Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Ed Ramberger - One_Screamin_Eagle]

Hello everyone, I am experiencing a problem with my bike that I am hoping someone may be able to shed some light on.  A few days ago I went for a ride and had my Ipod connected to my HD Cd player thru a plug in cable into the aux port infront of radio.  After a while of everything being fine, I noticed that the volume was fluctuating.  Then I noticed that the speedometer started to fluctuate. It went to zero and stayed there.  After I got home, I thought to look thru the forum and others seemed to have problems with the speedometer and it usually ended up being speed sensor.  I went for another ride yesterday and all was fine until about 1/2 hour into ride when same thing happened again.  Has anyone else had this problem?  Do others think speed sensor is bad or going bad?  Any help would be much appreciated.

Speed sensor controls both - controls the AVC (automatic volume control) and speedo.  When the speedo went to zero your volume probably dropped.  Volume gets louder with higher speed signal.

[martys]

I just experienced the same problem yesterday, but I don't have a service manual and I'm not sure where the speed sensor is or how to check it for filings etc.  If someone could walk me through this info I would appreciate it very much.

Marty

[Twolanerider]

I just experienced the same problem yesterday, but I don't have a service manual and I'm not sure where the speed sensor is or how to check it for filings etc.  If someone could walk me through this info I would appreciate it very much.

Marty

Marty, from the right side of the bike look down at the transmission.  You'll find two places with electrical connections.  On the top cover is the neutral switch.  The wires plug in to a round-ish part that itself screws in to the top cover.  Lower and a bit farther bike is a part that the harness does not unplug from.  The part goes through the case itself.  You'll see one bolt or screw that goes through it to hold it to the tranny.  Remove that fastener and the sensor will wiggle out.

It's got an o-ring seal.  No reason you can't use it again.  Just wipe any gook off the sensor, stick it back in and go for a ride to see if you've made any difference.

[Twolanerider]

Here you go.  Found an illustration.  This is when the tranny was gutted for the six speed install but you can still see the sensor location.  Inside the fancy new red circles.

[martys]

Marty, from the right side of the bike look down at the transmission.  You'll find two places with electrical connections.  On the top cover is the neutral switch.  The wires plug in to a round-ish part that itself screws in to the top cover.  Lower and a bit farther bike is a part that the harness does not unplug from.  The part goes through the case itself.  You'll see one bolt or screw that goes through it to hold it to the tranny.  Remove that fastener and the sensor will wiggle out.

It's got an o-ring seal.  No reason you can't use it again.  Just wipe any gook off the sensor, stick it back in and go for a ride to see if you've made any difference.

Thanks again Don I will give that a go in the morning and let you know how I made out 

[Twolanerider]

Thanks again Don I will give that a go in the morning and let you know how I made out 

No sweat Marty.  You don't have to unplug any wires so you don't need to mess with a battery cable (if you'd wondered).  And no parts to buy to try!  Gotta love five minute and free potential fixes .

[martys]

No sweat Marty.  You don't have to unplug any wires so you don't need to mess with a battery cable (if you'd wondered).  And no parts to buy to try!  Gotta love five minute and free potential fixes .

It took me longer to remove the chrome covers than it did to remove and clean the sensor  and now it started raining again so my test ride will have to wait till tomorrow 

[Twolanerider]

It took me longer to remove the chrome covers than it did to remove and clean the sensor  and now it started raining again so my test ride will have to wait till tomorrow 

Was it covered with any crap, goop, chit, mess, crud, debris, detritus, shavings or other ill uckiness (like Dood's Depends)?

[martys]

Was it covered with any crap, goop, chit, mess, crud, debris, detritus, shavings or other ill uckiness (like Dood's Depends)?

All of the above    including Dood's Diedies    I was so disgusted I forgot to take any pictures before I cleaned it up    but yeah the entire magnet was covered in oily shavings.

[Twolanerider]

All of the above    including Dood's Diedies    I was so disgusted I forgot to take any pictures before I cleaned it up    but yeah the entire magnet was covered in oily shavings.

Hey, that's a good thing (not the Dood thing, but the rest of it)!  The more yuck you wipe off the better the chance you fixed it .

Wiping the yuck off the sensor is part of my spring service routine each year.  Yack the yuck.

[martys]

Hey, that's a good thing (not the Dood thing, but the rest of it)!  The more yuck you wipe off the better the chance you fixed it .

Wiping the yuck off the sensor is part of my spring service routine each year.  Yack the yuck.

Not such a good thing Don  The rain finally quit this afternoon and I took it out for a test ride and about 5 mile in it started doing the same thing    Do you think that means that I need to replace the VSS or could it be something else that is causing this problem 

[Twolanerider]

Not such a good thing Don   The rain finally quit this afternoon and I took it out for a test ride and about 5 mile in it started doing the same thing    Do you think that means that I need to replace the VSS or could it be something else that is causing this problem  

As likely as anything Marty.  Probably more likely.  They do occasionally fail.  It's an easy change though.  Do what you just did to get it out of the tranny.  Then trace its harness back under the right side cover.  Easy part to change.  

Part number 74429-97C.  Same part used for many years.

[Ironhorse]

A couple of suggestions based on my own experience with the SAME issues.

Before you install a new VSS, see if there is one available from a shop or other source. Some guys on other forums have extras from having had to deal with the same issue. Try to hold off buying one new because as with most electrical items there is NO return. If you can get a hold of one, then just unplug the tranny end and the connector under the seat, install the borrowed one and take it for a long ride. If the problem goes away, then you can confirm it as a bad VSS. If the problem persists then you have not spent time and money doing an install (although it's not that difficult).

As I mentioned before, if the problem persists, it may be a broken wire INSIDE the insulation. This is much more common than folks realize. On my bike and on some others, it was one of the VSS wires that runs from the connector under the seat up to the speedo head. Since the break is inside the insulation, it is not visible and requires tracing. Most of the breaks have occured in the large loom that runs along the side of the frame between the front of the gas tank and the steering stem. For some reason that area is susceptible to bends and vibration which leads to the wires breaking.

Another quick way to test it is to ride it under safe conditions, and then with a free hand reach over and shake the harness as the bike is moving. That's usually all it takes to interrupt the signal. Or you can elevate the rear tire and let it run on a stand while shaking the harness.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[jayray00SERG]

The part cost under $60. I tried the clean off fix and it did not work. New part=success. I missed the cruise control more than the speedo and radio. When I changed the tranny fluid to Harley synthetic the magnetic drain plug had some shavings and syn oil will prevent this is the future. Very easy fix.

[martys]

The part cost under $60. I tried the clean off fix and it did not work. New part=success. I missed the cruise control more than the speedo and radio. When I changed the tranny fluid to Harley synthetic the magnetic drain plug had some shavings and syn oil will prevent this is the future. Very easy fix.

Have had the origional VSS out a couple of times and cleaned it but it is still acting up so tomorrow I am going to pick up a new one.  My only problem is I don't know where the other end of the wire plugs in.  I have tried to follow it (under the starter) but can't seem to figure out where it runs and connects up    being not much of a wrench, I could use a little help here fellas.(Please and Thankyou)

Marty