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I just got an 1982 Suzuki 1100 and the speedometer and tach do not work.This is my first bike and i know nothing about them.Any help would be great.

are there any backlights in there?
are they coming on?
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current state of us economy recession

yes the back lights are comming on

Are the drive cables present and working? Each gauge will have a cable running from the the housing to either a wheel or the engine. Inside the cable is a rotating inner wound wire that is driven by the wheel/engine and provides input for the gauge to display. If they ain't turning, the gauge ain't working.

ill have to look at it sunday,but as i was cleaning it today the cable at front wheel was hooked up and i folowed it to the speedometer and its hooked up there, so...ill get better look towmorrow,well in 4 hours.there are some wires under the seat that are not connected right behind the carbs and beside the battery?just sayin might give you idea.ill look sunday and tell you more.thanks

ok the cable to the speedometer is hooked up but the cable to the tach is not there so one problem solved need to get cable for tach but speedometer is still up in the air,but prob same thing...needs new cable

Hooked-up is good and everything, but the inner cable must be present and whole as well. They often break in 2 or are not properly inserted into the drive mechanisim at the wheel.

Diconnect the end at the gauge and try to spin the inner cable with your fingers. If you can, it's boned. If the inner cable is not longer than the outer casing, it's boned. If either end of the inner cable is round instead of square and flatsided, it's boned.

If the inner cable is ok, you need to make sure the drive mechanisim is working. This probably means removing the front wheel and the laying upon of hands to check it out.

If all of that checks out, the gauge is probably trashed and e-bay will become important to you all of a sudden.

thanks for all your help(buzZz).i orderd new tach cable and speed cable plus service manual.spent $31.70 on cables and $50 for shop manual.i have one other prob and if manual cant help me ill be back in here,the help here was great...thanks a million

Right now Suzuki is getting more bikes at affordable prices for lots of info