Hello,
My uncle is having some issues with the speedometer on his 1999 Fatboy. Here's what I know.
While driving down the road sometimes theneedle will get stuck, sometimes it will go to zero. Whenever either of these two things happen the odometer display goes away. It can stay this way for many miles. Normally happens when the bike is cold. We were doing some trouble shooting in the garage today and found that we could make the odometer blank out occasionally while revving the engine. This would happen whether we had the speed sensor plugged in or not. When the key is on and nothing is running there is approximately 13 volts at the orange wire and 11 at the green wire. I noticed that the odometer will blank out while the engine is cranking over to start (don't know if this is normal) and the green wire will drop to 8 volts. I don't notice this voltage drop when the odometer is blanking out while revving, but I may have missed it. The speed sensor is new. The bike has 12000 miles. He just purchased and installed a speedometer from a 2003 softail with 400 miles off of ebay and has the same issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jason

 

Start a new thread in the Sportster section.

 

You do know that this thread is 3 years old, don't you?

To the OP, if he does read it, the needle is likely sticking on the black plastic band inside the speedo. It will swell and get disfigured from the heat. Mine did on my Sporty, and I just replaced the speedo with a brand new HD unit off of fleabay. Fixed it right up!

 

To fatboyrjk,
My 98 Fatboy has the very same problem. I found your thread while searching for an answer. I was wondering if you or anyone else here has found the problem as I am going to Daytona in two weeks and need my bike running perfect while there. Let me know either way....thanks.

 

I've got a 99 Heritage Softail and the speedometer is doing the same as fatboyrjk's is doing. It was working perfectly, then started blanking off and on, the needle would drop when the digits blanked out; When I turn on the ignition before starting, the digits light up and all is fine; when I start the engine, the digits may blank on and off but mostly will stay on; when I drop it into gear and take off.......the digits go off and the needle doesn't move. ???? I've replaced the transmission sensor and have checked most of the wiring (that I can get to easily). Will a new harness set connecting to the speedometer possibly solve the problem?? I've already tried another used speedometer (that was working before), but now does the same thing as the present one. Any ideas from some of "yuse guys" .....surely would be appreciated.

 

I have a 1999 softail and am having problems with my speedo. Has anybody tried to change the milage reset button on the side.

 

Hey did you ever able to resolve your speedo issues from a few years ago?