Classic All 'historic' bikes.

speedometer light

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 17, 2013 | 05:46 PM
  #1  
jjgalush's Avatar
jjgalush
Thread Starter
|
Stage I
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Default speedometer light

I have a 79 big twin 80CID shovelhead with some electrical issues. The wire that runs into the speedometer seems to be shorted to ground. I traced it and it goes under the bracket that holds the speedometer and goes to a electrical connection with 2 posts. One of the posts has a duel wire connected to it, one going to the front and one to the rear of the bike. I cut them apart to measure resistance on both to ground and both are shorted to ground. The other post had the speedometer wire and a wire that runs up to ignition switch upper center post which I saw in a diagram being referred to as the lights terminal. all my headlights and tail lights and turn signals work. How can this wire be shorted and all my other lights still work. I am also wondering about a cable that is just hanging between the tanks. It looks like a bicycle brake cable sort of and had a plate with 3 holed in it and it is connected at the other end to the threaded shaft that sticks straight up to mount the crome cover for the ignition switch and speedometer. It was just laying there when I started digging for this wire. Any idea what this is or if I need it connected up? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Reply
Old May 22, 2013 | 11:42 PM
  #2  
FilthyLucre's Avatar
FilthyLucre
Road Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 39
From: NW Florida
Default

I take it we are talking about a 79 FLH not a FX. The speedometer light is connected to a circuit breaker, That is the box with the two terminals. What makes you think the wire is shorted to ground? The socket grounds itself to the speedometer housing and it gets power from the circuit breaker. Disconect if from the circuit breaker and test the light. Negative to the socket positive to the wire. The cable between the tanks is the choke cable for the stock Kehin Carb. If you have a different carb they may have abandoned the cable.

I don't look at this forum everyday because there is something wrong that crashes my browser.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bohemian
Shovelhead
4
Mar 26, 2014 10:27 AM
banjoplayer2
Touring Models
9
Nov 6, 2013 12:45 PM
Tactical111
EVO
10
Sep 16, 2012 06:35 PM
rtbrannon
Sportster Models
2
Jan 23, 2011 09:19 PM
trafficlaw
Sportster Models
2
Feb 25, 2008 10:47 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:57 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE