Speedometer cable question

I put a new cable on my speedometer on my 80 kz1000. Worked fine for a while and just quit working. When I pulled it loose from the drive at the front wheel I found it had broken right where it comes out of the cable tube just at the threaded connector. I pulled the broken peice out of the drive and saw no damage other than the broken end. What would cause it to break? I would think if there were a problem with the drive then it wouldnt have broken the cable instead it would have come apart inside the drive. Could my speedometer be bad? I was thinking that if it were straining to turn the speedometer then the extra pressure of driving it could cause it to break. Anyone else had this problem?

does the drive on the wheel spin?

How would I check it? It was working when I put the new cable on and worked for about 2 weeks.

One question, was the cable lubricated? A dry cable will not last long at all. Some moly lube grease is what I use, just a light coat will do.

To check if the speedometer gear box is working, raise the front end up and spin the wheel, if it's working the part that mates with the cable will rotate.

When I got the cable I didnt do anything to it other than put it on. It was new in the package, I didnt put any lube in it or on the ends. That could have been the problem.

Lubing doesn't hurt for sure, but not 100% necessary. Original Kawasaki cables were never lubed. Modern Chinese replacements are just that, Chinese. Probably just a bad cable. Only other thing is to make sure your drive on the wheel is pointing correctly so the cable is not stressed as the forks compress.

Sometimes, a cable will wear into the housing. If the old cable ate thru the old housing, it could have created a "slot" that either abrades, or binds the new cable, especially without lube.
I do not know of anyway to check this, but another housing may fix the problem. I do not think it is the wheel drive, or the speedo head.:woohoo:

Thanks guys, I just spent another $24.00 on another cable so when it comes in maybe I can get it to work with out breaking. I am going to check several thing before installing it.

I'm having the same problem with my speedo. The cable broke and I installed a new cable. I installed the cable at the wheel first and turned the wheel, the cable turned at the other end. I completed the install to the speedo and went for a ride looked down and it was not working. Took the cable out and it was broke again at the wheel just like yours.

Thinking of installing the cable end in the speedo and using a drill on the other end to see if it will move. I think the speedo seized.

Keep us posted bhardy501

Will do, new cable should be in next week sometime.