Harley tachometer

I recently bought a speedometer/tachometer combo. on EBAY for a 1995 sportster to replace the speedometer only that was on my 1995 883 sportster. Works great but do not know the function of the indicator light on the tachometer near the 6 o'clock position of the instrument. The word 'ENGINE' is printed just above this indicator. DOES ANYONE KNOW THE FUNCTION OF THIS IDICATOR LIGHT? It does not come on when the bike is started. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

THANKS!!!

I believe that's to be wired to the oil pressure sensor, so that if the engine lost oil pressure for any reason the light would come on. And hooked up properly, it would come on when you turn the key on & flip the handlebar switch to RUN, but haven't started the engine yet. Then once the engine's running it should go off. There was a light in the panel of the stock speedometer setup which did the same thing.

Art is right on the money with this!

Thanks for the response. This speedo/tach. combo. has the indicator panel that you reference that the other speedometer only setup had which works exactly as you mentioned. The 'ENGINE' light on the tachometer however does not come on at all, even if the engine is off with no oil pressure and the key placed in the 'ON' position. Not aware of any special setup (wiring) to make this light on the tachometer operate. Maybe the bulb is just burned out.

Is the speedo / tach unit you got off a stock XL 1200, or aftermarket?

Supposedly came from a stock 1995 sportster 1200 but don't know for sure. Bought it on EBAY. Everything else on the combo. works great.

Both gauges are Harley Davidson instruments as indicated on the lower 6 0'clock position of both gauges.

I don't have my '95 service manual here & was looking @ the '95 schematics on BikeBandit, but no help there, as to how that light is wired. You should get the factory service manual, but I wouldn't be concerned about that particular light. Since there's no cooling system, an ENGINE light can't mean low coolant, assuming stock ignition module, the rev-limiter will kick in before you rev too high & there should be a low oil-pressure "idiot light" in the instrument panel anyway. Sportster's don't need much oil pressure to begin with & when they lose it, you'd no doubt hear the valvetrain clatter before you'd notice the light!