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Message started by SavageGreaseMonkey13 on 06/29/08 at 16:08:35

Title: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by SavageGreaseMonkey13 on 06/29/08 at 16:08:35

Well after being severely annoyed by my speedo rattle today while riding I decided to fix it.(It was so loud I couldnt hear my exhaust almost). Instead of trying the methods on here first I decided to just take it apart and look at it. After studying the speedo and tank I found that the spring tension on the mounting bolts didnt have an affect on the rattle. It was the  metal part that went through the mounting tabs on the tank. They had little wear marks from rubbing metal to metal. So i thought i would experiment to fix it. I wrapped a little bit of electrical tape around the stud part where it went through the mounting tab to take up the slack. When i went to mount the speedo it felt tighter in the mounting tabs. After i got it all back together i took it for a test ride and walla! It worked! No more rattle! Now im not sure how long the tape will last but if it will last a season of riding i will be more than pleased. It was cheap and free for me since i had some tape in my toolbox so i think it will be worth it. Good luck to anyone that tries this and let me know how it goes or if you need help just ask. Oh yeah sorry for no pics but i figure if you look through some old post you can find some. :)

Mario

Title: Re: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by Digger on 06/29/08 at 19:07:09

Mario,

Thanks for posting this.  I tried this very same fix a while back and it kept the rattle away for over two years.

However, now the rattle is back.  I may just do the same fix again, as it works for a good while.

Title: Re: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by Oldfeller on 06/30/08 at 04:43:12

Springs & legs, how to quiet them down -- what a quandry.  Springs and legs are like a sing and dance duo, working out on a stage (the tabs) to entertain you with their song.

The list as a whole has fought that speedo noise war since the beginning - Savage Rob and the list originals tried RTV silicone worked all through the turns of the spring so when it set up it was a solid mass.    They glued the sing and dance duet together under a mountain of glop that froze them to the stage.  It worked.  

You guys are electrical taping the fret points, and it works.  In essence you just put a rubber mat down on the stage so their feet won't squeak as they continue to dance, plus you mighta put some bumpers on the steel leg dancers themselves depending on where you put the tape.  Problem is it may not last as they might move right off the rubber mat and start to squeaking again.  Or the tape could dry up, harden & curl up on you, moving the mat out of the way of their feet.  Or they could wear right through the tape as the miles rack up and they go back to singing.

So many ways to get springs and them looonnnngg vibrating steel mounting legs to quit singing together in harmony.

Me, I figured you had to permanently break up the duet by removing one of the vocal singers and replacing them with a deaf mute.  Then I glued everybody together and bound their feet down to the stage permanently like the original RTV guys did,  just because them steel legs could still find the insides of the tab (maybe) as the tab edge is sharp and can cut through most forms of rubber/tape/RTV given enough time.    

No sin no foul on my repair as the lead steel leg singer is still body wrapped and glued completely up inside that deaf mute groupie whose big butt is still firmly glued to the stage.  She ain't letting him make a peep no matter if he does decide to sing, and he's happy just sitting there not moving sideways any all - he's fully engaged in place so to speak.  He may vibrate up and down some, but she's a true deaf mute and can't show her appreciation for his energetic vertical jiggling in any audible fashion.  


=================   ahem   ==============


Seriously now, them sharp inside edges on the tabs are your biggest threats to permanence on your tape job.

Permanence -- only doing the repair once counts for something as it is a bit of a pain to drain the gas tank to work on the speedo.


Title: Re: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by SavageGreaseMonkey13 on 06/30/08 at 15:44:30

i thought about other ways to fix this today as i knew the tape would only be temporary but hopefully not. if you could find some rubber hose thin enough to go over the speedo mounts and fit in the tabs that would work. or finding some plastic gromets to put in the tabs also would work. anyway i just have to say what a dumb design on suzuki's half. being an auto mechanic i run into these kind of things alot. but i guess thats what keeps me employed.

Title: Re: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by Savage_Rob on 07/01/08 at 07:02:29

You might want to take a loot at the existing thread on this topic (http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1179104436) in the Tech Ref forum.

Title: Re: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/01/08 at 08:00:03

And I spent ALL that time cutting the thin self adhesive foam to fit the speedo body & isolate it from the tank. OWELL, It worked.

Title: Re: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by SavageGreaseMonkey13 on 07/01/08 at 15:44:49


0B392E393F3D070A373A580 wrote:
You might want to take a loot at the existing thread on this topic (http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1179104436) in the Tech Ref forum.



ive read that thread but i didnt like the idea of putting silicone everywhere. and tape was the only thing i had laying around that seemed useful. yeah im cheap i know. its worked great so far and was easy to do so i wont mind doing it again if it wears out. taking the tank off is easy plus it gives me time to check things over.

Title: Re: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by buttgoat1 on 07/01/08 at 15:57:47

I cut a small piece of innertube, folded it over the tab, and cut a small slit to force the leg through.  Took 3 hands, but isnt that normal?

Title: Re: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by willrph on 07/01/08 at 18:01:26

Does anyone think the heat shrunk wire insulation would work?  I have used it on some electrical wiring and it seems pretty tough.

Title: Re: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by Jay on 07/02/08 at 02:06:26

I used the innertube method as well. Just wrapped a cut section around the housing in the tank, and refit the speedo in the mount. No more buzzing. Easy, cheap, permanant (but can remove it if i ever need/want to), and you wouldn't know it was there if you were'nt looking for it. It did take four hands to do though. (thanks honey)
Ride safe,
Jay

Title: Re: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by SavageGreaseMonkey13 on 07/02/08 at 16:16:25


2F3134342A2830580 wrote:
Does anyone think the heat shrunk wire insulation would work?  I have used it on some electrical wiring and it seems pretty tough.


I think that would definitely work and be alot better than tape actually. thanks for the idea. Ill have to try it if or when my tape wears through.

Title: Re: Cheap and easy speedo rattle fix
Post by BULLIT on 07/03/08 at 10:58:05


0133243335370D003D30520 wrote:
You might want to take a loot at the existing thread on this topic (http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1179104436) in the Tech Ref forum.



I did the topic.  and it worked great .. I worked slow taking it apart and  completing the task. so about an hour, then after letting it sit.

took me maybe 30 minutes to put everything back

vibration is gone...  and all about 15 bucks for hoses 1ft each size and silicone.

hooah I love to ride it again !!  no vibration !!! :-X

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