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Hey folks! Last fall I picked up a new-to-me 1983 Shovelhead, FLHP. She didnt run at the time but with some tinkering, a few parts and elbow grease she now runs. Now that she runs, Id like to try to get the speedo / odometer to work. From everything Ive read, in 1983, the flh 80 used a cable to the front wheel and Im guessing that is the primary reason this old girl has no movement. This bike has an FX front end, unknown year. Is this simply going to be me finding the right cable? I expect no, since factory was a 16 wheel and this FX is a 19 wheel.
I do see what I believe would be the front speedo gear on the right side. I have not pulled it off to check for part numbers yet.
1983 FLHP W/ FX front Speedo gear
Curious if anyone has any tips for me on this part of the project?
Welcome from SE CT, very nice bike! The speedometer drive is there but missing the drive part. You're best bet is to buy a new drive and a cable for an FX, like my 79. There are two sizes of nuts where the cable attaches to the gauges, but both attach to the drive the same way. Joe
ps I just realized, some FLs drove the speedometer from the transmission and the ratio won't work with a front wheel setup. Look at the front of the transmission for where a cable would attach to see if you have that.
Best guess is that you have a set of Showa forks. If so you can find the marking here, on the inside of the forks
Rear brake looks aftermarket; front brakes look like they are HD. If so they are marked as this
Front wheel looks like a HD 9 spoke. Dual disc puts the front end at around 1978 and later.
If the speedometer is 83 FLH it will look similar to this
Hd FLH models from 81 on used the Nippon Seiki speedometer It is a 2240:60 drive unit. You cannot use a Stewart Warner speedometer (2:1 & 1:1) with a front wheel drive unit.
Front wheel drive units were different from FLH to FX models. Cables between them also varied by the length and top nut.. I would think that you could buy the FLH style speedometer cable and install it and have it function correctly. The drive unit is set up for the 19" wheel. The speedomemer head only reads what the drive unit inputs, so I would assume that you would get an accurate reading.
I am sure that someone will be able to clarify it better and correct my assumptions if I am wrong.
FWIW, if you can't find a right side 2240:60 speedometer drive with the correct spacer for a narrow glide, get the 21" wide glide unit and swap the guts into what you have already:
The front end, a dual disk Showa narrow glide, first arrived in 1977 on the FXS, stayed until the FXR of 1983... by 1984 they were Single disk again..They were All Showas [from the factory].. the speedo drive may be a 2/1 or more likely a 2240:60.. it may or May Not have a 2240:60 speedometer.. easily Changed... the FL did Not have Tranny Speedo drive in 1983... None I ever saw Stock anyway!!
Nice Ride... I think the 35mm Narrow Glide is Sleek!!!!
Being an '83 I believe it was driven from the front wheel. This is what I'd come up with:
=-=-=- Drive unit front wheel:
67073-81 1981-up FLH-80, Classic 1982 to 1986 FLT
No seal spacer, sits flush 2.75:1 ratio
16" wheel right side Drive Cable front wheel:
67026-81 1981 to 1985 FLH-80, Classic Length 35" Top nut 12mm Speedometer Head:
67006-81A 1981-up FLH-80 - Police - Front Wheel
=-=-=-=-
So, 12mm top nut? Are all the FX** the same?
Originally Posted by Joe12RK
Welcome from SE CT, very nice bike! The speedometer drive is there but missing the drive part. You're best bet is to buy a new drive and a cable for an FX, like my 79. There are two sizes of nuts where the cable attaches to the gauges, but both attach to the drive the same way. Joe
ps I just realized, some FLs drove the speedometer from the transmission and the ratio won't work with a front wheel setup. Look at the front of the transmission for where a cable would attach to see if you have that.
The beauty of customized bikes is you can never be sure.
I have parts books for both of my shovelheads, and they both have narrow glide front ends with 19" wheels:
1982 FXR
Speedo drive 67127-73
Cable 67060-79A
71-84 FX
Drive Unit 67120-84B, 84 FXWG
... 67127-84A, 84 FXSB, Late 84 FXE-80
... 67127-73, 73-83 all models except FXWG
Cable 67077-84, Late 84 FXE-80
... 67052-78A, Late 78-82 all models except FXWG
... 67051-73, 73 - early 78 all models
That is a Beauty... prolly has alot of Worth... But, I'm betting it drove off of a 16" wheel ... Not gonna be very accurate ... but... Good enough for the Girls I go with!!!
im pretty sure you can get the speedo re calibrated .you first find out by taking the cable out of the speedo and stick a paper made arrow on the inner cable turn the wheel 1 revolution and observe how many revolutions the cable makes
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1983 FLHP w/ FX front end
