2004 883 Sportster....What happens when you power on the ignition?

Not having even started my bike for 4-5 years after an 'incident' I finally got around to putting the carb and a bit of wiring back on today.

the Incident was that I had dropped it, and it ripped wires out of the RH bar and trashed the speedo., so it could not be run.

Any way...I got it re wired and running today...but


I thought I always remembered, that when the ignition key was first put to the 'ON ' position, that the speed needle went full scale and back to zero.

This is not happening now...was I mistaken? or is something trash with this speedo or the wiring..it is a new one, from the dealer, calibrated to the correct milage as the old trashed one.

Neil, welcome back to the forum, it has been a long time. Since your bike is an 04 and is carbed, I do not think that the speedo should bounce when you turn the key to the "on" position. Having the needle bounce usually takes place with the EFI bikes. If I am mistaken, please, somebody correct me. Anyways, nice to see you back again.

Yes, it has been a long time. I have still been on the road, on electric mountain biles.....homemade 100 volt , 14,000W. 55mph ebikes though, not the boring approved 250W 15 mph ones !

I have found out when the sweep does occur. It happens when you power on with the trip reset pressed, when entering diagnostics.

Problem solved, and so far, No diagnostic faults showing