I was going to school today and started to feel the bike running out of gas so I hit the reserve. Couple minutes later I see my speedo drop down to 0, then come back up to normal. About a minute after that, it went down to 0, but didnt come back up. I filled it up with gas, switched back to the tank, started her up with fingers crossed...still at 0.

I did a search and someone with an 04 500R said the cable came loose at the back of the speedo and that he was able to look under the top fairing to see it. I havent had a chance to go back and look (hopefully thats what it is), but does anyone else have any suggestions on anything else that might have caused this. I'm pretty sure the fuel thing is only a coincidence and didnt have anything to do with it, butI just wanted to throw it in there to be sure.
-Cody

 

Check your speedo cable mounting points. Sometimes they will come unscrewed (by magic, I think) and only require a simple re-screw back onto the female end. If that's not it, check the worm drive assembly off of the front hub. Sometimes they will break if not lubricated sufficiently (and sometimes regardless of being lubed!) If that's still not it, let us know so we can narrow it down further.

 

Ok, so the problem was the cable became unscrewed at the back of the speedo. I screwed it back on by hand, which is kind of a PITA to do, to have it come off again about 30 miles later. My question is, can I take the speedo/tack/temp assembly out and get to it that way, or will i have to take the fairing off?

Also, when I was screwing the cable back on, the damn thing that holds the cable while turning broke off...how important is that thing???
-Cody

 

oh oh, pfc is also having issues with the speedo/odometer on his 500.

 

Hmmmm... Maybe Kawasaki better address this problem.

 

I was able to take the 3 scews out of the trim panel around the instrument cluster, take off the 2 10mm bolts, and screw it in that way, instead of having to take the fairing off. Going to get some pliers and tighten it tomorrow, if that doesnt keep it from coming off, im sure some loc-tite will do the trick.
-Cody

 

put some blue locktite on that biatch and it shouldnt come off again. dont use red because when the cable breaks internally, you will never get it off.