1983 FXRT

Odometer works... speedometer works OK up to 50mph, after that jumps over 80 regardles of speed... slowing down goes back to normal at speeds below 50mph, but jumps a little

can't really find a lot about repairing or diagnosing those and repair shops
wil probably send it out, but wanted to check if anybody had any experience

 

repairing a speedo is expensive its an antique art form and 500 bucks is cheap

a re pop speedo for that is available for much less new

But did you take the inner cable out and clean it and re grease it with a soft grease like CV joint and see if that stops it from wandering around

 

Nope,but i Will, thanks

 

Ben through 3 shovel speedos. Ive taken them apart and got a few miles more outa them but they eventually puke out. Spare form last swap meet on shelf as the one on now is jumping. Bought asian repops and some lasted 50k others 5k [needle poped off]

 

put some grease... it didn't work right away... after 1/2 mile back to normal... rode 120 miles and almost when I got home jumped up and acted erratic for a second. Then back to normal again...

 

a speedo cable is what i would install and grease it up before installing - the old cable has a hard spot it in as its not flexing smoothly as its turning but the grease helped and it might be ok for a while but my guess it will start to wander again

 

Clean & Lube the Drive unit at the wheel.

 

update: worked for a while and the needle dropped at some point.
took it apart, put the needle back, worked again but erratically
took it apart again, found the problem, diassembled it further and tried to repair. No go.
Luckily found the same model on ebay (not as common as others...) with 700 miles on it for like $45

 

What yr is your scooter ? OEM speedo's for HD shovelheads were made by Stewart Warner, they were the 540 series. Over the yrs the shovelheads had six different speedo dials/face, 1966 & 67 had the tombstone, 1968-70 had the sun burst, 1971 to 79 had three variations of the black face speedo, 80-84 had the mph/kmh speedo's.
A quick way to identify that the speedo is oem by SW and not an after market speedo. Looking at the dial/face, SW speedo's have the screws that hold the dial on the upper unit are towards the out edge (in respects to a clock, they would be at the 3 & 9 position). The after market speedo's will have the screws that hold the dial on to the upper unit just on each side of the pointer/needle.

If you have an original SW speedo and would like to get it fixed, very reasonable and excellent work.

John Bordas,
Address: 1107 FM 778
Quitman Tx 75783

ph# 303-420-4510
email: j.bordas@att.net

Do not send it to Scotts speedometer repairs.

 

it's an 83 FXR
MPH/KPH, scales are both blue and white.
Mine has 2 light bulbs on the back... usually they only have one
Mine goes up to 80mph tops,,, I've seen a couple other that "go faster"