OP
UTC

Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
 
Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
UTC quote
Hi everyone,

Tried doing a search on here but I couldn't find quite the answer I am looking for to my dilemma, so here goes...

Got a 2007 GTS250ie. Speedometer stops working. I check the cable at the bottom, and sure enough, the cable is hanging free of the hub. The inner cable appears rusted, so I presume the cable was broken.

I order a new cable specific to my model, and tear my whole headset apart. Loosen the bolts that mount the front fender to give me some wiggle room.

I unscrew the top end of the old cable from the back of the instrument gauge. I then tape heavy-gauge fishing wire to the bottom end. I snake the old cable out, making sure not to pull the fishing wire out, so I preserve the original routing of the cable.

I then un-tape the old cable, and replace it with the new cable. Snake the new cable in from the top. Screw the new cable into the back of the instrument gauge. Re-tighten the fender bolts, and re-assemble the headset.

I then insert the bottom end of the cable into the hub and press it in. Seems to go in and stay in place.

But the speedo cable still doesn't work.

I made sure when I installed the top end of the cable that I pushed on the inner cable so it stuck out of the housing on the bottom end. Here's some pics.

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Couple other thoughts. I couldn't remember if that little rubber grommet goes installed like I have it in the photo.

Also, I don't know if I'm supposed to do anything with the little "plate" and bolt that the speedo cable is inserted into.

Did I put something together wrong?
@motovista avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9122
Location: Main Street, Watts
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@motovista avatar
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9122
Location: Main Street, Watts
UTC quote
That's the old style speedometer cable. The new ones have a different style end that replaces a few of the parts that need to be there for it to stay in place and work. Under the metal plate is a rubber bushing that the metal plate compresses and holds the cable in place. Both those parts are built into the new cable.
turn the bottom of the cable by hand and see if it moves the speedometer needle. Then take off the plate at the bottom and turn the wheel and make sure the gear in the hub is turning. Push the cable through the rubber bushing and make sure the end of it goes into the gear, then tighten the plate down. Turning the wheel should make the speedometer needle move.
OP
UTC

Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
 
Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
UTC quote
Thank you for the prompt feedback. I took off the little metal plate, and see the rubber bushing you are talking about.

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

When I looked inside the hub, there was something that looked like it was loose. I pulled it out, and it turns out it is the little metal cap that goes over the end of the cable. See the first photo in this thread how I pulled out the cable but that cap is missing. I reinstalled the cap onto the cable end.

When I turn the wheel, I see something turning inside the opening:

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

When I turn the speedo inner cable by hand, the speedometer needle does not move.

When you say I have the "older style cable" are you saying there is a newer style cable that also works on the 250's? The cable I bought looked identical to the old one I took off the bike as near as I could tell.

And I'm assuming the picture below is the correct installation order? I can't get the cable any deeper through the small metal plate because of the flared collar.

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Thanks again and I really appreciate the help. Don't want the scooter to rack up too many unaccounted miles if I can avoid it.
@motovista avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9122
Location: Main Street, Watts
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@motovista avatar
GT 200
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9122
Location: Main Street, Watts
UTC quote
Yes, there is a new OEM cable for your bike and pretty much all the LX, S and GTS/GTV models. It was changed over for the GTS about two or three years ago. It does away with the metal plate, rubber bushing and everything else above the gear. Here is a picture of the end that goes into the wheel hub. That said, if you have the old style cable, it should work fine.
If you are turning the end of the cable at the wheel and the speedometer needle is not moving, there's a problem either with the cable or the speedometer where the cable goes in. It won't move a lot, because you can't turn it fast enough, but it needs to move at least a little. You do need to turn it pretty fast. You can also do it with an electric drill, if you are careful not to damage the tip of the cable.
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
OP
UTC

Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
 
Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
UTC quote
Ha! The electric screwdriver trick worked perfectly. I was able to make my speedometer needle move noticeably. So the cable is good, and my connection to the instrument gauge is good. Thank you so much for that suggestion, that means I won't have to tear apart the front again.

Now I just have to figure out why the inner cable is not engaging inside the wheel hub. I wonder if the flared fitting on the outside of the cable was crimped a little too close to the cable end, preventing the cable from going in as far as it should.

Of course, being the bright guy that I am, I threw out the old cable thinking I didn't need it anymore. So I can't compare the two.

Thanks again for all the help. I'll post up if I find out anything new. Hopefully help someone else out with a similar problem...
OP
UTC

Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
 
Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
UTC quote
After fiddling around with the cable some more, I'm convinced the tip of the cable I was sold is broken. Even though it is brand new.

Will the cable below work perfectly with my '07 GTS250ie? Website seems to indicate it fits the GTS250ie but doesn't really specify the year.

http://www.scooter-center.com/en/product/6800054/Speedo+cable+PIAGGIO+Vespa+GTS+250+300?meta=

Or is there another link to a different site with the proper cable? Thanks again.
OP
UTC

Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
 
Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
UTC quote
Got the new-style cable in the mail and the inner cable is a good 1/2" longer than the previous one I was trying to install. So the old-style cable definitely seems like it was broken.

I tore my headset open, took off the front wheel, and removed all the fender bolts (so fender is floating freely). Use the fishing wire method to feed the new cable in from the top, but I can't get the cable end past the hole in the fender. The cable end is too bulky.

Does this cable feed up from the bottom? Or do the later models have a larger clearance hole in the fender?

The aluminum threaded collar that screws into the instrument gauge seems like it would give me similar clearance problems trying to push it up through the opening....
@gtdespatchcourier avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
GTS 300ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1676
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
 
Molto Verboso
@gtdespatchcourier avatar
GTS 300ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1676
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
UTC quote
You feed it in from the bottom. Goes thru the same hole that the front brake hose feeds thru. You might need to take the glovebox plastics off a little. You could remove handlebars and top steering bearings and drop the front fork out and clean, regrease the steering bearings top and bottom and then re-install the fork, feeding the brake hose and speedo cable back into place. Bit of work, but you'll know how everything fits together and get the steering bearings done and bleed the front brakes too.
OP
UTC

Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
 
Member
2007 Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10
Location: Orlando, FL
UTC quote
GTdespatchcourier wrote:
You feed it in from the bottom. Goes thru the same hole that the front brake hose feeds thru. You might need to take the glovebox plastics off a little. You could remove handlebars and top steering bearings and drop the front fork out and clean, regrease the steering bearings top and bottom and then re-install the fork, feeding the brake hose and speedo cable back into place. Bit of work, but you'll know how everything fits together and get the steering bearings done and bleed the front brakes too.
Thanks, I had already taken off the front panel that covers the horn and can see how everything is routed no problem. It's just that hole in the fender that is so damn tight of a fit. I'll try feeding it through from below. Thanks again.

Mechanical problems like this make me wonder why manufacturers still bother with mechanically driven speedos. So archaic.
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