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wanting to change the spedo dials from us to uk spek

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by andy willi, May 25, 2019.

  1. andy willi

    andy willi Member

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    hi i have an xj 550 seca usa bike and the speedo is red after 55mph as it is a usa bike i want a uk dial can anyone help me out with where to get the uk dial .


    andy
     
  2. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Well-Known Member

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    a Canadian spec speedo would be the simplest fix. Someone here may have one
     
  3. andy willi

    andy willi Member

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    do you know if there is anyone who reproduces them

    andy
     
  4. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Well-Known Member

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    No but I have seen a company that does reproduction face plates in the UK
     

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    Last edited: May 25, 2019
  5. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    But then he'd be reading those tiny numbers for MPH.
    I suppose it would make things better for a trip to France though.

    A combo of the Canadian spec speedo, and a faceplate with MPH in the large font would be nice.

    Transplanting a newer speedometer in is a good option too.
    seca-550-150mph-speedo-retrofit-details-w-pics.22823
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2019
  6. Craig B

    Craig B Active Member

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    Are you looking for just the faceplate in kilometers?

    If so I now have a spare.
     
  7. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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  8. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    That won't help him. The US spec speedometer's full sweep is to 55 MPH. Switching faceplates will just show him going a lot slower than he actually is going.
     
  9. MaximusXJ650

    MaximusXJ650 Member

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    I'm in the same boat, I've bought a US spec xj650 but I've located and have a set of UK speedos. Just need to figure out how to install them... this may be a silly question but the lower speed on the us speedo wont limit the bike will it?
     
  10. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    There is no limiter on the machine, speed RPM or otherwise.

    Actually there is an RPM limiter. Valve float, followed by a dropped valve.

    The speed limiter is aerodynamic, and cuts-in at around redline in 5th gear.
     
  11. a100man

    a100man Well-Known Member

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  12. MaximusXJ650

    MaximusXJ650 Member

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    So I actually have a UK speedo sat in the garage.

    I've got a US import xj650 maxim, what wiring changes are needed to install the UK speedo?

    So what will happen when the bike hits 80? Will it keep climbing past this (if the bike will manage) or will it stop?
     
  13. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    No wiring changes to install the speedometer.

    When it hits 80 what?
    80 Mph? Standard US freeway cruising speed in many parts of the country. The engine will be turning at about 6,500 RPM, and will do so all day long for as many days as you care to.
    Redline on the engine is 9,500 RPM. Top speed is around 120 MPH in 5th gear for your Maxim, so you won't quite hit redline there.
    The engine can reliably pull to 12,000 RPM for short bursts (though it's not recommended), but pushing it beyond that is asking for a very shortened valvetrain life (as in valves float, hit the pistons, and fail in a spectacularly un-fun manner).

    All the limiters I mentioned are physical. Nothing electronic limits the engine from operator error causing damage to it.
     
  14. MaximusXJ650

    MaximusXJ650 Member

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    Sorry I should have been clearer, yes MPH

    Standard cruise speed over here is 70mph, anything over is illegal! I may look into swapping the speedo over then if no wiring changes are needed... is it possible (although I imagine illegal) to change the miles setting on the speedo to match what mine currently reads?

    My speedo reads 20k but the UK one is reading 37k
     
  15. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Very possible (you'll see once the speedometer is open. gaps. width. pull and turn).
    It's legal to do in the U.S. if you have a shop take care of it and file the correct paperwork. Probably true in the U.K as well.
    I shall say no more about how my replacement odometer just happened to match the miles on the original.
     
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  16. MaximusXJ650

    MaximusXJ650 Member

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    You clearly had it done correctly ;)
     
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  17. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    it should be no problem unless it is done to defraud.

    when I register my bikes in US I am not even asked for mileage because of the speedos being changed/replaced all the time. KBB does not even use miles in giving values
     
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  18. a100man

    a100man Well-Known Member

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  19. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    That's the sticky part. Proving intent (or lack therof) can become quite expensive. Thankfully the XJ series is not collectable enough to garner that level of legal scrutiny.
     
  20. MaximusXJ650

    MaximusXJ650 Member

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    Yes I know, I was stating that I already had one - I figured that it was easier to add into the comments that create a duplicate thread asking the same question
     

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