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Speedo issue

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Old May 28, 2018 | 07:35 PM
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Default Speedo issue

Twice in the last week while riding my speedometer will show that I’m going a lot slower than my actual speed. Today I’m going 3000 rpm in 5th and it’s showing 48-49 mph. I stop to get gas, start the bike back up and it starts reading accurately again. I assume the speedometer going out, but is there anything else it could be, or ideas how to check it? ‘03 FLHR.
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Old May 28, 2018 | 07:39 PM
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Speed sensor dirty?
 
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Old May 28, 2018 | 08:11 PM
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Thanks Dawg. I looked in the service manual and couldn’t find any info on it, so I looked on the net real quick. From what I read this would be the sensor,correct?

 
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Old May 28, 2018 | 08:14 PM
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Yes, looks like it. It is atop the transmission. Take it off and you’ll see metal gunk stuck to it. Can either clean or replace. Not that expensive.
 

Last edited by dawg; May 28, 2018 at 08:15 PM.
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Old May 28, 2018 | 08:17 PM
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Cool! Beats a new speedometer, that’s for sure. I’ll pull it out tomorrow. Thanks!
 
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Old May 28, 2018 | 08:18 PM
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Could always be the speedo failing, but I’d start with the cleaning the sensor and see if it fixes it.
 
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Old May 29, 2018 | 01:40 PM
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As mentioned, the VSS might just be dirty. Clean it and see if that fixes it. I had an 03 Road King and same thing happened. Mine turned out to be the speedo and as luck would have it that part is obsolete. You'll probably have to go with an aftermarket piece if you need to replace yours.
 
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Old May 30, 2018 | 09:06 AM
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Thanks guys.
I had to take what looks like an oil return line out of the way to get it out. Just curious if it’s normal to have metallic sludge on the sensor? I assume it’s magnetized to catch metal debris, kind of like a oil drain plug?
Anyway it’s clean and put back in,so I’ll keep an eye on it to see if I have the problem again.
 
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Old May 30, 2018 | 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by 67drake
Thanks guys.
I had to take what looks like an oil return line out of the way to get it out. Just curious if it’s normal to have metallic sludge on the sensor? I assume it’s magnetized to catch metal debris, kind of like a oil drain plug?
Anyway it’s clean and put back in,so I’ll keep an eye on it to see if I have the problem again.
Yes its normal to have some metal on it. Hopefully that was the problem. If it happens again replace the sensor before you go all in for a speedo. The sensor isn't expensive, the speedo will cost you some scratch.
 
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Old May 30, 2018 | 06:48 PM
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Default moving needle

At 65mph, with cruise control on, the check engine light came on, the 6th gear light went out/came on/went out/ came on, and cruise control turned off. Then, the speedo needle jumped to 140 mph, the to 0, then to 60 mph. It did this many times for several miles. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over?
 
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