number of years now since I looked at those parts but I maybe due for a second seal wear out on the 02 with 92K+ miles on it now.

[gsJack]

My 97 GS did that too about 13 years ago and the speedo and tach cables would also sometimes come loose on top at guages and fall out.  I started tightening those kind of cables on bikes a notch tighter with pliers after tightening by hand and haven't had one come loose since.  Don't like Locktite on things like that, tight enough does the job.  Those little pliers in the on bike tool kit will do the job nicely.

Coincidentally, the last time I tightened it was with the pliers under the seat. I don't know what it is but it doesn't want to stay tight. I tightened it with a pair of channel-locks this time around. I'll see if it stays.

Mmmmmmm, forgot most important thing, correction:

Doesn't loosen when tightened with those little pliers in the on bike tool kit and my torque wrench hands.   

[filterbing]

I know this might be a dead thread but I broke the tach cable knurled cap and need to know what part to order. I can't find the cap itself for sale, does it come with the cable?

[bombsquad83]

I believe that is all part of the cable.

Just checked, definitely part of the cable.  The whole tach cable is $16.00 at Partzilla.com.  Not terrible.  You might want to check the condition of the parts on the head that the cable connects to as well.  There are a couple of seals that are simple to replace if needed that could be ordered at the same time.  They are parts 18 and 19 on the CYLINDER HEAD diagram.  Might want to check the sleeve (part 17) as well to make sure it's not damaged if you broke the knurled part of the tach cable.

[bmf]

HEY!!!

you are not allowed to call it Teflon TAPE any more!!!

http://www2.dupont.com/Teflon_Industrial/en_US/teflon_tape.html

[Slack]

HEY!!!

you are not allowed to call it Teflon TAPE any more!!!

http://www2.dupont.com/Teflon_Industrial/en_US/teflon_tape.html

Can't wait to use that one on my boss!!