Riding my 02 softail last week and the speed and odometer just stopped...came back on but would periodically quit . Any ideas what to look for first? Unfortuantely the remnants of Fay have kept me from riding this week....
Thanks,
GEESE

 

I had the same thing happen to mine. It's a '96 Softail Springer and I don't know how much they have changed but mine was in the wiring. Speedo, odometer, and turn signal cancellation worked intermittently.

Underneath the tank there are several multi wire plug blocks. Check a wiring diagram and find the power and ground wire for the speed control. With the ignition on, you should have close to 12 volts on a multi meter on the power wire. If so, it's probably the ground.

I had a ground wire in one of the blocks that wasn't crimped and simply pulled out so I put a touch of solder on it and all is well.

Yours may be something else but it's worth it to check the simple stuff first. Hope it helps.

Jeff

 

A lot of threads have been posted on this subject and the most prevelant answer has pointed to the speed sensor on top of the transmission being coated with crud on the pickup end of the switch. Try removing the switch and wipe it clean. Being a 6 yr old bike that's a good possibility.

 

I had my speedometer and tach go out. Went home and pulled the speed sensor. It was clean, so I put it back in and called the dealer. Bike was still under warranty. They got me in the next morning and had it fixed in 2 hours. They said it was a loose wire, which I figured probably happened with extra work that was done on the bike after it was sold.
It it is 20 miles to the dealer and the speedometer and tach worked fine while I was riding there. I thought I was wasting my time bringing it in since everything was working, so it would be hard for them to find the fault. That was about 1-1/2 years ago. No problems since then.
Tom

 

mine has done that a few times usually when I had the dash off and put it back on
thos connectors on the bottom may feel and look like the are plugged in nice and tight but mine have had a habit of comming undone..

 

When it cuts out do your turn sigs still work? If not check your Ignition swith contacts inside are prob dirty... clean and some elec grease. careful when you take it apart so you know where everthing goes, good luck!

 

thanks for the responses...i still haven't had time to get out for a nice long ride to see if anything has changed yet since looking at things. Story, the turn signals did work when the speed and odo. cut out.

GEESE

 

Mine went out on my 04 Heritage and it was junk on the speed sensor, I just changed out the sensor and its worked fine since.