On the way home today the speedo starts acting erratic. I'm guessing a bad wire, but haven't had a chance to look into it yet. I did have a bad wire in the main harness on the tach last year and had it replaced, so I'm thinking it may be the same thing. Anyone had experience with this before? Could the sensor cause this problem too?

 

Had similar problem last summer. 2000 Ultra w 50k miles Is your radio cutting in and out also. You can pull codes of the speedo to assist in trouble shooting this also. I replaced the sensor and the next ride same thing. I found a 2 wires in the main harness where the bend is up into the fairing open inside the insulation and would only go open when the insulation was hot enough to expand. Clear all your codes out off speedo. see manual, then leave power on and work the harness to see if you can trip a code. Hope this helps. I pulled my hair out looking for this. Ride safe, Mark

 

Thanks, Snipman. Yeah, I figure it must be a bad wire(s). Nothing else seems to cut out, but I didn't test everything either while riding. I know the radio was working okay 'cause I was listening to it and no problems. I'll try to check some continuities and see what happens.

 

Tighten the battery cables. The speedometer will swing around the dial every time it thinks it's being switched on since it's electronic (ie intermittent connection). It would explain problem you are having the the clock on your radio too.

Ben

 

I'd check the sensor and clean the metal shavings off of it. You may need to replace the sensor. Usually when the sensor starts messing up it also affects the turn signal cancellation and the radio AVC control. If you're having just erratic needle it might be something else, but it wouldn't hurt to at least clean the sensor.

 

Will do, dawg. Certainly won't hurt anything.

 

Any luck?
I've got an 05 with the same problem. The needle bounces around erratically. I've already changed the speed sensor with no success. I have noticed it'll jump up to about 10 mph even in neutral. doesn't seem to do it at idle but happens as the engine is reved up. I'm starting to think loose connection.

 

X2guy, I took dawg's advice and cleaned off my sensor. After I did, the problem went away, although I'm waiting for it to show up again. It sure acted like the bad wire I had on my tach last year. Anyway, try running the speedo diagnostics and see what you get. All of mine were "Clr," so who knows. I was ready to check the red and white wires to the speed sensor, though. The manual has a fairly good troubleshooting guide, and there aren't that many wires involved. Good luck.

 

Thanks Taterdog.
I've got no codes and a new sensor installed. I have found the needle jumps around only when the engine is about 1400 rpm when driving or in neutral. I'm starting to think there may be a loose connection that vibrates only at 1400 rpm causing the needle to jump. I'm going to pull the dash apart and see what I can find.

 

Weird. Check the connections, but maybe you've got a bad speedometer. I don't know what vintage bike you have. If it's an older one like mine, maybe a bad wire, too. But, if a new one, I agree loose connection or bad speedo.