Speedometer just stopped working
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Behind you, making faces
Factory Service Manual. You need one. Everyone needs one. NOT THAT WE WON'T/CAN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, it's just that everyone needs one.
I would raise the front wheel, pull the axle out, unscrew the drive from the cable, see if a short piece of cable doesn't come out the cable sheath when you tug on it. Spin the cable with your fingers and see if the needle on the speedo moves. If it does, the sender is shot. If not, the cable is shot. I've gone through so many of them that I just replace both now and only use HD parts.
I would raise the front wheel, pull the axle out, unscrew the drive from the cable, see if a short piece of cable doesn't come out the cable sheath when you tug on it. Spin the cable with your fingers and see if the needle on the speedo moves. If it does, the sender is shot. If not, the cable is shot. I've gone through so many of them that I just replace both now and only use HD parts.
First World problems, I know.
Is it necessary to pull the axle out? I'm not sure I'm comfortable doing that. Can I remove the speedo drive and try your suggestion without messing with the wheel? Sorry to be so naive, but I haven't yet put it on the wheel chock to explore.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Ah. Yes, I have a PDF copy of it. But it seems like every time I use it to replace a part, I have to keep backtracking and researching other items; remove this (research how), remove that (research how). It seems to want to take me around the world on some things.
First World problems, I know.
Is it necessary to pull the axle out? I'm not sure I'm comfortable doing that. Can I remove the speedo drive and try your suggestion without messing with the wheel? Sorry to be so naive, but I haven't yet put it on the wheel chock to explore.
First World problems, I know.
Is it necessary to pull the axle out? I'm not sure I'm comfortable doing that. Can I remove the speedo drive and try your suggestion without messing with the wheel? Sorry to be so naive, but I haven't yet put it on the wheel chock to explore.
Do yourself a favor and get a FSM.
Here's a link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVI...pa39~l&vxp=mtr
Yes you have to take the axle out.
Sounds like you need to buy a motorcycle jack (if you plan on doing your own work that is).
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Behind you, making faces
If you have a PDF you don't have a FSM (Factory Service Manual).
Do yourself a favor and get a FSM.
Here's a link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVI...pa39~l&vxp=mtr
Yes you have to take the axle out.
Sounds like you need to buy a motorcycle jack (if you plan on doing your own work that is).
Do yourself a favor and get a FSM.
Here's a link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVI...pa39~l&vxp=mtr
Yes you have to take the axle out.
Sounds like you need to buy a motorcycle jack (if you plan on doing your own work that is).
This chock has worked well for me because I don't mind working from the floor, but I'm not sure I could feasibly remove the axle.
Just to clarify.... let's say that I'm betting that the problem is the cable, so I buy a cable.
Would I still have to remove the axle just to replace the cable? Or is that just necessary for performing the above tests?
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; May 9, 2018 at 12:20 AM.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
If you decide to try it yourself we can walk you through it and if you learn how to work on your own bike you will save a ton of money over the course of time.
You don't have to remove the axle to replace the speedo cable but you do have to remove the left tank.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; May 9, 2018 at 12:21 AM.
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,698
Likes: 5,292
From: Behind you, making faces
If you have a PDF you don't have a FSM (Factory Service Manual).
Do yourself a favor and get a FSM.
Here's a link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVI...pa39~l&vxp=mtr
Do yourself a favor and get a FSM.
Here's a link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVI...pa39~l&vxp=mtr
Plus, it was apparently scanned as images instead of text, so it's not searchable.
I contacted the seller in the link to ask if there's a price at which he would end it earlier. I don't like auctions with no Buy It Now option.
Thanks!
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; May 9, 2018 at 12:21 AM.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
You've convinced me; I'm getting a REAL service manual for it. This PDF is a book that covers 1984-1999:
Plus, it was apparently scanned as images instead of text, so it's not searchable.
I contacted the seller in the link to ask if there's a price at which he would end it earlier. I don't like auctions with no Buy It Now option.
Plus, it was apparently scanned as images instead of text, so it's not searchable.
I contacted the seller in the link to ask if there's a price at which he would end it earlier. I don't like auctions with no Buy It Now option.
That said I have the one you are looking at and must tell you a paper manual is a better choice IMO.
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Grand HDF Member
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From: Behind you, making faces
Since the one you linked to covers specifically 1993-1994 Softails, it should be much easier to use.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
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From: Haslet Texas
The PDF has all the information for all the years and you have to sort through what is useful to you and what is useless info due to the many upgrades the MOCO made to the softails over the years it was built.
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Grand HDF Member
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From: Behind you, making faces
The information it contains will be specific to your bike.
The PDF has all the information for all the years and you have to sort through what is useful to you and what is useless info due to the many upgrades the MOCO made to the softails over the years it was built.
The PDF has all the information for all the years and you have to sort through what is useful to you and what is useless info due to the many upgrades the MOCO made to the softails over the years it was built.
I naively thought that it was actually a scan of the real factory manual. The paper one, once I get it, will be the real thing. Frankly, I can't wait to have the real thing for my specific bike.
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how difficult is it to unscrew the cable from the speedometer? if you can do that, tape the end from the speedo to the handlebars. take a ride around the block to see if the inner cable spins. if it spins the cable and drive is good.