Speed Sensor--Clean or Replace?
I have a 2001 Wide Glide. The speedometer doesn't work, the odometer turns on but doesn't change mileage. The signals wont turn off when they should. I'm guessing that I need to replace the speed sensor, but checking here first.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 2,877
From: Oklahoma
Perfectly good guess. Don't know how easy the access is on your machine but except for a little nuisance, cleaning first is practically free. If you find it contaminated, with the standard metal fuzz, I would also recommend a transmission lube change as that is how the fuzz gets carried to the sensor and the magnet on the drain plug may be holding all it can already. Perhaps more frequent lube changes should be considered also.
MY speedo stopped working a week ago. I wiggle the connection under the seat. Started the bike. The speedo read 120 mph. Then the mileage changed to what I guess It currently is after a week of riding. then stopped working again.
Perfectly good guess. Don't know how easy the access is on your machine but except for a little nuisance, cleaning first is practically free. If you find it contaminated, with the standard metal fuzz, I would also recommend a transmission lube change as that is how the fuzz gets carried to the sensor and the magnet on the drain plug may be holding all it can already. Perhaps more frequent lube changes should be considered also.
Thanks. I haven't owned the bike in 6-7 years, so don't know what the old owner did for maintenance, but it will be going back to its old yearly lube change. I don't ride a lot so that should be good.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 1,759
From: Atlanta, GA
I replaced mine on my '99 1200 recently and want to add some hopefully useful tips from my experience. The advice here on this thread really helped; thanks all! It was a real PITA getting the old sensor out; the screw is almost inaccessible on my bike. But I did find an easy way to route the wires of the new sensor.
First disassemble the Deutsch connectors on the old and new sensor. This is easy and there are YouTube videos that can show you how.
You can fish the wires through. Once you have the old sensor unscrewed and are ready to remove it, take 2 long pipe cleaners and twist them together to make a long one. Twist one end of the pipe cleaner to the wires on the old sensor. Carefully pull the sensor out as you draw the pipe cleaner through. The other end of the pipe cleaner should still be sticking out where the connector was on the opposite side of the bike. Then remove the old sensor and connect the pipe cleaner to the wires on the new sensor. Now use the other end of the cleaner to draw the wires back to through to where the connector will be. Reassemble the Deutsch connector. This worked a lot better than I thought it would. I used pipe cleaners because I had them handy, but it turned out it held the wires securely as I pulled them through.
First disassemble the Deutsch connectors on the old and new sensor. This is easy and there are YouTube videos that can show you how.
You can fish the wires through. Once you have the old sensor unscrewed and are ready to remove it, take 2 long pipe cleaners and twist them together to make a long one. Twist one end of the pipe cleaner to the wires on the old sensor. Carefully pull the sensor out as you draw the pipe cleaner through. The other end of the pipe cleaner should still be sticking out where the connector was on the opposite side of the bike. Then remove the old sensor and connect the pipe cleaner to the wires on the new sensor. Now use the other end of the cleaner to draw the wires back to through to where the connector will be. Reassemble the Deutsch connector. This worked a lot better than I thought it would. I used pipe cleaners because I had them handy, but it turned out it held the wires securely as I pulled them through.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
FreddyP
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
1
Jul 7, 2006 11:42 AM
cleaning, glide, harley, milwaukee, model, motorcycle, replace, replacing, road, sensor, speed, speedo, speedometer, touring, transmission
