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2008 tachometer need info

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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 08:59 PM
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Default 2008 tachometer need info

OK, I hate the new tank based tachometer offered by HD for the RoadKing, when you need a tach, you sure don't want to be looking down at the tank!! Also, I like a more aero look and the flat cans they offer for the HD tachs don't get it. So I got a cool Baron tach and guess what....no instructions for the 2008. Called Baron and for about a week and a half I've been getting the run-around. They say their working with a local (to them) dealer. All I need to know is where to hook up the sensor wire. Y'know, the one that used to go to the low side of the coil in the good old non-fuel-injected days. I've been warned by a guy at the stealer that hooking to the coil could throw a code since the system is so tricky with the fly-by-wire throttle introduced in 2008.

No, it's not the pink wire. No, it's not pin number three on the ECM. The darn tach connection is there somewhere, but I can't find out what it is. The local dealers don't have the electrical manual for sale, too new maybe. They have their own, but they won't let me look at it (I suspect they really don't have one and don't want to admit it).

The ECM on the 2008 has a completely different plug than the 2007 it has maybe 50 pins and the entire first of four columns is empty so pins 1 through maybe 20 are empty. I didn't see a wire I could definitely call pink anywhere. There's got to be a tach connection because they want to sell those $500 tank top tachometers.

anyone done this already??
 
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 12:09 PM
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Default RE: 2008 tachometer need info

Wow, this board moves fast. I'm just bumping this up so people can see it.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 12:37 PM
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Default RE: 2008 tachometer need info

I'm in the process of installing an HD tach on my 08 FLHR - I don't have the instructions infront of me (cause I'm goofing off at work) but if I recall the tach signal comes from the 3rd pin in the speedo connector. The HD tach gives you a pink pinned wire to insert into this connector. I'll look at and confirm those intructions tonight if it's any help.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 12:49 PM
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Default RE: 2008 tachometer need info

That would be great. It may be that I'll have to run a wire from somewhere on the ECM, or up on the speedo or for that matter, some other darn place. I'll bet they have actually made it easy, but who knows.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 06:38 PM
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Default RE: 2008 tachometer need info

Okay home now - just looking at the instructions which turn out to be basically what I said earlier -"the tachometer signal source is the #3 cavity in the connector (39B) on the back of the speedometer." On my FLHR there is a white connectormolded to the back of the speedo and in cavity 3 there appears to be a temporary plug. My kit comes with a wire harness that has a terminal on it which is inserted into the plug and then run to the tach. According the instructions the tach signal source for 94-98 FLHR's was the ECM harness - for 99-03 FLHR's it was a pink wire "near" the speedo conector.

I havn't actually done this yet cause I'm fighting with the &^%% secondary lock on the main fuse block - I need to remove this lock to insert a terminal for tach power so if you have any experience getting this lock off I'd appreciated hearing it.

Thanks
 
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 07:46 PM
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Default RE: 2008 tachometer need info

Great, I'll try plugging into the #3 terminal on the speedo and see if it works. I haven't tried to dismantle the fuse block yet, do you really have to go there for power? There's power to the speedo already. What the heck do they need that for. Is there another wiring harness on the tach you got?

Actually, it may be for the lights since they change colors and stuff.

Thank you very much for the hint, I hope it works.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 08:14 PM
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Default RE: 2008 tachometer need info

Couldn't resist, took a look and the darn pins on the speedo aren't numbered.... There's one pin unused on one side and two pins unused on the other side. Is there any indication which side is the number 3 pin?

Additionally, this is a complex plug with a rubber washer that compresses to keep the rain out with a snap on plastic retainer on top that has the catches to hold the plug in place. Did they say anything about how to put in the new pin? Like taking apart the plug or something?

So much for simple.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 08:38 PM
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Default RE: 2008 tachometer need info

ORIGINAL: draythomp

Couldn't resist, took a look and the darn pins on the speedo aren't numbered.... There's one pin unused on one side and two pins unused on the other side. Is there any indication which side is the number 3 pin?

Additionally, this is a complex plug with a rubber washer that compresses to keep the rain out with a snap on plastic retainer on top that has the catches to hold the plug in place. Did they say anything about how to put in the new pin? Like taking apart the plug or something?

So much for simple.
I've had theelectrical manual since last August, I think your dealer just doesn't stock it.

It looks like the speedometer connector is a 12 pin Packard. The instructions for the connectors are in Appendix A of the service manual. It looks like pin 1 is the orange wire, so you should be able to count from there.

BTW, you can find this in the service manual schematics.

Jim
 
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 11:20 PM
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Default RE: 2008 tachometer need info

Took another look and I do have an orange wire on one of the corners and two down is empty so it looks like you led me to pin three. It looks like pin 3 and 4 are not (currently) used so now I need to hunt down a pin to put in there.

I really, really wouldn't be driving you folks nuts with questions if I could get the darn manual without having to order it. I'm going to check on the other dealers around here and see if they have the manual yet. When I first tried a week or so ago, I couldn't find one. I know I can order it, but I wanted to get it quicker than a week or two away. Funny how that worked out.

Thanks a bunch for all the help. Now if I only had appendix A so I could see how to manipulate the darn plug.
 
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Old Apr 10, 2008 | 07:28 AM
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Default RE: 2008 tachometer need info

I appologize, I thought you were missing the electrical manual but had a service manual. I'll see if I can figure out how to write how to get the plug apart. I did this on a Softail and I remember just pushing the pin into the rear of the connector, but maybe I'm forgetting steps.
 
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