DIGITAL VS OEM SPEEDO

Energy One

Psycho

Psycho
Looking for a little help before possibly creating possible electrical issue. When I purchased my 2005 Chopper the prior owner had replaced the OEM with a Dakota Digital speedo. He provided the original speed along with a few other accessories. This evening after replacing the missing rubber selector / trip button I replaced the Digital with the OEM as I like the looks better. Speedo lights worked and button worked well toggling through the modes. I started the bike and took a short ride around the block and back and the needle never moved. My question what are the possibilities or known risks of possibly frying a harness or causing EHC issues. Personal thoughts and desires suggest that the vibration will set the needle free on a ride tomorrow morning. Common sense suggests that there is a electrical issue that could manifest itself into more trouble than remounting the Digital. The RISK factor is ????????

Thanks in advance for all your thoughts and comments!
 

TapioK

Well-Known Member
Looking for a little help before possibly creating possible electrical issue. When I purchased my 2005 Chopper the prior owner had replaced the OEM with a Dakota Digital speedo. He provided the original speed along with a few other accessories. This evening after replacing the missing rubber selector / trip button I replaced the Digital with the OEM as I like the looks better. Speedo lights worked and button worked well toggling through the modes. I started the bike and took a short ride around the block and back and the needle never moved. My question what are the possibilities or known risks of possibly frying a harness or causing EHC issues. Personal thoughts and desires suggest that the vibration will set the needle free on a ride tomorrow morning. Common sense suggests that there is a electrical issue that could manifest itself into more trouble than remounting the Digital. The RISK factor is ????????

Thanks in advance for all your thoughts and comments!
That may well be the reason it was replaced the first place...
 

FrankBDPS

Well-Known Member
Tapio is correct in saying that the speedometer may have been replaced because it simply failed. Did the previous owner give you any history as to why it was changed? Is the sending unit in the transmission compatible with the old speedometer? Good luck!
 

cdogg556

Guru
Personally I like the look of the OEM better also, not a fan of Dakota Digital speedo's, anyway my OEM is going bad and the needle is all over the place while I am riding, when I stop it is below 0, start moving and it says I am going 65 mph most the time, every once in a while it works normally, I have had no issues electrically due to the speedo going bad, I can't see it hurting anything other than you not knowing your speed.
 

BWG56

Guru
Personally I like the look of the OEM better also, not a fan of Dakota Digital speedo's, anyway my OEM is going bad and the needle is all over the place while I am riding, when I stop it is below 0, start moving and it says I am going 65 mph most the time, every once in a while it works normally, I have had no issues electrically due to the speedo going bad, I can't see it hurting anything other than you not knowing your speed.
If it don't work, take it out and use the hole for a cup holder.:oldhardlaugh:
 

Psycho

Psycho
Tapio is correct in saying that the speedometer may have been replaced because it simply failed. Did the previous owner give you any history as to why it was changed? Is the sending unit in the transmission compatible with the old speedometer? Good luck!
Oh yes .... I remember now, he said it stsrted flickering, followed by a stream of light blueish black smoke .... so he switched it out.
 

Psycho

Psycho
Tapio is correct in saying that the speedometer may have been replaced because it simply failed. Did the previous owner give you any history as to why it was changed? Is the sending unit in the transmission compatible with the old speedometer? Good luck!
Maybe I should of ask if anyone knows why the past owner replaced the OEM speedo ....... LMMFARTFO :oldbang:
 

Reddickracing

Well-Known Member
My 06 K9 speedo would do the same thing on occasion (not work). I would pull over kill it, restart and it would work. Got to noticing that when it didn't work was when the starter struggled to crank the bike. Low voltage I guess. Bought a trickle charger and it hasn't happened since. Sounds stupid I know but...
 

BWG56

Guru
My 06 K9 speedo would do the same thing on occasion (not work). I would pull over kill it, restart and it would work. Got to noticing that when it didn't work was when the starter struggled to crank the bike. Low voltage I guess. Bought a trickle charger and it hasn't happened since. Sounds stupid I know but...
My 07' did that also, I took it back to the dealer at the time and they did an update to the ECH. The speedo needle did a double sweep when starting after that so you knew the update was done and it never did it again.
 

diver1

Member
Supporting Member
I had to let OEM speedo boot up before hitting starter. Needle would peg then go back to zero. Usually took around ten seconds. If I didn't do that needle would not move.
 

Gmutoagrsv

Active Member
my OEM speedo the needle bounces when I get on it if I’m doing about 50 or 60 it’ll bounce back-and-forth and then finally settle is this normal? Other than that mine works fine but I have been thinking about getting a digital one
 

BWG56

Guru
my OEM speedo the needle bounces when I get on it if I’m doing about 50 or 60 it’ll bounce back-and-forth and then finally settle is this normal? Other than that mine works fine but I have been thinking about getting a digital one
Yes that's normal, and when/if you go digital, the read out is steady:old2:
 
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