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[trippy]

Hi All,

Have a Dakota Digital MCL-2004  multi purpose speedo, had it for 4 years now except for a faulty digit in the odometer readout that was fixed by Dakota its been fine, but in the last few days the speed indicator has been erratic after the bike warms up along with the gear selected read out.

Does anyone know how to test the speed sensor?

Ride Safe.

[Twolanerider]

Hi All,

Have a Dakota Digital MCL-2004  multi purpose speedo, had it for 4 years now except for a faulty digit in the odometer readout that was fixed by Dakota its been fine, but in the last few days the speed indicator has been erratic after the bike warms up along with the gear selected read out.

Does anyone know how to test the speed sensor?

Ride Safe.

Unless you know for sure a problem is elsewhere or have surefire diagnostics always start with the cheapest/easiest possibility first.  In this case I'd pull and clean the speedo sensor.

At any time have you had the cruise control on at the same time the speedo started acting wonky?  If the cruise and speedo both act up simultaneously I'd doubt the sensor.  If the speedo acts up alone my first doubts would go to the speedo.

[grc]

Unless you know for sure a problem is elsewhere or have surefire diagnostics always start with the cheapest/easiest possibility first.  In this case I'd pull and clean the speedo sensor.

At any time have you had the cruise control on at the same time the speedo started acting wonky?  If the cruise and speedo both act up simultaneously I'd doubt suspect the sensor.  If the speedo acts up alone my first doubts would go to the speedo.

I think that was what you intended to say Don.  I hate to put words in someone's mouth, so tell me if I'm wrong.

Even Harley doesn't have much in it's manual about testing the speed sensor, other than to recommend removing it and closely inspecting for debris and then removing any you find.  If you find filings, remove them, and if it fixes the problem then great.  If it doesn't do the trick, it would probably be much quicker and easier to just replace it, versus the time and expense involved in rigging up a test apparatus to check it.  The part number is 74402-05B and they can be found for under $50.

Jerry

[Twolanerider]

I think that was what you intended to say Don.  I hate to put words in someone's mouth, so tell me if I'm wrong.

Even Harley doesn't have much in it's manual about testing the speed sensor, other than to recommend removing it and closely inspecting for debris and then removing any you find.  If you find filings, remove them, and if it fixes the problem then great.  If it doesn't do the trick, it would probably be much quicker and easier to just replace it, versus the time and expense involved in rigging up a test apparatus to check it.  The part number is 74402-05B and they can be found for under $50.

Jerry

You're on it Jerry.  Needed an extra word or three to clarify.  I'd have doubt of the sensor or be suspect of its reliability. 

My tell tale to isolate speedo sensors from speedometers has always been the cruise control.  If both are acting up it's the sensor.  If the cruise works and the instrument does not it's the instrument.  That ends up being right most of the time.  Twice, however, on bikes new enough to be serial bus have ran in to problems that were either multiple failures or a bad instrument was corrupting the serial data and keeping other things from working.

[trippy]

Thanks guys,

Have checked the sensor for debris, a little but not much,  after cleaning it, went for a run, all seemed fine for about 45 minutes, then it started to miss behave again.

Will give the cruise control a go and see what happens.

Thanks

[trippy]

Hi guys,

Tried the cruise control test Don, when the speedo was playing up, turned on the cruise and set the speed, Wow like trying to ride a bucking bronco.

New sensor on order, will let you know how it goes.

Many thanks all.

[Twolanerider]

Hi guys,

Tried the cruise control test Don, when the speedo was playing up, turned on the cruise and set the speed, Wow like trying to ride a bucking bronco.

New sensor on order, will let you know how it goes.

Many thanks all.

Good luck on getting it sorted.  Sensor is a lot easier and cheaper to change than an instrument.

Cruise is why a speedo sensor is one of the parts I carry in the bottom of a saddlebag.  With the tach working I could really care less if I lose the speedo out on a road trip somewhere.  But losing the cruise control on a trip, or even a long day, just sucks (also sucks getting old but I like cruise control  ).  That sensor is easy enough to change in a parking lot somewhere if need be and cheap enough to buy it's always in my spares.

[trippy]

Hi Guys,

Wow!   what a difference, its like riding a different bike,  Speedo fine, cruise and indicators all working right now,
but the bike seems to run smoother at low speed, I know the VSS speaks to the ECU in order to use the idle control valve,
but the difference at low speed is amazing.

Thanks for all the advice.

Ride safe.

[Twolanerider]

Hi Guys,

Wow!   what a difference, its like riding a different bike,  Speedo fine, cruise and indicators all working right now,
but the bike seems to run smoother at low speed, I know the VSS speaks to the ECU in order to use the idle control valve,
but the difference at low speed is amazing.

Thanks for all the advice.

Ride safe.