PR: Proprietary Items Electronic Speedos?

Monkeypants

Well Known and Active Forum User
Non-VOC Member
How did you make out with getting the Smiths digital tach fixed?

Anyone else have experience with these (or the speedo) from a reliability point of view?
The Tach was shipped to Smiths UK and repaired under warranty
They didn't know why the electronics fried but shipped it with an inline resistor to be installed this time around.
I haven't remounted the tach just yet.

Glen
 

Cyborg

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
The Tach was shipped to Smiths UK and repaired under warranty
They didn't know why the electronics fried but shipped it with an inline resistor to be installed this time around.
I haven't remounted the tach just yet.

Glen
Thanks for the reply. Are you able to see any markings on the resistor? Would it be possible to take a photo of the colour code or is it sealed up somehow?
 

Cyborg

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Thanks for that. I have been waiting about 5 months for one. When it arrives, hopefully it will have the resister included. If not, I now know what questions to ask when I install it. I'm hoping its worth the wait.
 

Spqreddie

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
I am looking at electronic instruments for my bike as well.
I will be running a modified front hub without option for the speedo gearbox, so i need another solution.
Given i am there, i was then thinking to couple it with a rev counter as well.

While searching for one i understood that the Smiths trade mark is not really protected, but the ideal continuity of production is with Caerbont Automotive Instruments : https://www.caigauge.com/

(read their Q&A page and this quote from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smiths_Group : Clocks, watches, and automotive instruments eventually ceased to be significant markets for Smiths,[11] and by the 1980s, the automotive instrument division had been sold,[11] first to Lucas, and eventually to the factory employees. The new company, Caerbont Automotive Instruments, continues to produce classic Smiths-branded instruments with the blessing of Smiths Group plc.[20] )

And they produce indeed a Smiths classic motorcycle range: https://www.smiths-instruments.co.uk/bikes

I have inquired for a rev counter and they quoted me 230 GBP (last year).
They also can provide the sender unit both for the wheel for the speedometer and for the coil for the rev counter.
The instrument can be set to tick as the original cronometrics.

The only problem is that the case measure 82x44 mm instead of 80x 32 as per the original instrument.
Also they have a pressed in bezel instead of a screw in one.

But, there is another company in the UK also making electronic speedos and tachometers. And they do them using the correct 80mm case and screw in bezel: http://www.puca.co/productC.html
at 234.99 GBP
They also make a 5inches speedo and rev counters for the Vincent: http://www.puca.co/product5C2.html
For their instruments they use CAI internals or some german made ones.
They claim their instruments to be more faithful to the original design.

Best,
Edmondo
 

Paul Coene

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
My Godet Egli-Vincent has the electronic speedo and tacho from Smiths. The blue odometer and trip display are completely illegible in the sun (not even direct sunlight). But even worse, that's how the speedo looked after the first ride in the rain:

Smiths.jpg


When I showed it to Patrick Godet, he send a mail to Smiths and ten minutes later, he got this answer: "We know about this problem. You are not the first one who complains about it. We use the best seals available though and do not know how we could improve it. You (P.Godet) should explain your customers how to clean their motorbikes."Meanwhile, the water inside has evaporated, the speedo still works and the black paint of the dial is peeling of. You have been warned.
 
Top