Tachometer and Speedometer lighting

[Clarkcelt]

Hello all,

I want to restore my 2001 Valkyrie to stock, so I removed the Cobra light bar. After removing all the extra wires, and poorly cobbled-together connections, I now find that I have no lighting to my tachometer or speedometer. I replaced all fuses (one was burned out), but think it is a wiring issue, which I likely caused by taking out too much, or disconnecting what should still be connected. Anybody have any experience with this? I need help!

I did try to do searches on this site (and have some LED bulbs on the way  ), but can't locate anything on the wiring itself. If you know of a post, or are better as searching than I am, I would welcome some direction.

Thanks!

Ted

[Chrisj CMA]

Trace the wires from the gauges to where they connect to inside the headlight bucket. If they are disconnected and it isint obvious where the go (it should be) I’ll take mine apart and tell you where mine are stuck

[Clarkcelt]

Thanks so much for your help! I'm pretty sure it is the small brown wires with white stripes, but I wonder if I messed up the ground somewhere, too.

[John Schmidt]

Those brown/white wires are a general 12volt source. Check for voltage on them and if missing, then as you stated...either a ground lost or a cut wire.

[Clarkcelt]

Thanks - good information. I will test them, but I think I might have cut an extra wire.

The weird part for me, is that I seem to recall that the instrumentation lights worked, but then the headlight did not. I opened up the headlight bucket, found a dangling wire, hooked it up, and the headlight works, but now the instrumentation lights do not.

[Chrisj CMA]

Ok, I don’t know if this will help. This is the speedometer hook up



And this is for the tach



Both are inside the headlight bucket

[Clarkcelt]

Okay, thank you.

I will get back in there when possible, and see where things have gone awry. I'll take your photos with me, and see what looks different.

Now I am wondering if, because both are in an individual plug, the most plausible explanation is a loose, cut, or missing ground wire.

I really appreciate you getting in there, and sharing your photos with me.

Ted

[Jims99]

I would make sure you have power to the lights before putting the LEDs in. And remember when you do they are polarized lights. If they don’t work, take out and turn 1/2 turn and put back in.

[Clarkcelt]

Yep, good call. I will definitely do that, thank you!

[Mooskee]

Jersey's site is still up. Go here:

https://jerseymcproducts.bigcartel.com/support

and download the Rattlebar's wiring diagram for your bike. They are excellent drawings. If you don't need them now, you probably will need them someday.

[Clarkcelt]

Done - thank you! Although, I am not practiced at reading wiring diagrams. I'll have to study these, and see what I can learn.

Deeply appreciate the heads up on this!

Ted

[Mooskee]

If you need help, there are plenty of us on here that are willing and able to help.

[RonW]

The tech and speedo light is powered by the Br/W wire which also powers the tail light (or running light). Thusly if the tech/speedo light is off, then the taillight's running light should be off.

[Valker]

The tech and speedo light is powered by the Br/W wire which also powers the tail light (or running light). Thusly if the tech/speedo light is off, then the taillight's running light should be off.

I thought the tach itself wouldn't work with the taillight burned out. At least my Tourer is that way. The tach light still worked.

[RonW]

"I thought the tach itself wouldn't work with the taillight burned out. At least my Tourer is that way. The tach light still worked."

oh, I meant that if both the tach and the speedo don't have electricity then the tail light should also be off, and vis versa, as described in Clarkcelt post No. 4. Providing the bulbs in the tach and speedo are both still good and all wires are intact.



"I thought the tach itself wouldn't work with the taillight burned out."

yes, that would be the situation if the tach and tail light were wired in series with each other where a failure in either shuts off both electrical devices. Very few circuits on the bike are series circuits since electrical devices on the same wire would split up the +12 in direct proportion to their resistance and neither would have +12 volts.

According to the factory schematic, the taillight and tach are on parallel circuits, independent of each other (Node A, below). Also, the tech and speedo are wired parallel to each other, such that, if the tech light went off, the speedo light would still have its own electricity and vis versa (Node B).

[Clarkcelt]

Thanks everybody for the replies. I regret that I still have not had an opportunity to tear into the headlight bucket again to troubleshoot this. I really appreciate all the help, and I'm sure that once I get back in there, I'll trace it down. I am more convinced than ever that it is a ground wire no longer grounded, as I do notice that the tail light and license light are also out. Once I get some extra time (with two teenage girls and my wife's to-do list, not sure when THAT will be), I'll get back to it.

I didn't want to come across as ungrateful for all your assistance.

Carry on,

Ted

[Clarkcelt]

 

I finally got around to opening the headlight bucket back up, and looking around. I just knew that my problem was the two loose brown/white wires, and I tried to figure out which one was the ground. Then it hit me between the eyes - it is THE SAME wire, but cut in two! I touched the two ends together, and WHAM! It all works! Man, do I feel stupid!

Anyway, the whole thing is fixed now, and I am ready for my next warm day (might be a while).

On the upside, I got a nice ride in Sunday afternoon - really opened her up in all the gears. I sometimes forget just how good the old girl SOUNDS when I open her up. I usually drive like an old guy, trying to save fuel, but yesterday I kind of let myself go a little.

Thanks again for everybody's willingness to help me figure this out.

 

[RonW]

Lol, two for the price of none!