2018+ Softail Models Breakout

Dreaded instrument pod fogging

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Old Dec 27, 2020 | 03:15 PM
  #31  
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Default I think I've fixed it

Over the past 2 weeks it's been between 28°C and 34°C and I've ridden almost every day between 100km and 260km.

Every afternoon I've put the industrial fan on to dry my jacket and helmet, the high pressure fan is also blasting the bike, and for the second week I've had no condensation or fogging of the speedo when out on the road.

Maybe moisture builds up after the ride and is still there for the next day? Whatever it is, I am going to keep running the fan 👍
 
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Old Dec 28, 2020 | 08:27 AM
  #32  
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My 2018 Heritage speedometer fogged up for 2 years. It didn't matter if it was cold, dry, humid, damp, wet, etc. It would fog up so bad you couldn't see the read out (fuel, gear indicator, clock). This is my seventh HD and none of my previous bikes had this issue--and I live in NC where the humidity is high in the summer. My dealer was absolutely no help at all with this issue, and refused to replace the speedo while the motorcycle was under warranty. I was ready to order the Dakota Digital replacement when I decide to try something. I figured I didn't have anything to lose, and my warranty had expired, so I removed the speedometer from the dash and drilled 4-5 tiny holes in the back; exactly under where the display would be located (it's easy to see where to drill). I think I used either a 5/32 or 11/64 bit. I took my time to make sure I didn't hit anything as the bit cut through the plastic. That was in July of this year, in the heat of the summer when our humidity is high. Since I did this, my speedometer has never once showed any signs whatsoever of fogging. This 15-minute fix saved me the cost of a new speedo and a lot of frustration. I love my M8 Heritage, but I was seriously starting to look at other brands.
 
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Old Dec 29, 2020 | 07:41 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by mrstoney
My 2018 Heritage speedometer fogged up for 2 years. It didn't matter if it was cold, dry, humid, damp, wet, etc. It would fog up so bad you couldn't see the read out (fuel, gear indicator, clock). This is my seventh HD and none of my previous bikes had this issue--and I live in NC where the humidity is high in the summer. My dealer was absolutely no help at all with this issue, and refused to replace the speedo while the motorcycle was under warranty. I was ready to order the Dakota Digital replacement when I decide to try something. I figured I didn't have anything to lose, and my warranty had expired, so I removed the speedometer from the dash and drilled 4-5 tiny holes in the back; exactly under where the display would be located (it's easy to see where to drill). I think I used either a 5/32 or 11/64 bit. I took my time to make sure I didn't hit anything as the bit cut through the plastic. That was in July of this year, in the heat of the summer when our humidity is high. Since I did this, my speedometer has never once showed any signs whatsoever of fogging. This 15-minute fix saved me the cost of a new speedo and a lot of frustration. I love my M8 Heritage, but I was seriously starting to look at other brands.
I might try this once the warranty is up. How did you keep plastic chips from getting inside the unit?
 
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Old Dec 29, 2020 | 09:35 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by Uncle G.
I might try this once the warranty is up. How did you keep plastic chips from getting inside the unit?
I saw this subject posted here before and copied a picture I saw there for an idea of the small drill holes. I'm going to have my dash apart this off season so going to do some drilling myself.



 
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Old Dec 30, 2020 | 09:14 AM
  #35  
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Honestly, I didn't even think about that. I just took my time, used my variable speed drill and went slow. Most, if not all, of the plastic ended up on the outside of the case or on the bit. It's really pretty soft material. As I said, I had nothing to lose. If I screwed it up, I was going to buy a Dakota Digital. It's easy.
 
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Old Dec 30, 2020 | 10:22 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by OldMike
I saw this subject posted here before and copied a picture I saw there for an idea of the small drill holes. I'm going to have my dash apart this off season so going to do some drilling myself.

Please keep us posted if that worked.
 
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Old Jan 1, 2021 | 03:49 PM
  #37  
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Angry same problem

had this problem on my 2018 deluxe,dealer replaced unit. still same thing,,,,,,,dunno??
 
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Old Jan 1, 2021 | 04:14 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by no1shep
had this problem on my 2018 deluxe,dealer replaced unit. still same thing,,,,,,,dunno??
yup dealer can replace these 100 times no help as all units are faulty. So far seems drilling this tiny holes is only way to help with fogging. I still try to wait for more confirmed cases of this fix but so far 2 people I am aware tried it and it worked for both of them so I am optimistic.
 
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Old Jan 1, 2021 | 04:44 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by P51Driver
I find that my speedo only fogs up when the engine has warmed the tank and the bike is running. Now if I stop the engine and let the bike set preferably in the sun the fogging goes away. But once I start back up and while riding it will fog up again.
I believe it's not the heat of the engine but the sun heating up the instrument (black dial face, remember) and boiling the moisture inside. Then, when you start riding, the moving air cools the glass face, causing moisture to condense on the inside of the cool glass face. Mine shows the worst condensation on sunny, but cool days, where the bike is parked in the sun, then driven through cool air.
 
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Old Jan 2, 2021 | 06:46 AM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by Uncle G.
I believe it's not the heat of the engine but the sun heating up the instrument (black dial face, remember) and boiling the moisture inside. Then, when you start riding, the moving air cools the glass face, causing moisture to condense on the inside of the cool glass face. Mine shows the worst condensation on sunny, but cool days, where the bike is parked in the sun, then driven through cool air.
Exactly.
 
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