Speedometer Staying On

Harley Davidson Forum

Sponsors

Harley Davidson History

Speedometer Staying On

Printable Version

Harley Davidson >> General Harley Davidson Tech Forums >> Electrical/Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection >> Speedometer Staying On

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Speedometer Staying On - 5/11/2008 7:21:17 PM

txgoodoleboy

Posts: 2
Joined: 5/11/2008
Status: offline

Hey Everyone,

I am new to posting in the HD Forums, but have been reading through the forums for years. I recently came across a problem and hope someone else may have experienced it as well, before I go tearing through my bikes electrical troubleshooting.

I have a 2004 Sportster 883 Custom that recently decided to keep its speedometer running even thou the key is turned off. The bike runs fine, and all the accesories work fine. When the key switch is turned all the way back to the off position I can hear the speedometer "spin" on and the light comes on. While in the off position, if I press the horn button or any brake lights the speedometer goes dead until the button or lever is released, as if the power is drained out of the feeback. There is not enough power to actually make the horn work or even barely illuminate a light bulb, I checked but just enough to keep the speedo running.

The best I can figure is water in the ignition switch or somewhere else causing feedback. Hopefully someone has had this issue before and can give me a direction to start in. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

< Message edited by txgoodoleboy -- 5/12/2008 5:37:43 PM >

Post #: 1

RE: Speedometer Staying On - 5/16/2008 11:36:48 PM

rjrivero

Posts: 299
Joined: 10/4/2007
Status: offline

It sounds like a water intrusion issue. The igntion switch is the first place to look.

_____________________________

Every Revolution gives birth to a nation. The Revolution is HERE.

(in reply to txgoodoleboy)

Post #: 2

RE: Speedometer Staying On - 5/17/2008 5:27:20 PM

txgoodoleboy

Posts: 2
Joined: 5/11/2008
Status: offline

RJRIVERO, Correct you are.

I actually just got back from taking it for a spin after I got done putting the bike all back together. What I found after taking the seat and gas tank off, to get to all the wiring harnesses, that there is one large harness connection under the front of the tank that has no water seals on it. Most of the connections on the bike have rubber gaskets on them to keep water out, but this one does not. Well, water had collected and actually rusted out one of the pins causing thing speedometer to come on and off, or sometimes it would just stay on, as I indicated above. Well after disconnecting the wiring harness I found the pin had completely rusted off and was stuck in the mating harness connector. Instead of having to buy two or one large wiring hardness I just custom built a jumper and added it in line with the existing harness with a little dielectric grease. Problem solved.