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Custom Vehicle Discussions => 2001 FXDWG2/2002 FXDWG3 => Topic started by: Red Dragon on March 28, 2013, 05:26:34 PM
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Hey All you FXDWG 2 & 3 owners...
Has anybody come up with a Tachmoter solution for the Switchblade? I find that I really would like to have one, but the dealers I've spoken with are clueless (even more than me). I found one on here from '09 that a guy custom made and then had it chromed. I've been searching, but nobody appears to manufacture anything for these "relics".
I think that 74462-03A (Combo speedo/tach) would work as a replacement for my speedo, but they're obsolete, and can't find one after more than 70 calls to various dealers.
I'd appreciate any suggestions or ideas ....or photos.
Thanks
RD
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Auto Meter makes one. Check out their number 19466.
Found it on eBay here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121079967128
While looking in eBay saw a couple of Harley combined speedo/tach units listed also. Used units though so you'd be stuck with whatever mileage they displayed.
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Thanks. I'll do some research on those.
I was just kinda' wondering if those who ride these old relics (Switchblades...and other "Tach-less" models) just learn to do without a tach and let the sound of the motor give 'em all they need to know....
...or have "some" come up with a viable solution.
This whole deal is relatively new to me, and I kinda' like to twist the throttle a bit now and then, and I just haven't gotten used to "not knowing" where I'm at...."rev wise". So far, I "think" I've been very careful to NOT TWIST IT TOO FAR....But yesterday morning I got her going just a little north of 110 on the so-called "Certified" speedometer (a pretty long stretch of desolate rural road) trying to keep up with my buddy's Hot Rodded Diesel Pickup Truck, and was feeling a little nervous so I just slowly backed her down. The motor kinda' felt like it wanted to keep going, but I felt like that might be "just enough", and didn't wanna' push my luck. That's the fastest I've ever been on a Harley. ...and with basically no fairing and those forward mounted footpegs, it felt like Two Ten :P
I can assure you I won't be doing that too often... if ever again.
But, I sure would like to have a tach, anyway.
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Thanks. I'll do some research on those.
I was just kinda' wondering if those who ride these old relics (Switchblades...and other "Tach-less" models) just learn to do without a tach and let the sound of the motor give 'em all they need to know....
...or have "some" come up with a viable solution.
Change cams and change the shift point. Go to a significantly ligher or heavier bike with similar engines and change the shift point. How is the tach telling you when to shift anyway?
Sure, the math can be done for a specific ride (even to the point of having that ride on a specific grade) and you can mount a big bright shift light with or without a tach. For a production bike you're going to be riding everyday the tach is nice, it may even please you to have it there; but you best learn to feel when you need to shift. It's not like you should be looking down at the instrument as you're accelerating through traffic anyway.
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Thanks, and I appreciate your thoughtful response.
Just so you understand, I'm pretty much OK with shift points for "normal" riding...NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
Would like to have a tachometer on the bike for "another" type of riding... ...just like to have a little "fun" on the "Wednesday Night Ride"...that's all I'll say regarding that.
I don't have a problem with my vision, as I've had surgery to correct my vision to 20/15 in both eyes (no glasses). So, "glancing down" at a tach for a millisecond is not a problem.
I can see the tach needle fine on my buddy's "Project" FXDX without taking my eyes off the strip ahead when we take turns on it at TEST & TUNE NIGHT at the local drag strip, but he has a different type of instrument panel console on his tank, and has moved the tach to the front portion of the tach/speedo console (great set-up for drag racing). I don't really want to put that type of instrument panel console on my bikes gas tank...Would have to relocate my ignition switch also, and don't want to lose the look of the stock console on my Switchblade.
I'm not sure if some of the 2 5/8" mini-tach's that mount on the top of the handlebar clamp (a sportster item) would work and "clear" the stock bikini fairing, but plan to look into that as well. If anybody has tried it, or even researched that option, I would certainly appreciate input.
Just lookin' for ideas...
Thanks
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Thanks, and I appreciate your thoughtful response.
Just so you understand, I'm pretty much OK with shift points for "normal" riding...NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
Would like to have a tachometer on the bike for "another" type of riding... ...just like to have a little "fun" on the "Wednesday Night Ride"...that's all I'll say regarding that.
I don't have a problem with my vision, as I've had surgery to correct my vision to 20/15 in both eyes (no glasses). So, "glancing down" at a tach for a millisecond is not a problem.
I can see the tach needle fine on my buddy's "Project" FXDX without taking my eyes off the strip ahead when we take turns on it at TEST & TUNE NIGHT at the local drag strip, but he has a different type of instrument panel console on his tank, and has moved the tach to the front portion of the tach/speedo console (great set-up for drag racing). I don't really want to put that type of instrument panel console on my bikes gas tank...Would have to relocate my ignition switch also, and don't want to lose the look of the stock console on my Switchblade.
I'm not sure if some of the 2 5/8" mini-tach's that mount on the top of the handlebar clamp (a sportster item) would work and "clear" the stock bikini fairing, but plan to look into that as well. If anybody has tried it, or even researched that option, I would certainly appreciate input.
Just lookin' for ideas...
Thanks
Check out Dakota Digital also. A variety of (mostly) universal instruments along with some clamp and other mount options.
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'Put the tach from the V-Rod Destroyer drag bike on the handlebar clamp, had to modify the Destroyer mount a little and remove the trim plate from the fairing(actually had removed the plate sooner for a little stash area for clears etc...)
I think the Destroyer tach is made by Autometer for HD, probably could have gotten it a little cheaper from Summit, but wanted to keep the bike SE/HD as much as possible and the mount required very little modification.
The cams and carb are so big that I felt we really needed a tach at least while we were dialing in the drivetrain. I have owned Harleys and hot rods since '76 and like having a tach on high performance vehicles. 'Was a mechanic for the better part of 20 years, so I know what motors sound like (most all racing vehicles have tachs)
The tach and the dyno sheet is telling me to shift just before the rev-limiter which is set just after the cams start to fall off.
The mini tach will not fit without modifying the fairing, we looked at that first.
'Also wanted to keep the stock speedo since it is proprietary to this bike and the Destroyer tach is much more in line of sight when things really get movin'.
The Switchblade handles like it's on rails to 120 or so. The 103 6sp will instantly top out the forks at 120+ :pepper:
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1st owner of my bike switched out the stock speedo to this Dakota Digital combo tach/speedo. Wouldn't have been my choice as it can be hard to see in sunlight at times but it does include both guages. Have noticed that over the years, LED gauges have been getting brighter so this may no longer be an issue. Remember, this gauge was built 12 years ago. I like many of the Dakota Digital gauges and have thought about getting a newer model as I do like having the tach/speedo combo.
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Went to the Dakota Digital website and couldn't find any current speedo/tach combos built for the '01 Dynas. Did find this one on ebay. Looks pretty functional.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTO-METER-DROP-IN-SPEEDOMETER-TACHOMETER-COMBO-HARLEY-DYNA-SOFTAIL-ROAD-KING-/121079967128?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c30edad98&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTO-METER-DROP-IN-SPEEDOMETER-TACHOMETER-COMBO-HARLEY-DYNA-SOFTAIL-ROAD-KING-/121079967128?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c30edad98&vxp=mtr)
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There is a tach / shift light in the '13 SE parts catalogue very similar to my Destroyer tach, if you're still thinking about putting one on your Switchblade