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No Speedometer or neutral light

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by Sportjunkee, Jul 10, 2013.

  1. Sportjunkee

    Sportjunkee Member

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    2005 HD XL1200C

    Was putting on saturday and speedometer and neutral light stopped working. All lights work and all instrument cluster lights work. Just no speedometer, odometer, or neutral light.

    All main fuses are okay that I was able to check in the fuse box under the seat.

    Is there a fuse located someplace else that could be blown?

    Thanks for any information you can give.
    Sportjunkee, Jul 10, 2013
    #1
  3. Red Rider

    Red Rider Well-Known Member

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    Are you sure the fuses are all good? Did you meter them, or just eyeball? Symptoms are just like a blown fuse, so I have to ask.

    If not a fuse, then check/clean your electrical connector for that area. Use regular Electronic Component Cleaner - any auto store has it.
    Red Rider, Jul 10, 2013
    #2
  4. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Fuse or bad connection
    FLHTbiker, Jul 10, 2013
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  5. Sportjunkee

    Sportjunkee Member

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    So I borrowed a meter and checked the fuses in the main fuse box under the seat. I found one that looked good but was bad. So I replaced the fuse and the speedometer started working again.

    Then I headed out for a putt tonight and had the speedo. After about 20 minutes or so, the speedo stopped working again. The fuse is probably blown again.

    Any ideas what could be causing the fuses to blow?

    Ideas please.

    Thanks
    Sportjunkee, Jul 12, 2013
    #4
  6. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Wire going to ground. I had one like that on my 01 Springer and wound up pulling the loom open and found a pinched wire. Cause was a new seat that was pinching the wire. Cut the wire out, spliced in a new section soldering both ends, slide the heat shrink over it, shrunk it down with a match and rerouted the wiring, problem solved.
    Could also be a loose wire someplace or a frayed wire that is touching a ground. Good luck and if you find it let us know. :D
    FLHTbiker, Jul 12, 2013
    #5
  7. joshbob

    joshbob Well-Known Member

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    Could be a loose, frayed, and/or corroded connection.
    joshbob, Jul 12, 2013
    #6
  8. cowboy

    cowboy Moderator Staff Member

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    05 model I'am sure the tank & or seat has been off more then once ,check all the wires running forword from the battery , might have to pull tank & seat again & work from there , look for or at where tank/seat mounts first then on word
    cowboy, Jul 12, 2013
    #7
  9. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    If you have a service manual, get to the wire diagrams
    follow the wires from the fuse that is blowing in the diagram up to the speedo lights.

    This will tell you which wires to inspect

    typically you have a power wire that has a cut, fray, worn spot and its
    touching metal and grounding, blows the fuse, otherwise there is a short in
    the speedo module that is doing the same internally,

    Unhook the speedo wires under the dash, change the fuse
    and see if it still blows, if not it may be in the speedo module.
    the wiggle test is good, turn on the electrics after you change the fuse
    then wiggle the wires as indicated in the diagram it's moving as you ride
    and shorting somewhere.
    hotroadking, Jul 12, 2013
    #8
  10. Red Rider

    Red Rider Well-Known Member

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    I'd guess that your connector or harness under the seat or tank are causing the shorting that blows the fuse, like all the other guys were suggesting. Find it and you'll be smiling, It could be in your handlebars- if nothing else is causing it - but that is the least likely. Please tell us of your results.
    Red Rider, Jul 12, 2013
    #9
  11. cardboard

    cardboard Well-Known Member

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    This old be a great time to trade it in on a 2014
    cardboard, Jul 13, 2013
    #10
  12. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Yep :D
    FLHTbiker, Jul 13, 2013
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  13. cardboard

    cardboard Well-Known Member

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    Time to trade the sportster in on a Street Bob or even better yet a Fat Bob which are both in the dyna family.
    I prefer the fatbob.
    Got a smoother riding bike, and a extra gear
    cardboard, Jul 13, 2013
    #12
  14. cowboy

    cowboy Moderator Staff Member

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    just maybe he like his sporty & just wants to fix it & ride
    cowboy, Jul 15, 2013
    #13
  15. Lucifer

    Lucifer Well-Known Member

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    :roflmao:Could be cowboy:cheers:....Speedo quits working ....Trade it in:roflmao:C'mon man:rolleyes:

    Like HRK and joshbob said....find the wire that feeds speedo...check both ends for loose connection,corrosion and fraying,then trace the wire from fuse to speedo and look for a cut/pinch in the insulation...it's not a dead short or it would blow right away....wiggle test will tell you if the wire is broken inside the insulation...good luck
    Lucifer, Jul 16, 2013
    #14
  16. cowboy

    cowboy Moderator Staff Member

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    Could be cowboy....Speedo quits working ....Trade it inC'mon man
    man they think every one has deep pockets & needs to ride a fancy E Glide :rolleyes: heck just fix a wire or two & ride off in the sun set more money for beer :cool:
    cowboy, Jul 16, 2013
    #15
  17. Sportjunkee

    Sportjunkee Member

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    Thanks everyone for all the helpful information.

    I worked on it Saturday and tested the bike by unplugging the neutral switch and then going for a putt. The speedo worked for about 20 miles and then stopped working again. So I then pulled the seat and I really do not have any wires that would be in contact with the seat. Lots of wires in a loom that run into 2 different boxes. One is 12 wires and the other 6 wires.

    I then followed the neutral switch wire back and could not find a place that looked frayed or anything. Most of this wire was in a loom. Could a wire go bad that is inside a loom?

    Could it be a different wire than the neutral switch wire like something related to the Speedo? I am not able to fully tell/understand the wire diagram an know what else is on the neutral switch circut? How do I tell?

    Also, how do I pull the speedo/instrument apart to check there?

    I am going to have to fix this little sporty because my budget does not allow for the building of another larger scoot at this time. Hopefully by 2016 that will be more of a reality.

    Thanks again for all the help.
    Sportjunkee, Jul 22, 2013
    #16
  18. cardboard

    cardboard Well-Known Member

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    Do you have a speed sensor in your front wheel for your speedometer. ?
    Ck it.
    Look in yer manual..
    cardboard, Jul 23, 2013
    #17
  19. Sportjunkee

    Sportjunkee Member

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    I have no idea. I will look tonight when I get home from work.

    Thanks for the information.
    Sportjunkee, Jul 24, 2013
    #18
  20. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    unless there is a short in the speedometer that is popping the fuse, no reason to tear it apart until you do a simple test, disconnect the speedo from the harness, should be a simple connector.

    Ride around half an hour and then check the fuse, not blown maybe it's in the speedo,
    HOWEVER it could also still be in the harness.

    I would check the harness from the speedo, where it cuts through the frame or housing or bends remove the tank if it goes under it, turn it on and do the wiggle test, that doesn't mean drinking a ton of beer followed by a shot of whiskey or two and dancing on the table.

    It means with the power on start wiggling the harness, not pulling hard but moving around to see if you can get the fuse to blow,
    hotroadking, Jul 24, 2013
    #19
  21. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Check the speed sensor then do exactly what HRK recommended as that's exactly the way I look and find bad wires. Had it happen last fall on my 01 Heritage Springer. Headlight fuse would blow and until I finally got into the wiring harness and started moving wires it was a mystery. But moving the wires around I found it along the frame. It can be done with a bit of patience. Good luck with it.:)
    FLHTbiker, Jul 24, 2013
    #20

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