Speedo reads faster than it should.
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Speedo reads faster than it should. - 5/20/2008 10:36:01 AM
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Blown 331
Posts: 73
Joined: 4/6/2006
Status: offline
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I put about 900 miles on my 1993 FXSTC this weekend and when I was nearly home the speedo started jumping and now it reads faster than it should. The faster I got the worse it gets. I would say at 70mph it reads 90mph. When I saw it jumping I thought the cable probably needed lubed but now that it reads faster than it should I don't think the cable would cause that. I was thinking of just spraying the back of the speedo head with WD-40 but figured I would check here first.
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BFMC
1993 Harley Davidson FXSTC
1992 Mustang GT 331 Supercharged 6-speed
1985 Mustang GT
2003 TRX400EX
1985 ATC350X
1985 ATC250R
1984 XR500R
1982 XL500R
1977 F-150 4X4 4-speed 460
1976 TT500
1966 Fairlane
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RE: Speedo reads faster than it should. - 5/20/2008 10:59:40 AM
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mjmangus
Posts: 74
Joined: 5/18/2008
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If you spray anything into the speedo housing it will fog the glass. Try lubing the cable and see what happens.
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2007 Softail Custom
2005 Road King Classic
1991 CHP FXRP
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RE: Speedo reads faster than it should. - 5/20/2008 11:37:00 AM
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t150vej
Posts: 186
Joined: 12/23/2005
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I agree. If a mechanical speedo jumps, it's because the drive is sticking - winding up then turning loose faster than it's supposed to be turning. That could be wear of the ends, a loose end or dry cable housing. And it can be caused by the "chain" being too long for the housing. (I used to make them for trucks) Also remember, at least one end of that cable must slide freely - whether in the speedo it's self or the adapter fitting on one end. Some housings are nylon lined and petroleum lubricants will cause premature failure.
If the jumping has stopped by your efforts or by itself, and the thing still reads consistantly fast, then the mechanism inside the speedo has come loose, allowing the magnetic strip to be too close to the pickup. Fixing one might be more trouble than it's worth.
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RE: Speedo reads faster than it should. - 5/21/2008 7:41:14 AM
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Dr.Hess
Posts: 595
Joined: 8/15/2007
Status: online
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My speedo has read about 10MPH fast since day one. It is a huge PITA to get the thing out. I just live with it. Worse is the 6 or 7 speedo cables I've gone through. But, I can swap one out in about a half hour on at the dealer on the road now, reaching the back of the speedo by feel.
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Dr.Hess
1986 FLHT: S&S carb, Andrews EV1
1987 XLH Hugger (Wife's): MegaSquirt Fuel Injection
http://www.drhess.net
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RE: Speedo reads faster than it should. - 5/21/2008 11:56:10 AM
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grbrown
Posts: 187
Joined: 6/29/2007
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I agree with the others. The drive cable will come away from the outer if you disconnect at the speedo end. It should pull out easily if all is well, but I suspect there is some fraying of it somewhere. Mind your fingers, as if there is there may be sharp needle-like bits trying to bite you!
A complete replacement cable is probably necessary. Grease the inner cable very lightly before fitting, but make sure there is no surplus grease at the speedo end, to work its way inside it.
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Graham - 1990 Bright Candy HiFi Blue FLHS/2008 S&S V107T, 2007 XB12R, MG ZT V8, England.
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RE: Speedo reads faster than it should. - 5/22/2008 5:24:01 PM
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89 FXRS
Posts: 161
Joined: 12/8/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Dr.Hess
My speedo has read about 10MPH fast since day one. It is a huge PITA to get the thing out. I just live with it. Worse is the 6 or 7 speedo cables I've gone through. But, I can swap one out in about a half hour on at the dealer on the road now, reaching the back of the speedo by feel.
The first thing that I do when replacing a speedo cable is to pull out the cable and grease it. Do not listen to the dealer when he says it is pre greased. It may be lubed, but not enough.
Your speedo is not 10mph off it is a percent off. For instance mine is 10 percent off. When it reads 30mph I am going 33. When it reads 70mph I am going 77... This might help you when you are going forty by the speedo and in realty you are going 33 and not 30.
"Osifer, I know that I was not speeding"
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RE: Speedo reads faster than it should. - 5/23/2008 7:04:48 AM
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Dr.Hess
Posts: 595
Joined: 8/15/2007
Status: online
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89 FXRS, that's not quite right with my bike. It is closer to 10 off and not a percent. 40 reads 50, 70 reads 80. I think higher, it goes up 10 plus a percent. The 883 is very close to actual and I've compared them as well as done the math on the odometer or mile markers/time. My odometer reads about 1-2% high, which could be tires or just systemic error. The speedo just never was right. I didn't really notice it until after my warranty ran out so I'm just stuck with it.
My speedo cables always break on the way to Sturgis. Either the cable goes or the drive gear. I just about expect it. I can swap a drive out in about 5 minutes if I can get the weight off the front wheel. Last one was at St. Joe HD who loaned me a little jack thing. Right now, I have a genuine HD drive and a genuine HD cable. We'll see how long these last. It's really the only thing that goes wrong on my bike, so I can't complain about it. Just the way it is. In 87, they moved the drive over to the other side and I think that helped a lot by making the cable path straighter.
_____________________________
Dr.Hess
1986 FLHT: S&S carb, Andrews EV1
1987 XLH Hugger (Wife's): MegaSquirt Fuel Injection
http://www.drhess.net
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