Harley GPS Flaw?
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
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From: Arizona
Harley GPS Flaw?
After about 6 weeks of trouble free use out of my new Harley GPS, yesterday it started to give me problems. Those of you who have read the various threads regarding these units are probably aware of the power interruptions that cause the unit to power down. It would seem that several members of this forum that have these units have experienced this problem. Yesterday, while riding to meet BillNourse in Tombstone, mine started to do the same thing. I have almost 5000 miles logged on this unit with no problem, and now it won't maintain power unless I am pushing it into its cradle. As a workaround, I changed the setting so that it doesn't shut itself down on loss of power. However, thatjust caused it to drain its battery.
It seems that if so many people are having the same problem, that there must be a design flaw either in the cradle or the Hot Shoe. For the amount of money these things cost, it is not unreasonable to expect them to work reliably, and without having to take them apart and fix them (or break them while trying to fix them). This is BS as far as I'm concerned considering that I can purchase other units for less, and use a different mounting system for a trouble free device. Am I off base here, or does this just suck?
Steve
It seems that if so many people are having the same problem, that there must be a design flaw either in the cradle or the Hot Shoe. For the amount of money these things cost, it is not unreasonable to expect them to work reliably, and without having to take them apart and fix them (or break them while trying to fix them). This is BS as far as I'm concerned considering that I can purchase other units for less, and use a different mounting system for a trouble free device. Am I off base here, or does this just suck?
Steve
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From:
RE: Harley GPS Flaw?
I agree that this does "suck" I also purchased mine before the price drop so I was double scr_wed. I seems to work fine now with the firmware change and fixing the contact inside the shoe. Now I just have to wait till I return from Iraq to ride it.
The price drop realy p_sses me off though. Buying it rite away cost me extra. "Life" oh well.
Rich
The price drop realy p_sses me off though. Buying it rite away cost me extra. "Life" oh well.
Rich
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,978
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From: Cedar Point, NC
RE: Harley GPS Flaw?
Horn,
How did you fix the contact? Never mind, did a search and found it...my contacts aren't messed up, I wonder if the dielectric grease is what's helping you out...
Mac
How did you fix the contact? Never mind, did a search and found it...my contacts aren't messed up, I wonder if the dielectric grease is what's helping you out...
Mac
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
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From: Arizona
RE: Harley GPS Flaw?
Today I purchased some products at Radio Shack called DeoxIt and ProGold made by CAIG Laboratories. They are an electrical contact cleaner and protectant. I used them on all the contacts of the GPS unit, and now it appears to be working normally again. Time will tell if this is just required maintanance, or if the unit is flawed in some other way.
Steve
Steve
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Joined: May 2005
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From: St. Johns, MI USA
RE: Harley GPS Flaw?
I think you talking about the Harley GPS not the Garmin Quest. I have the Garmin Quest and could not mount it on the Harley. So I bought a cradle from Garmin to fit a motorcycle and made my own mounting bracket. Mine works great in the car and on the bike. Is there a difference between the way Harley connects to the GPS?
Does your cradle plug into the the Harley mount and then the GPS plugs into the cradle? If so are you checking both sets of contacts? My cradle has a rubber plug on the back with pins.
Ed
[IMG]local://upfiles/2381/1BB3E742F6234837A9BDFCE1929AFDAD.jpg[/IMG]
Does your cradle plug into the the Harley mount and then the GPS plugs into the cradle? If so are you checking both sets of contacts? My cradle has a rubber plug on the back with pins.
Ed
[IMG]local://upfiles/2381/1BB3E742F6234837A9BDFCE1929AFDAD.jpg[/IMG]
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,978
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From: Cedar Point, NC
RE: Harley GPS Flaw?
They are EXACTLY the same.
The cradle slides into the HD mount, or Hotshoe is what they call it. the problem is not with the cradle into the hotshoe, it's the contact of the GPS unit with the cradle...at least that's where the problem was/is with mine.
Mac
The cradle slides into the HD mount, or Hotshoe is what they call it. the problem is not with the cradle into the hotshoe, it's the contact of the GPS unit with the cradle...at least that's where the problem was/is with mine.
Mac
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From: St. Johns, MI USA
RE: Harley GPS Flaw?
ORIGINAL: pilot1996
They are EXACTLY the same.
The cradle slides into the HD mount, or Hotshoe is what they call it. the problem is not with the cradle into the hotshoe, it's the contact of the GPS unit with the cradle...at least that's where the problem was/is with mine.
Mac
They are EXACTLY the same.
The cradle slides into the HD mount, or Hotshoe is what they call it. the problem is not with the cradle into the hotshoe, it's the contact of the GPS unit with the cradle...at least that's where the problem was/is with mine.
Mac
Mine does not have a "Hotshoe" mine has a round rubber plug with 6? pins in it and can not be removed from the bike. The cradle is different for Harley, maybe does not fit the same?
Ed
[IMG]local://upfiles/2381/BDCDFC467DFE4C169D6A648E15FA7BF7.jpg[/IMG]
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Cedar Point, NC
RE: Harley GPS Flaw?
The Hotshoe cannot be removed from the bike either. It basically has little slides on it that the cradle slides in, and clicks into place. The cradle then makes contact with the hot shoe on the back side...
Mac
Mac
Cruiser
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 144
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From: St. Johns, MI USA
RE: Harley GPS Flaw?
ORIGINAL: pilot1996
The Hotshoe cannot be removed from the bike either. It basically has little slides on it that the cradle slides in, and clicks into place. The cradle then makes contact with the hot shoe on the back side...
Mac
The Hotshoe cannot be removed from the bike either. It basically has little slides on it that the cradle slides in, and clicks into place. The cradle then makes contact with the hot shoe on the back side...
Mac
My cradle does not slide into a hot shoe, my cradle can not be removed from the bike.
I think.
Your bike has a hotshoe mounted solid........ the cradle pluges into the hotshoe........... the GPS slides into the cradle............three pieces.
Now
Mine has a cradle mounted solid to the bike with three screws............... the GPS pluges into it............two pieces.
I know the cradle is made different for Harley now and does that mean the slide that holds the GPS tight may be farther out?
In the photo it shows the wire that pluges into the cradle and the square back piece with three holes with nuts in it that holds the screws for the cradle to mount to the bike.
Ed
[IMG]local://upfiles/2381/C6F8483A77D3440EAD7171A494B2DC01.jpg[/IMG]