I have a 1996 Springer that I’m having problems with the speedometer and the odometer. About 1 second after I turn the key on, the speedometer needles goes to 80mph and stays there. Also, the odometer is reading 0.0000 and doesn’t show the milage went I push the reset button. The bike has been doing this every since I removed the consule when I painted the bike. I replaced the speed sensor and that didn’t work. Ive checked all the wring for loose connections and it all seems ok. Could it be the speedometer got damaged or it something else? Than you for you help in advance.

 

If the odometer is reading zero, it is more likely an internal fault in the speedo. Low battery voltage can make those speedos do weird stuff too. Worth checking you have 12.8 volts at least. My odometer went back to zero temporarily when I was having regulator problems and low voltage due to that.

 

I just put a brand new HD battery in it. I checked It and it has 13volts.

 

Could it be a faulty ignition switch? That provides the current to all of that, yes? A few years ago, when I had a 06 XL1200, my speedo was doing strange things. I chased it all over the bike. When I replaced the ignition switch, ( the keyed component, not the handlebar switch), problem solved.

 

'The bike has been doing this every since I removed the consule when I painted the bike'
Think you already know where to look for the prob, anything eles you disconnected preppin for paint?

 

Thank you, ’ll check the ignition switch. I forgot to mention I plugged the ignition switch connector in backwards during reassembly. Easy to do, since the 3 position connector can plug in either way.

 

I believe this is your speedometer....



Make sure to check the speedometer connections for possible bent pins..... Sometimes when separating and reattaching the those connectors, you can inadvertently bend one of the pins, and it won't make contact even when the connector is put back together....


Good luck with the diagnosis and repair....

 

i've done this on other connections. take it apart and double check the pins. if it was fine before you took it apart ,there is a good possibility this is the problem...

 

Thank you for you help Sir. Since you mentioned the problem may be connector pin continuity. I’m going to check continuity on the pins and sockets while 2 connectors are connected. I’ll let you know the results from the test.

 

Then later add:
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Background:
The actual FACTORY speedometer is not a plug and play unit for that era if the analog looking speedometer has odometer with LCD display.
The factory speedometer is a hard wired unit for that era of bike if the odometer is LCD.
The LCD odometer for that era sometimes leaks and screen looks like ink spilled so people sometimes update.

Next:
This is important if you disconnected the wires going to the factory hard wired speedometer by unbolting them from the threaded bolts on back of speedometer.
Those wires with ring terminals I believe control voltage.
The hard wired "wire" that went into the speedometer and disappears I believe is the triangle plug speed sensor end connector.
IF you somehow threaded to wrong part then unit may light up but not really function.

Did you label connections prior to removal?
*Another possibility is that trip reset button wire is somehow stuck in the pressed position but you could just disconnect one of the two wires and check.

Also:
Keep in mind that plugs by seat edge are sometimes also disconnected to paint or whatever and the wires at those plugs feed speedometer.
In other words you need to follow the hard wires from speedometer backwards.

Most likely a wire is not making contact or is not connected correctly.

If your bike just had the hard wired speedometer changed to a 12 wire plug and play unit by using an adapter wire harness then you need to check each wire for correct orientation because the wire harness from under seat area to new style plug speedometer may have been wired incorrectly by the aftermarket factory.