General Category => Frame, Tank, Seat, Controls, Etc => Topic started by: Mike Sal on August 11, 2013, 09:41:06 PM
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While taking the Simplex on it's first voyage in 20 years. The speedometer was squealing and jumping around (the needle that is). That's a classic sign of dried out lubricant on the drive bushing. By the looks of it, the unit has been apart before, or someone tried to take it apart. I've been hesitant to mess with it until I had a plan together. I unscrewed the drive cable while I was cruising down the road before it froze up (have had this happen in Studebakers in the past & just as they are trying to freeze up, they will snap off the small drive pin that the needle attaches to).
Anyone have any luck tinkering with these? I'm sure it was made by some speedo company who sold them to anyone & would put any brand name on them. Or, is there any services out there with good reputations on repairing them?
Mike Sal
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Have a photo of it?
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heres mine
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Mine looks just like BMJ's. I think my bracket is a little shorter though. Although I have a powerfull urge to try to take it apart, I'd rather know what I'm doing before messing with. I've torn into studebaker speedo's before (made by stewart warner) so it can't be too much different. The Simplex speedo is so rare, I don't want to take any unnecssary risks.
Mike Sal
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This service is offered through one of the well respected moderators of the CABE, an old bicycle site.
http://thecabe.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?18400-Speedometer-Restoration
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Mike, did you ever do anything with your speedo? I just got one with some parts for the sportsman, but it needs a lot of help.
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Rick ,
Do we have pics of an OEM speedometer ? Face and body ?
Pete . :)
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Rick ,
Do we have pics of an OEM speedometer ? Face and body ?
Pete . :)
Just the one above. If someone has a better photo, lets see it!
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Yes , please . Someone post better pics of an OEM Simplex speedometer face and body .
Rick ,
Would it be beneficial to start a picture 'library' section ?
Good pics of every part of our bikes to be used as reference . Each pic labeled , of course and no posting allowed other than parts pics .
That way anyone can visually identify parts for questions or answers .
Pete . :)
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When I get home (I"m currently in Queretaro Mexico on business) I'll take some close up photos of mine. I never got around to taking it apart, as I wanted to really make sure I knew what I was doing. I took the cable out of the casing for the time being. I would guess a guy could use the guts out of a cheap speedo (like from an old excersize bike) to repair ours, but who knows untill you see the insides.
Mike Sal
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Yes , please . Someone post better pics of an OEM Simplex speedometer face and body .
Rick ,
Would it be beneficial to start a picture 'library' section ?
Good pics of every part of our bikes to be used as reference . Each pic labeled , of course and no posting allowed other than parts pics .
That way anyone can visually identify parts for questions or answers .
Pete . :)
Is this what you want? This one sold recently on Ebay.
Will
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Here's what mine looks like. I've not tried to buff out the bezel or anything yet, as I've still not decided how I want to tinker with it.
Mike Sal
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Thanks Mike. Is the glass flat or is it "bubbled"? I spoke to Wayne about these, and he said they are not hard to work on. The hard part is removing the bezel. They are pressed on and really tight fitting. I used a wood block to tap mine off. The one I have is missing the lens and needle. Wayne has a reproduction face that sticks on available. I will post it when I get it.
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The glass is flat. I just talked to Wayne (he's just back from 2 weeks vacation in Florida) & he said I was the 2nd person to ask about speedo's today.....was that you Rick?
He confirmed that the guts are very similar to a stewart warner, which I've worked on several in the past. Since mine has been apart in the past, it might not be too bad to take down again (or worse....we'll have to see).
Wayne said he had a handfull of speedo's & some odd parts which he's salvaged out of junkers.
Mike Sal
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The glass is flat. I just talked to Wayne (he's just back from 2 weeks vacation in Florida) & he said I was the 2nd person to ask about speedo's today.....was that you Rick?
He confirmed that the guts are very similar to a stewart warner, which I've worked on several in the past. Since mine has been apart in the past, it might not be too bad to take down again (or worse....we'll have to see).
Wayne said he had a handfull of speedo's & some odd parts which he's salvaged out of junkers.
