Ignition switch.

Fingers crossed it's simply a bad gauge

 

Ya here's hoping, thanks.

 

I case anyone is interested, it appears to be a bad gauge.; I'm considering myself lucky.

 

Lucky you, they're still available - 74526-96C and less than $60. from a dealer, in the USA anyway.

Thanks for the update.

 

Damn sure lucky. Looking for oil guage for my 98 ultra. One left in the USA at N. Carolina dealer. Hopefully in that $60 range. Have to do shipping, so there's that. And if they can find it.

Next problem is how the hell do I get to the screws.

 

Oil gauge isn't bad, because it's the upper gauge, same as the voltmeter. The 2 lower gauges look really tough though.

 

I had some what similar issues. Riding along and the voltmeter gauge would slowly drop down from 14 to 12/12.5 volts and then back up to 14 volts. There was no rime or reason, time bike running etc. Sometimes it would drop quickly, wiggly around and then back up to 14 volts. So I took the front outer fairing off and used some contact cleaner on the contacts and the plug and connected it back up. I checked the ground & positive wire and they tested OK, and there where no breaks in the wire. The next time I was out for a ride the gauge worked fine for awhile and then twice it went to 0. This didn't make sense to me as I'd tested the output at the battery and the bike was charging properly 14 + and then at idle, lights on etc would show around 12.5, so the charging system was good. All the other gauges worked fine. So I took the outer fairing off again and had a closer look at the connector on the volt gauge. They seemed to be a loose fit, so I took the wires out of the plug, and bent the tangs so that there would be more pressure on the contacts. I checked the gauge a couple of times before I put the fairing back on and the gauge appears to be working properly. It shows a steady voltage similar to a hand held volt meter.

Some time today I'll put it back together and go for a ride. I was trimming my windshield so I need to finish that up as well. One thing I did notice after tightening the connector up, when I turned the ignition off the gauge would slowly go to 0, whereas before it seemed to drop quicker to 0. Not sue if that is normal or just that I never paid any attention to it. I'm not sure if the volt meter gauge is dampened or not, that would explain the slower drop to 0. The other gauges drop as soon as the power is off, so it might be the volt meter gauge that is shot. Time will tell.

New replacement gauges are hard to find with these older bikes and I'm not sure if a newer one would fit and mount up. I might have to go to some other form of battery monitor. Any suggestions on an aftermarket gauge that would fit in the standard hole on the batwing fairing?

 

Got out for a hour and a half ride this morning. Voltmeter gauge on the bike is now working properly. Shows a steady 14+ volts going down the highway and then will drop to about 12.5 Volts stopped at a traffic light with an idling bike. No drops to 0 etc, so I'm calling it fixed. So for those that are having similar issues with the voltmeter on the bike, maybe check the connections before you rule the gauge is junk.

 

FWIW, Harley's don't charge below 1200 RPM.

 

Oil guage is lower right on my 98 below my volt guage. No more factory oil guages for my 98 available....worldwide. Aftermarket or nothing for mine.