Annoying sound coming from instrument panel

I have an 81 seca 550 and it has been making this strange sound from the instrument panel. When I get up to about 20 mph this buzzing sound, like a broken alarm clock, happens. It keeps buzzing and goes away and comes back. When I slow down and drop below 20 it stops. It's really annoying and distracting. I looked around the instrument panel and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Thanks for your help.
Happy riding.

 

maybe the tach and or speedometer cable needs lubricated

 

Help!!!!! Now it happens all the time. I just jumped on my bike and went to the store and it makes the buzzing sound the whole time until I come to a dead stop. As I slow down it kind of whines down and stops when the wheel stops. I looked around the wheel and it doesn't look like anything is rubbing. I did some figure 8's around a parking lot and heard it the whole time. It sounds distinctly like an electrical sound. Thanks again.

 

Thanks Richard,
That would make sense since it's happening as I'm rolling, I'll lube up those cables and let you know what happens.

 

I'm with Rich on this one. I expect it could be a cable in dire need of attention. Pull them both, clean and lubricate them, slap them back in and see if it doesn't fix it first. (simple things first)

 

Squeeze the clutch and coast at a moderate speed. If the sound doesn't go away, then you know it's not the tach.

 

Yep, My 550 does it with the tach cable on cold mornings. Your definately sounds like speedo cable. Also check it for kinks and bends. Often they are taken out for some reason and not put back in the correct place. Make sure it's not being squeezed somewhere it shouldn't go.


And lube lube lube. Can't have too much or too often in a cable.

 

i have the same prob....it happened right after i got the bike, scared me half to death...it started only around 20mph-30 and increased to where it was happening almost the whole time...i pulled the cable off and lubed it and it went away....however its a brand new cable, and it was pretty well lubed :? the other owner said he experienced the problem intermittently and he thought it was something in the speedo itself, that corrected itself with the lube he put in the cable...either way its been two months since i heard it... good luck!

 

Tried lubing the cable.
Tried replacing the cable.
Noise still there.
Then, on a heavy duty ride with the boys, the speedo blew up, followed an hour later by the tach.
Needles broke right off!

After tearing them down, noticed the tiny screws on the face (under the glass) were all lose. Most likely could have saved it all if I tore it down earlier.

At least while replacing the entire pod, I was able to dremel off the 85 MPH stop, and then added a few more numbers to the speedo to reflect it's true speed capabilities.

Check the screws...

 

Hey Guys,
I greased up the cables this morning. And then after having another problem, trying to get the bike started, I rode it around the block and still heard the noise. I'll check on those screws, thanks RobsTV. I'm going to do some major work on everything. I'll get back to you guys when the bike is in better shape. For now I'm back on an 84 Kawasaki LTD, wah wah.
Later.