Mike Sal
Yes Mike, that was me! I am mocking up the Sportsman. I have most of the stuff, and just ordered some more from Wayne yesterday. He called me from Florida to let me know he got my message last week and I told him I would call in the order when he got home.
Get anywhere on those tank bars? I may need one soon.
I will start posting pictures of the sportsman soon. It takes a lot more time to put one of these together as I have never seen one and did not get to take this one apart!
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Rick, I'll try to get those done for you.....I've just been so lazy due to the cold weather this year, it's hard to make myself go out to the shop. I need to break down & spend the money on a good heating system for the big shop.
Mike Sal
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Well if you do as I did it's easy and cheep. I found a cadet speedo made by Stewart Warner I think, and sold by Sears. Its 1/4 the cost and you just replace the face to make it look right. This one on eBay # 271391994401 looks good. Just a differnt source for parts.
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I had the chance today to look at an original Simplex speedometer. Stewart Warner made and looks identical to a Stewart Warner bicycle speedo I had. But! I noticed it was heavier than the bicycle speedo. Looking closely at the patina which looked green I could see a light color which looked like brass. After going outside where these old eyes could see better. This appears to brass with old oxidation, the green color. There is no rust on this anywhere except for the steel nut that holds the shaft. A magnet does stick to the housing. Whats up! I thought they were all steel. Could some of these have been made of brass or something else. I wouldn't have thought so, too expensive. Maybe something special I don't know. But it doesn't appear to be plain stamped steel. Any ideas?
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I have never seen a brass speedometer housing. All the ones I have seen are steel. Any chance what you are looking at is cadmium plating? Post a picture so we can have a look see.
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Not to mention, brass is non-magnetic.
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This belongs to a friend of mine. We picked it up from Bob Kerr here in Oklahoma. It sure appears to be brass with old green oxidation. Correct Simplex green logo face. Really nice. I want to clean the green off but I don't dare till I know more about it. The patina is really cool. It's identical to my steel Stewart Warner speedometer. Is the original Simplex speedometers for the sportsman supposed to be the hammered silver paint? Also, does anyone have a picture of the correct cable and drive for a Simplex. Or is it the same as the old style bicycle type. I'll get picture when my wife gets back from her trip with the camera.
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Also this is a lot heavier than the steel speedometer
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The original speedometer that came with my sportsman had a silver hammered finish on it. It was well worn, so I glass beaded it and repainted with rustoleum hammered silver and the match was almost perfect.
I tried goggle-ing Stewart Warner Cadet speedometer and Brass, and did not find anything. Does it look cast or stamped?
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heres mine, all steel
also powder coated mine in a silver vein, looks like new
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Well I was wrong about the one that looks like brass being heavier. I got a set of electronic scales and both speedos tip the scale at 230 grams each. It sure felt heavier. Also noticed the lens is glass instead of plastic. I might try to clean it with mild soap and a rag before I take pictures. Does anyone have a picture of an original drive hub and cable for a sportsman.
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Before and after pics are best . That way we can see how much better or worse you accomplished . ;)
Pete . :)
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Here you go Bob.
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Rick , how does that attach to the hub ? Maybe a J nut and screw ?
Pete . :)
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Just slides on the axle with a spacer. The hub has a rod welded to it that goes in one of the perimeter holes to spin it.
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Hmm , I'da thought they would have attached the rod to the drive plate instead of the hub .
Pete . :)
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Thanks Rick, for the pics. That is about the same as the old style stewart warner bicycle setup. I thought the pin inside the hub would drive it but wasn't sure how it worked. I'll get some pics of the speedo tomorrow and see what everyone thinks. Bob
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Bob, if I had to guess, the only difference on a bicycle and a simplex drive would be the size?
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Well guys. The brass speedometer isn't brass. A little soap and water cleaned the green patina off. Brasso, great for brass right, took the rest of the green and brass off. HA HA. Must have been Arkansas brass out of a spray can. It sure did have a shine. What is left is a red primer with traces of the original hammered silver paint. Thanks for all the comments. I thought I might have found a rareity. Just goes to show what has been done to these beloved little scooters over their lifetime. Its always a learning experience.
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Coupe more pics.
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Bob, now you need to repaint it with the hammered paint. Getting the cover off is a pain in the ass, btw.