G'day gang,

Today took my 2001 XLH1200 into Sydney city. In fact had to switch to the reserve tank when I was half way over the Habour Bridge. A bit of a feat for me being a newbie.

My problem. As soon as I started out this morning no speedo operation, speed or mileage. Then as the bike warmed up the speedo started working intermittently and then finally when I was in traffic and the bike was hot the speedo was working A1. On the trip home this evening same thing, except I was not in slow traffic so not getting really hot the speedo stayed intermittent. Seems to me like a connector somewhere not too happy ???

I have no technical info for my bike. Intend getting something. For now though, any ideas on my problem ??

Thanks heaps, Dave.

Is (can you tell if) the speedo power is going on and off, or just the reading? The backlight should be going off if it's a power thing. What year is it?

I'm not sure where I'm going with these questions. I guess just hoping to narrow it down a little.

I't may be a connector problem, but it could also be a problem in the sensor. There should only be three connectors involved. There is one inside the speedo housing with about 6 wires. One with about 12 wires under the cover between the handle bar risers on a custom or near the steering column on other models. And there is the three conductor sensor connector under your seat.

Gary

Thanks Gary.... I reckon the power to the speedo is okay. So maybe I'll have a go at finding these other 2 connectors. It had an immobiliser alarm fitted recently, maybe there's things not quite right unser the seat. It's a 2001 non custom, has buckhorn bars. Would I clearly understand what's under the seat if I have a go? Appreciate your help.

I seem to remember somewhere that the earlier digital mileage speedo's could give trouble and that some of these were replaced under warranty(too late for you I know) so a dealer might be ware of problems. But being a Harley it could be that vibration as buggered up a connector. I am always wary of electrical problems after another electric item has been fitted so you are right to suspect that. Maybee check with whoever installed the alarm.

The speed sensor connector is under the seat. It's in a three pin triangular barrel connector. Mine used to be connected to the frame on a little pin that slides into the connector housing. That connector carries the signal, power and ground for the sensor and the cable goes right into the speedo housing.

The other connector is a 12 pin connector right near the front of your gas tank, near the steering column. That basically just has the speedo power and turn signals, etc.

The last conector is inside the speedo cup. That's probably okay, since the power is good and the sensor pins are near the power pin.

Theres a wiring diagram that may be handy here (http://home.twcny.rr.com/embedded/docs/2003_XL_HARNESS.pdf). It's labeled "2003" but appears to be the same as 2000 models so I guess it would be the same for 2001 too.

I really don't know anything about how the alarms connect into the harness. Central NY state is a pretty low crime area ;)

OH BTW: I see your from OZ... Say hi to Gronk if you see him walking down the street :D

Gazza

Geez I hope my speedo is okay then..... I just passed one up on ebay..brand new US$100.

I'm thinking since it is so heat related that it most likely is the sensor in the gearbox. What do you reckon?

Geez I hope my speedo is okay then..... I just passed one up on ebay..brand new US$100.

I'm thinking since it is so heat related that it most likely is the sensor in the gearbox. What do you reckon?

Yes it maybe a bad sensor in the gear box, also a handy tip
for all sporty riders when turning key switch on, let the speedo
cycle thru for about 30 seconds before you hit the starter
button.If you turn key and hit start soon after the speedo
may run crazy like.
Most likely you may have some trash on the sensor or may be
a bad pickup all together.

Now that could be it..... I'm pretty quick turning the key on and starting up well around 5 to 10 secs I guess. Thanks heaps..... It's 12.30am here now, might be a rainy day, so if this is the case it might be a few days until I can check this out. I will respond to this thred when I have it fixed. Still reckon being heat related that it'll possibly be the sensor. Thanks.

... had an immobiliser alarm fitted recently, maybe there's things not quite right unser the seat...

One usually finds that electrical problems are unually (99.9%) due to work that was recently done. I believe you are on the right track. Just because it looks like the wires are pluged/connected make sure. At least tug and pull on them. If possible get a trouble light while checking since often it will show problems the eye will not see.

On sportsters the sensor is run from voltage from the speedo. With mine, when the sensor got hot there wasn't enough power for some reason, so I rewired the sensor with a more direct source of power and all the sensor problems went away.

See

http://www.geocities.com/emsvitil/

and download Speedometer_sensor_fix...

Note: The diodes are to protect the speedometer.


For the technically minded (this is from memory, so values probably aren't right, but you'll get the idea)

A non-hot speedo sensor draws about 30 milliamps from the speedometer at 12V. I heated up the sensor with a heatgun to get into failure mode.
When in failure mode, i.e. flakey, it tried to draw at least twice that (60 milliamps), but the speedometer couldn't supply that much wattage (the volts dropped to 9V), and the speedo was then flakey. Buy giving the sensor a dedicated voltage source, the voltage stayed at 12V, and the milliamps draw only went up slightly (maybe 40 milliamps at the most), and the speedo worked fine...............

Hey Dave,

How are you certain the power is OK? Did you test it at night? If the speedo light comes on then it is not a power problem.

It is probably not a heat problem. I think that is just coincidence. It is more likely ramdom or vibration.

On my bike the speedo would go intermittent then go off, etc. At first i removed the speedo sensor from the trans case, cleaned it, replaced, and it was fine ... for a few days or weeks. The actual problem, as i discovered later, was a loose connection in the connector in the headlite housing [1998]. Fiddling with the wireing etc temporarily fixed the real problem, but of course i did not know that at the time.

After riding at night i saw that the light went off as well as the speedo function. So it could not be the sensor. While fiddling with the wiring inside the h-lite the speedo lite went on and off; so i found the problem area.

It took quite a bit more work to isolate down to one wire [orange with white i think], and then to on which side of the connector it was loose.

I could not figure out how to remove the pins and sockets from that connector so i gently jammed a small piece of toothpick in to make it tighter. I am not happy about that as a fix but i have put on several thou miles since.

Dave, go with the simple things first. The sensor is magnetic and has 1 allen bolt holding it in by the tranny 5th gear. Trace the wire to the sensor, remove bolt, pull out sensor, wipe off any metal filings from gearcase, reinstall sensor. It can attract the filings in the case which can cause intermittent short outs of the MPH readings on the speedo.

Thanks all, I've now got a lot of choices as to where to start. I'll report the outcome once it's fixed. Give me a bit of time though. Thanks again, Dave.

G'day gang.....SPEEDO FIXED..... it was the sender, being a heat related problem suggested that was where to start. It only worked when the engine was hot a few times, then died altogether.

A GREAT CHRISSY TO ALL Dave.