I must belong with you guys!!! Classic Evo!!!!

I have a 93 Fxsts with a wrong spedo reading. i've owned it since 2000 or 2001. I counted the rear pulley and it looks like it is 65 tooth. What is the original tooth count? I'm getting ready to buy a new pully and want to know what it originaly came with and is it worth it to lose a few miles per gallon to go back to the original size pully. It might be original but the spedo does read incorrect.

Thanks in advance for all info, Jim

 

I may be wrong, but I believe that your speedometer is cable driven off of the front wheel. Therefore the rear sprocket/gearing would have no affect on the reading. How far off is it? Is the front wheel/tire stock size?? It is not uncommon for cable driven speedo's to be off a few MPH's. Hope this helps

 

You are correct, front wheel driven. No need to worry about the rear pulley, and like miacycles said, front wheel driven speedo's are usually a bit off.

My drive unit, speedo and cable are all new and is still approx. 2-5mph's off at times.

 

1993 Softails had international gearing from the factory. 61 tooth rear pulley. Just find out what speed you are really going and enjoy the ride.

 

I just was out in the garage and did a exact count on my pulley and it is a 65 tooth. While out there it did dawn on me that the front wheel is the speedo drive. How stupid am I....I have always known that but its always been in the back of my head that the reason for the speedo being off might be because someone may have changed the rear gear at one time. I never thought of them both at the same time to realize the two are unrelated. It is how ever nice to know now that I can go with any front and rear gear combo and still have no reading change....I've gotten used to the way it is off now. I'm just gonna buy the new 65 tooth pully and if I ever want to change the ratio I'll do the front because rears are high....fronts are more work. I have more time than money...LOL!

I'll post some new picks of the bike soon. I do like are older bikes that are carburated and sound like a harley. The new ones sound to smooth running almost like a honda.

Thanks for the replys, Jim

 

My 93 FXLR also has a front cable driven speedometer. Checked it against my friends calibrated digital on his dresser last weekend. Looks like I'm lucky as the MPH seems correct, but it is a few tenths off. Next tire change I'll go from the current 90/100 to a 110. The little bit of difference in circumference should put her right on the money.

 

I have a 91 Springer and the speedo is off by about 5 mi

 

The speedo on my 87 has gotten progressively worse since I changed it out 40K miles ago.

The error increases with speed. At 65 Indicated I'm really doing 60. At 75 indicated I'm doing 68. At 100 indicated I 'm doing 90.

Validated all this with GPS.

I took a speedo apart years back and found that the rotating cable spins a round magnet. there is a shell around the magnet that is held in place by a spring. The Speedo needle is attached to the shell.

As the magnet spins, the shell tries to spin along with it but can only go so far because of the spring. The faster you go, the further the sheel rotates and the further the needle is allowed to move.

I figure the spring that tries to stop the shell from turning is wearing out.

J&P has an cable driven electronic speedo that can be picked up on Flea Bay for $135. Has a built in tach too. Been thinking about getting one jut to see if it makes everything right.

 

Ironbut, You mention it is electronic. That doesn't mean its digital right and would that delete the automatic turn signal cancel that my 93 has. I'm not sure if your 87 has that.




Jim

 

No Not digital. I suspect it takes the rotating cable and turns it into an electric pulse that is then processed to make the needle move. Has a switch to go from 1:1, 2:1 and 2210:60 depending on what type of cable drive you have. Also has an electronic reset on the trip meter and a digital odometer,