speedo and rpm

[Rzrjunky]

I just got my new to me 89 fj1200. a couple of days ago. It came with (i hope)  is a small problem. The speedo and tach start working after im doing better than 40mph. It doesnt always work ive been told. Help. Where do i start? Cluster is what im thinking.

[FJmonkey]

I have a speedo, tach and fuel gauge that work some of the time at start up and eventually work sometime during my ride. The speedo issue is not related to the tach issue. The speedo is purely mechanical and runs only off the cable coming from the front wheel. Working some of the time is better than the strangled cat howl... Tach issues are generally caused by poor electrical connections as it runs on signal. One day it will bother me enough to fix the speedo. The tack is less important as having this bike this long, I better know the feel of the RPM range by now...

[Firehawk068]

Mine had the same issue with the tach............after removing the clear lense to try and diagnose the problem, I found that the tach needle was actually "sticking" to the rest-pin after the bike sat overnight, or longer.
Not quite sure what caused the rest-pin, or needle to become sticky, but I used a piece of paper towel, dampened with some rubbing alcohol, to clean the "stickyness" off of them, and it fixed the issue.
Be careful if you do this, cause you could ruin the gauge face if you accidentally wipe it with rubbing alcohol......

[bigbore2]

Hows about a cotton swab with alcohol. Tools are a mans best friend.

[FJmonkey]

Careful with the application of alcohol to the face of the gauges, my speedo is now shiny (like reflective) while the others have a matt (not reflective) face. Who would have known.....

Better to apply alcohol where it does the most good....

[moonrunnah]

i will be selling my cluster soon because im putting an acewell on my bike
the fuel gauge is jumpy but if anyone wants it let me know