WGM
The Get More Guy
Greetings Riders!
Well today (after much procrastination) I changed the speed sensor.
The speedo had been spasmodic and could not make up it's mind if it was going to work or not. After searching this forum, I found that the speed sensor was the culprit.
So checked the service manual - it looked really simple. My concern was whether there was oil going to come rushing out when I pulled out the sensor as it is at the back of the engine. It said nothing about it in the manual so it should be cool.
Went out to the bike with my new sensor and a sense of excitement. The first problem was the diagram in the manual was on an engineblock that was not mounted in a bike. The reality is a little different!!! It was a little tricky to get to the bolts that held it on and I also had to take off a big chunk of the tupperware - ah well - thats how it goes.
So finally got to the bolts and went to pull out the sensor and oil started coming out. Bugger!! Lucky it was on the side stand so it was a little elevated (as the hole the sensor goes in is on the right side of the engine). Using some of the sleight of hand skills developed as a con man in the late eighties, I swiftly pulled the old one out and the new one in with minimal oil leakage. Then I noticed the rubber seal on the old one that had to be put on the new one.
Arrrgh!!
So another sleight of hand trick and a bit more oil on the now protected garage floor and it was in. Access to tighten the bolts was again "interesting" to say the least. Everything was all tightened. Stood the bike on the centre stand and added a bit of oil to account for that which had leaked out. Quick bit of plastic surgery to put the plastics back on and she was ready to go.
I don't know about you but whenever I do something on the bike and get ready to test it, i have this little thought "what happens if it doesn't work". To which the answer is usually "take it to the Honda dealer!"
This thought was going through my head as I rolled the bike out of the garage. I gave it a little surge forward and the speedo needle didn't work. Not feeling too good!!!
Backed completely out on the road, then with a "here we go" gave it a big burst of throttle. The speedo kicked into life and all was good. A nice long "Yehaaaa" from me and a quick thanks to the Honda Gods and all is well.
So much so that later tonight I went for a quick hour long ride on the freeway just to check it was good. And it is!!
In summary, it is a pretty easy change but do expect some oil spill and you will have to take the right plastics off to do it.
For photo's refer to the service manual as the motorbike gets in the road of taking any accurate photos!!
And as an FYI on how far the bike has travelled for the sensor to die, it is a 2002 ST1300 and it has done about 41,000 km (I think thats 25,000 miles)
Enjoy!
WGM
Well today (after much procrastination) I changed the speed sensor.
The speedo had been spasmodic and could not make up it's mind if it was going to work or not. After searching this forum, I found that the speed sensor was the culprit.
So checked the service manual - it looked really simple. My concern was whether there was oil going to come rushing out when I pulled out the sensor as it is at the back of the engine. It said nothing about it in the manual so it should be cool.
Went out to the bike with my new sensor and a sense of excitement. The first problem was the diagram in the manual was on an engineblock that was not mounted in a bike. The reality is a little different!!! It was a little tricky to get to the bolts that held it on and I also had to take off a big chunk of the tupperware - ah well - thats how it goes.
So finally got to the bolts and went to pull out the sensor and oil started coming out. Bugger!! Lucky it was on the side stand so it was a little elevated (as the hole the sensor goes in is on the right side of the engine). Using some of the sleight of hand skills developed as a con man in the late eighties, I swiftly pulled the old one out and the new one in with minimal oil leakage. Then I noticed the rubber seal on the old one that had to be put on the new one.
Arrrgh!!
So another sleight of hand trick and a bit more oil on the now protected garage floor and it was in. Access to tighten the bolts was again "interesting" to say the least. Everything was all tightened. Stood the bike on the centre stand and added a bit of oil to account for that which had leaked out. Quick bit of plastic surgery to put the plastics back on and she was ready to go.
I don't know about you but whenever I do something on the bike and get ready to test it, i have this little thought "what happens if it doesn't work". To which the answer is usually "take it to the Honda dealer!"
This thought was going through my head as I rolled the bike out of the garage. I gave it a little surge forward and the speedo needle didn't work. Not feeling too good!!!
Backed completely out on the road, then with a "here we go" gave it a big burst of throttle. The speedo kicked into life and all was good. A nice long "Yehaaaa" from me and a quick thanks to the Honda Gods and all is well.
So much so that later tonight I went for a quick hour long ride on the freeway just to check it was good. And it is!!
In summary, it is a pretty easy change but do expect some oil spill and you will have to take the right plastics off to do it.
For photo's refer to the service manual as the motorbike gets in the road of taking any accurate photos!!
And as an FYI on how far the bike has travelled for the sensor to die, it is a 2002 ST1300 and it has done about 41,000 km (I think thats 25,000 miles)
Enjoy!
WGM