How to Install ZX7R Speedo Drives

Many Kawasaki sport bikes have a speedo drive similar to the ZX7R.

Kawasaki ZX7R Ninja sport bikes are designed with a speedo, or speedometer, drive that consists of a metallic case assembly that houses a meter gear. The drive provides speedometer readings by means of a cable that connects between the unit and the instrument panel. The speedo drive is located at the front wheel axle housing, near the base of the left fork tube. If the speedometer operates erratically or not at all, it’s necessary to replace the drive. The average do-it-yourself enthusiast with basic mechanical skills can install a new drive in a relatively short time.

Things You'll Need

• Wood blocks
• Metric open-end wrench
• Metric hex wrench
• Lightweight oil

Instructions

1. Park the motorcycle on its center stand. Chock the front tire with wood blocks to stabilize the front wheel during the replacement.

2. Loosen the speedometer cable fitting at the speedo drive unit with a metric open-end wrench. Pull the end of the cable out of the cable port on the unit. Allow the cable to hang suspended behind the front tire.

3. Loosen the collar bolt that secures the inner end of the drive unit to the fork tube with a metric hex wrench. Pull the bolt out by hand and set it aside.

4. Twist the drive unit to the right and left by hand to disengage the internal metric gear as you pull the unit out of the port on the fork tube. Discard the unit.

5. Apply lightweight oil onto the metric gear at the inner end of the new speedo drive. Hold the body of the unit with one hand so the end of the gear is aligned with the port on the fork tube.

6. Twist the unit to the right and left as you insert the gear into the port on the fork tube. If the drive does not insert fully, pull it out and rotate the metric gear one-quarter of a turn either way to realign the gear. Insert the gear into the port and push the unit against the face of the fork tube.

7. Install the saved collar bolt into the base of the new drive. Tighten the bolt with the hex wrench.

8. Apply lightweight oil onto the end of the speedometer cable. Insert the end of the cable into the cable port on the new speedo drive. Tighten the fitting with the open-end wrench.

References

• Motorcycle Specifications: 1998 Kawasaki ZX7R Ninja
• Bike Bandit: 1998 Kawasaki NINJA ZX-7R (ZX750P3L) CA Parts – Speedo Drive