Mechanical speedometer

[big al]

I recently purchased a vintage look-a-like mechanical speedometer off amazon from bikeworldusa. After I received it I went looking for instructions online and stumbled upon pages of blogs talking about how horrible it is, and how it breaks after a few miles. Has anybody had any experience with these, or have any suggestions. I am debating if I should return it.

[big al]

I forgot to mention its mainly plastic so I don't have alot of faith in it.

[AnthonyX99]

It shouldn't break if it does I'm pretty sure you can return it It will be more accurate because it's always turning with the wheel good luck tell me how it goes I'm thinking of buying one myself.

[big al]

Originally Posted by AnthonyX99

It shouldn't break if it does I'm pretty sure you can return it It will be more accurate because it's always turning with the wheel good luck tell me how it goes I'm thinking of buying one myself.

It shouldnt, but people say it is really not made to go over like 15 mph, and freaks out after that.

[AnthonyX99]

can't those speedometer go to 50mph or was km/h the same would go for some electronic speedometers resetting or just scrambled numbers.

[bairdco]

the biggest problem with those cheap speedos is vibration. they're not designed to hammer down bumpy roads at 30+.

get some rubber washers, or make something to isolate it from shaking around, and it'll work.

the other problem is accuracy. i've seen videos where people claim 40+ speeds, and there's a cow in the background doing 50 (not really, but you can see where i'm going with this.)

calibrate it with a stopwatch, or pace a buddy's car, or else it's just a toy strapped to your handlebars.

[42blue15]

As far as I've heard, the mechanical speedo is junk.

A bunch of places sell them for around $20, and they're all junk, and they're all the same. The internal parts are all-plastic parts (rotating in plastic bushings) and the sending cable is very cheap and will break after only a few dozen miles (the needle will start to jump up and down when the cable is starting to break).

The last good one was the Whizzer speedo, but not what Whizzer sells now.
The GOOD one was the one from a number of years ago, when they were still being made by Stuart-Warner, which is a real instrument company, and made something that worked well and lasted a long time. Back when you could still get a new one, the speedo head cost like $75 alone, and the complete speedo w/sending cable cost like $130 or so.

Whizzer doesn't use these anymore, they sell something now that is $40 complete, so it is definitely not the same. If it's any better than the $20 junker I don't know.
~

[AnthonyX99]

so electronic all the way sigma is a good brand I'm using it on my bike now it's suppose to be able to read up to 300km/h and the one I got was 30 bucks lifetime warranty

[Nashville Kat]

I had one of those as kid- in fact several of my friends, andliked it then. I don't know about at faster speed, but it's a small investment.

I've been wanting to get one to try, but not a priority and I'm a victim of CREDIT COUNSELING!

I've put a 27 inch wheel on the front, and the speedo claims to be for both 26 and 27 inch wheels, which isn't really that possible- the 27 will roll further per revolution.

So I wonder if it's more accurate for one size than another? They seem to be just like the ones of 50 years back- when 27 inch was not around- so I wonder if they just say they work for 27 to selll more of them.

I guess I could have someone check a speed against a car speedo, and then figure in any rate of variance.

heres a link to one:

Speedometers - Dial Speedometer 26"/27" MPH or KMPH | BikeWorldUSA | Bicycle Parts and Bike Accessories

[BrettMavriK]