Wanting a tach and thinking about 2 different HD accessory models, the dig speedometer with analog tach combo replacement or the add on 2 3/8 handlebar clamp model with shift light. The 1st model is direct plug and play. The 2nd model requires 3 wire hook up. How difficult is it to run the wires to the pcm/battery box/ground? Instructions call for fuel tank drain & removal but I heard you can raise the fuel tank and snake the wire through - is that correct? Does the model come with connections already on the end of the wires that go into fuse box, pcm & ground or do they have to be made? Pics of install would help alot and be appreciated. If I did get the 5" combo unit, what do you all do with you stock unit - sell it? If selling it, how much $ do u recoup?

 

I don't beieve the average joe could do the install correctly
without turning it into a hack job.
it's best when doing a job like that to remove the fuel tank, it gives you room
and prevents damage to it.
There are 2 wires, one should be a pink which is a signal wire which I believe from what I remember that you have to pin into the speedo.
next should be an orange/white which is the switched power for the tach/lights.
next is a ground.

Why do you NEED a tach anyway?
Ive had a hd with a tach and never looked at it, I always shift by feel, as in I shift when I feel it fall off or when I feel it hits the rev limiter.

 

I suppose it depends how you ride a bike. If you potter about and just cruise places then, no, you don't need a tacho. If you like to get a rush at least some of the time and would like to use a chunk of the power you paid for then you want a tacho so that you can see that you are using the rev range available without redlining it.

Personally I rarely look at the speedo compared to the tacho.

 

If you get the HD tach/speedo combo it is a direct plug-n-play...depending on your bike, which you did not mention.
Either way, wiring it up is pretty simple, and you do not NEED to remove the tank at all, anymore than you need to remove it to wire the bars. The wires are under the console already in many cases, worst case you run a single wire down the backbone to the coil. That can be done under the tank very easily as well.

 

Not sure which bike you have. On the late model dyna, as mentioned, the combo is plug and play. I added a separate HD tach and mounted to the riser screws with a HD bracket. There is a plastic wire channel under the tank and it is pretty easy to wire over the engine and stuff a wire up in there and out of the way. I did not touch the tank. The HD kit has pins alread installed which may or may not be the right size for your ECU, but pin 3 on the ECU is more reliable than pin 3 in the speedo connector (pins are available at your HD parts desk for like 50 cents or so). You will need to take apart the ECU connector and push the pin into slot 3 or replace it with the proper size. Same thing if you choose the speedo, except you are working at the speedo. Some aftermarket tachs will work off the coil.

Sorry no photos, but I think if you search you will find a few, also google the web as, if I recall correctly, there are several posted on the web.

 

There was another thread a while back discusing tach/speo combos. The Dakota Digital seems like an easy (plug and play) install at a price that meets or beats the dealers. And it loks nice too. When I have the $$ this is on my list.

Link to previous thread: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...is-awsome.html


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i put a lowrider dash on my scoot


added the idiot lights to it as well



here are some great links

Tach install:
https://www.hdforums.com/m_3626374/tm.htm
http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/i...i,2354,00.html
https://www.hdforums.com/m_2877668/tm.htm
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-glide-models/266756-mini-tach-installed-on-fxdci.html
https://www.hdforums.com/m_2750573/tm.htm
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...g-ideas-2.html

Low rider dash tach install w/ idiot lights
https://www.hdforums.com/m_2750573/tm.htm