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TOPIC: Re:Speedometer issues
#1022024
thatjeepguy (User)
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Speedometer issues 5 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
My speedometer decided not to work yesterday for about 3/4 of my 25 mile ride home. No sweep, no nothing but it was working when I got home. I've read other posts on speedometers and I've decided to check and clean the connections this weekend and go from there if that doesn't work.
My question is about the speed sensor. I realize it has a possibility of being the problem but if it went bad, isn't it designed to send a code to the check engine light?
 
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#1022035
G_Conway (User)
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Re:Speedometer issues 5 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
thatjeepguy wrote:
My speedometer decided not to work yesterday for about 3/4 of my 25 mile ride home. No sweep, no nothing but it was working when I got home. I've read other posts on speedometers and I've decided to check and clean the connections this weekend and go from there if that doesn't work.
My question is about the speed sensor. I realize it has a possibility of being the problem but if it went bad, isn't it designed to send a code to the check engine light?


High probability it is not an "electrical issue." The needles are not actually "connected" to anything (It's called an Air-Coil. A 3 pole magnetic field controls its position. The sweep is actually just to calibrate the needle each time you start (fuel needle is the same.

Get yourself some light weight "sewing machine" oil. Put a dab on the post (from the back requires a lot of disassembly) or pop off the needle from the top of the post and drip the oil in that way. You may need to put the needle lightly back on to move it around and get the oil to penitrate. I am assuming the needle just seems to freeze in position when it fails? If it's falling back to zero, you may be correct on an electrical connector issue (or failing solder joint on the Ckt board.)
 
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#1022037
QA2FalconRet (User)
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Re:Speedometer issues 5 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
I had the same problem on my 02 with 73K mi. speedo would either not read anything or only 20 - 30 mph no matter what speed I went, checked all connectors but no change, sometimes it would work properly. So I put the drop of sewing mach. oil on the shaft from the inside and all is well every time, also did the fuel gauge needle while I was there. Not difficult to disassemble, fuel gauge will read full after reassembly no matter how much gas you have I'm thinking it's do to being disconnected but not to worry it will correct it self after a few minutes of run time. Hope this helps someone.
NOTE: Speedo would work properly on the first ride of the day but after a stop at a store or whatever it would not work, sometimes I could turn bike off an restart it would work sometimes, oil fixed it all.
 
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#1022070
thatjeepguy (User)
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Re:Speedometer issues 5 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
G_Conway wrote:
thatjeepguy wrote:
My speedometer decided not to work yesterday for about 3/4 of my 25 mile ride home. No sweep, no nothing but it was working when I got home. I've read other posts on speedometers and I've decided to check and clean the connections this weekend and go from there if that doesn't work.
My question is about the speed sensor. I realize it has a possibility of being the problem but if it went bad, isn't it designed to send a code to the check engine light?


High probability it is not an "electrical issue." The needles are not actually "connected" to anything (It's called an Air-Coil. A 3 pole magnetic field controls its position. The sweep is actually just to calibrate the needle each time you start (fuel needle is the same.

Get yourself some light weight "sewing machine" oil. Put a dab on the post (from the back requires a lot of disassembly) or pop off the needle from the top of the post and drip the oil in that way. You may need to put the needle lightly back on to move it around and get the oil to penitrate. I am assuming the needle just seems to freeze in position when it fails? If it's falling back to zero, you may be correct on an electrical connector issue (or failing solder joint on the Ckt board.)

When I left work all was well. I noticed a couple blocks away that the Speedo wasn't working. It was just pegged At 0. At two traffic lights I turned the ignition off and on but it didn't help. I got on the freeway and about 15 miles later I looked down and it was back working.
 
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#1022073
G_Conway (User)
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Re:Speedometer issues 5 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
No sweep usually is not an intermittent issue. Still sounds like needle sticking.
 
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#1022083
thatjeepguy (User)
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Re:Speedometer issues 5 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
G_Conway wrote:
No sweep usually is not an intermittent issue. Still sounds like needle sticking.
My only question now is do I use conventional sewing machine oil or the synthetic?
Good to know motorcyclists aren't the only ones with the oil dilemma.....lol
 
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#1022087
G_Conway (User)
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Re:Speedometer issues 5 Months, 2 Weeks ago  
thatjeepguy wrote:
G_Conway wrote:
No sweep usually is not an intermittent issue. Still sounds like needle sticking.
My only question now is do I use conventional sewing machine oil or the synthetic?
Good to know motorcyclists aren't the only ones with the oil dilemma.....lol


Wont matter at all. By the way, we all say "sewing machine oil" but any VERY thin oil will work. Your just looking for something that will not dry or get sticky over time. I have not tried it, but I would guess "air tool oil" would work also. So any place like home depot???
 
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Last Edit: 2017/09/12 21:05 By G_Conway.
 

Gerry
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#1022340
thatjeepguy (User)
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Re:Speedometer issues 5 Months, 1 Week ago  
I pulled the speedo yesterday, dropped some sewing machine oil down the shaft under the speedometer and a drop down the fuel gauge and now both are working flawlessly. Thanks for the help!
 
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