Just finished my rebuild on a 79 XLS after approx 200 mile the speedo has ceased to work, i cleaned and checke cable and relubed it but still no joy,thr rev counter is fine and the european haynes manual is not much help. Any advice please.

 

No way to service the original instruments. You can find NOS, reproduction, or used on eBay from time to time; repro's also from J&P Cycles etc, or local bike shop thru a catalog.

The repro's are the same except they do not say Harley Davidson on the face; and they register to 150 MPH. HD started that when an IronHead broke a speed record back in the 60s or 70s. I'm uncertain of the history but it is interesting.

 

Have you narrowed it down to the speedometer itself? If so, as Mick says, there's nothing you can do to repair it.

If you haven't done so already, I'd disconnect the speedometer cable from the bottom of the speedometer (leaving it connected to the drive unit at the front wheel) and tie it up high so I could watch the internal square cable as I slowly rode or pushed the bike. If the drive unit and the internal square cable are both good, the square internal cable will turn as the bike moves.

My original speedometer on my '82 locked up internally, kinked the internal square drive cable beyond use, and broke the tab off the drive unit at the front wheel.

 

Hello Mick, gotta problem,new to the site , rider since 70's. Have e-1984 XL engine with gen. Want to put it into 1980 XL frame. Any help and advice would be Gratefully accepted. Thanks

 

I had a '79 XLCH with a broken speedo. Living in SF,CA at the time I found a specialist who repaired such things. There was some cheap plastic gear inside that stripped out. The repair must not have cost much as I had no money in those days (80-83). I don't remember the name or company but and internet search may be helpful. Here's a link I found right off with Google. http://www.scottspeedometer.com/ I don't know this company but offer it only in hopes it may help.

 

I do not know specifically what may need to be changed. Does the E84 have the newer style lower front engine mounts? I think not, that they changed in L84.

Mostly i think it will go in with no significant problems. See what other guys here say.