Speedometer Question?
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 18
From: SE Michigan
Speedometer Question?
Last week the speedometer on my '91 FLHS started acting up. About 200 miles into a ride the speed indicating needle started jumping as I was cruising at about 70 mph. Then it slowly began to drop in speed registered until the highest it would register was about 30 mph though I was going much faster. The odometer and tripometer continued to work ok so I figured it was the speedo itself. Took it to speedo shop last week and just called them and they said "nothing wrong with it". I'm wondering how the odometer could work and the speedo not if it's a drive unit/cable issue?? It's a mechanical speedo driven off the front wheel; 2240:60 ratio and is in the dash panel on the handlebars next to the tach. I have had it all apart replacing indicator bulbs recently in the dash unit. The needle clears the dash glass by a good 3/4" so is not rubbing there. When I move the needle by hand it feels smooth and consistent with spring tension and returns to zero. Any thoughts anyone? Thanks.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 18
From: SE Michigan
Just had a thought. Maybe the cable is sticking and needs lubed. Not spinning freely so affects the mph needle but odometer counts the revolutions?? Will try lubing it tomorrow when I get the speedo back. Speedo shop says nothing wrong with it.
Last edited by Tactical111; Sep 22, 2010 at 09:41 PM. Reason: addition
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 817
Likes: 1
From: N.E. Ohio
Lube sounds like a good idea. You could even take the cable off and spin it with a electric drill and see what it does. My tach sticks at 1500 somtimes when hot. If I tap on the face it will bounce down. I live with it because its just the tach and it works otherwise. If worse comes to worse I have seen a few speedo/tacks on Ebay. The one salvage place is only about 30-40 miles from me. Hope its a cheap fix.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
By all means disconnect the cable and withdraw the inner. It should be clean, but they can suffer from corrosion, especially at the lower end close to the drive. I had one break and replaced the whole thing. I used an outdoor tv aerial rubber sleeve to protect where the outer joins the drive.
If yours is OK, clean and grease it, but not the topmost foot, otherwise there is a risk grease will work its way into the speedo head.
If yours is OK, clean and grease it, but not the topmost foot, otherwise there is a risk grease will work its way into the speedo head.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
Likes: 3,873
From: Upstate New York
When did you last disassemble the cable and grease it? I do mine every 5,000 miles. It sounds like you may have either a dry cable, or it may have become pinched or kinked, causing the erratic operation.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: SE Michigan
Winner!!
p.s. Is this HD Forum AWESOME or what??? 
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Road Master
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Cool!! Don't you just love when a problem is fixed without having to throw money at it?? The EVO section is the best, real people helping each other. I just got home. Not many nights like tonight left around here. 78 degrees at 3 am.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,205
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From: SE Michigan
Speedo Gremlin is back...
Rode to my buddy's yesterday to meet up for a ride and after about 15 mi. 2 blocks from his house it ( speedometer) stopped working again. I'm thinking it's probably the drive unit on the front wheel or the old cable? I've ordered both parts new from JP Cycle and was sure to get the correct speedo cable this time. How hard is it to replace that front wheel speedo drive unit? Does the wheel have to come off and bike be jacked up?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 992
Likes: 143
From: eastern NC
When mine quit a few weeks ago, I expected the worse. Unscrew it from the front wheel. When I did, it was the cable. I replaced it and the housing for about $30. If it is the gear drive, then it is also about $30. You have to take the axel out, but I don't think it is a big fix.