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speedo problems

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Old May 25, 2012 | 11:46 AM
  #1  
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83flh-bigboy
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Default speedo problems

hi i need some help on my 1983 flh bike?? my speedo is jump around ..form 0-3mph. then it zip to 45=70 mph.. but I'm going 30 mph.(2 week a go the speedo 0 cable came off (i took the dash apart. i put the cable on. but the wrong way. it pull tight..so i pull it thou ,so it would not be so tight {i oil it when i had the dash off}) ) it is a 83flh no tach..(i got the bike 5 year ago. From my brother...it has 9,000 miles on it ) ??? thank you all,,,
mark
 
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Old May 26, 2012 | 05:56 AM
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have you looked at the speedo sensor itself? should be located on the left side of the front wheel.
 
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Old May 29, 2012 | 12:59 PM
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Two possibilities come to mind. One is the speedo head may be on the way out, but first check the speedo cable (it doesn't have a sensor). Hopefully your brother passed on a service manual!

Disconnect the cable at both ends and gently pull out the wire inner. It will probably come out at the speedo end. Check its condition, which should be clean steel, with a little lubricant.

More likely the poor thing will be very rusty and may even not come out easily. If so throw the entire cable away and get a new replacement. Before you fit it, remove the inner and lightly grease the lower half (not the speedo end). Don't grease the upper half as there is a risk the grease will work its way inside the speedo and make a real mess!

Hope that helps.
 
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Old May 29, 2012 | 03:50 PM
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Originally Posted by grbrown
Before you fit it, remove the inner and lightly grease the lower half (not the speedo end). Don't grease the upper half as there is a risk the grease will work its way inside the speedo and make a real mess!
I've never worked out how to only grease the lower half without getting grease on the upper half.
 
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Old May 29, 2012 | 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Big Trev
I've never worked out how to only grease the lower half without getting grease on the upper half.
Good point! The grease should be lightly applied to the wire, before threading it into the outer. Admittedly some may be rubbed off while inserting it, but the majority will stay on the wire as it works its way through.

By contrast, if the entire length is greased, inserting the wire will accumulate a lot of grease at the upper/speedo end, which is most undesirable. Once grease gets inside, such is the mess it can make the speedo head is virtually unrecoverable!
 
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Old May 30, 2012 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by grbrown
Good point! The grease should be lightly applied to the wire, before threading it into the outer. Admittedly some may be rubbed off while inserting it, but the majority will stay on the wire as it works its way through.

By contrast, if the entire length is greased, inserting the wire will accumulate a lot of grease at the upper/speedo end, which is most undesirable. Once grease gets inside, such is the mess it can make the speedo head is virtually unrecoverable!
Not greasing the top part has been the recommended way of doing it for years, but no one explains how to achieve it.
Perhaps whats needed is a chain lube aerosol with a straw about 18"long
 
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