Leaking tacho drive cable

[Tony]

Gents,

long time RE5 owner and very infrequent visitor to this Board, but I'm confusticated....

My tacho cable has started leaking a goodly amount of oil from the join where the cable meets the metal crimp just above the knurled knob that attaches the tacho cable to the drive unit. I can't for the life of me see why this is?

When I run the bike and rev it without the cable attached I can see oil bubbling up from the drive unit. I would assume oil is supposed to get there to lubricate the spinning unit but to get all the way up to the top of the crimp would need a bit of pressure???

I can see no failed o-rings nor seals nor any images of anything that may have failed on parts diagrams.

I haven't removed the drive unit and inspected it though but the tach is working fine.

The only reference I can find to this happening is a comment by Wayne years ago "As for lubing.....oil should creep along the shafts I think....I know that mine will leak oil out of the knurled cap that holds the tacho cable to the drive housing if I don't replace the little seal that's under there every 10,000 klm or so."

"Little seal"?

Any and all assistance appreciated.

cheers

Tony

[timpa136]

I have replacements for the originals $2.75



These are older type solid rubber seals not like the original faucet washer seals which I may also have somewhere.

[wayne]

TONY, member TIMPA has the solution.

I've had this problem a couple of times over the years. There's supposed to be a tiny seal that goes under the knurled end of the tacho cable.

For some reason I had a couple of leaks that occurred close together. The first lasted 16,000 klm from when the bike was new, the 2nd just 7,000 klm and the last one's been in for 24,000 and still not leaking.

[Tony]

Excellent, thankyou.

So where specifically does this seal go?

Searching on-line images (for other Suzukis) tells me between the cable and the drive unit, so under the knurled knob??? but I want to be sure.

My bike has nothing there, never has and has never leaked until now.

cheers

[Tony]

Oops, sorry Wayne, I wrote out the reply earlier today but didn't send it. Just did that now without noticing you had answered my question.

thanks.

[timpa136]

TONY,
When I run the bike and rev it without the cable attached I can see oil bubbling up from the drive unit. I would assume oil is supposed to get there to lubricate the spinning unit but to get all the way up to the top of the crimp would need a bit of pressure???

May I suggest first step is to carefully drain, inspect, includes smell for gasoline and measure the transmission quantity.

The tach. gear drive has spirals to wick the gear oil away.

[Tony]

Yep effectively done that already, did an oil and filter change last week, checked the oil level last night...I'm a bit paranoid about petrol in the fuel and I fitted a positive off fuel tap to the bike long ago.

I'm just surprised that it has never leaked before when it never has had the seal Wayne/you mentioned.

How can I get one of these seals off you?

[wayne]

TIMPA has offered you some at very low cost in the second post in this thread.

Where are you by the way?

[Tony]

Mar 3, 2024 23:52:43 GMT -5 wayne said:

TIMPA has offered you some at very low cost in the second post in this thread.


Where are you by the way? 

Yes I see that, my question about getting one was directed at him, albeit rather badly.



Just across the ditch in New Zealand.

[timpa136]

Tony,
I will look into the price of postage as the most reasonable cost from California. Thanks. Tim

EDIT: Tony will get a quote from USPS tomorrow AM., Thanks.

Tony, please see PM for postage quote.