Vulcan Drifter Riders

DISCUSSIONS => Drifter 1500 only => Topic started by: basilbug on July 23, 2020, 20:13:08 PM

Title: HELP!!!!!! 2001 Drifter 1500 speedometer not working.
Post by: basilbug on July 23, 2020, 20:13:08 PM
I took my Drifter to a shop and they checked the speed sensor which was working it's not broken. Everything else works also the gas gauge the automatic turn signals turn off. Now I hate to confess this but I let my bike sit for 7 years and decided to start riding again but the only thing I can't get working is the speedometer now. The shop said I'd have to replace the whole speedometer but they can't even get that part anymore and plus it would start with 0 miles again and I wanna keep my stock miles on the bike.

Any suggestions what I can do?

Title: Re: HELP!!!!!! 2001 Drifter 1500 speedometer not working.
Post by: Troll on July 24, 2020, 07:05:58 AM
get a used one on Ebay. Does the led clock/trip meter/odometer work? Take the unit apart and check for loose/corroded connections on the internal plug. The VSS sends signals to two places, the turn signal controller, and the speedo head. CLEAN ALL TERMINALS on the all the plugs...
Title: Re: HELP!!!!!! 2001 Drifter 1500 speedometer not working.
Post by: basilbug on July 30, 2020, 15:24:43 PM
The clock and odometer work fine, just not the speedo..... Even the self counseling signals work fine,

So you think just a good clean where the terminals plug into the speedometer on top of the gas tank?
Title: Re: HELP!!!!!! 2001 Drifter 1500 speedometer not working.
Post by: Troll on July 31, 2020, 07:53:29 AM
Inside the speedo head itself, there is a ribbon cable that feeds the various functions. Normally a air core gauge doesn't "go bad" just sitting, but the connections to the core could corrode. Since the turn signal canceling and the odometer are working, there are really only two wires to worry about. One is the positive power feed, and the other is the variable ground. Both of these would be located inside the speedo head.
Title: Re: HELP!!!!!! 2001 Drifter 1500 speedometer not working.
Post by: basilbug on August 01, 2020, 10:37:33 AM
So, how many wires are there? Do you know which are the two that you speak of, or are there just 2 wires going in to where the speedometer is located? I'm having a hard time imagining what this looks like I have taken everything apart because most of the stuff was not working on my bike so I took off the tank and replace the fuel pump. Whats the best way to clean the wires, contact cleaner? Some sort of grease?

Thanks for your help, this is very frustrating not knowing how fast I'm going.
Title: Re: HELP!!!!!! 2001 Drifter 1500 speedometer not working.
Post by: Troll on August 02, 2020, 04:12:21 AM
Did you disassemble the speedo head? The ribbon cable extends from the circuit board to the actual instrument, itself. As far as contact cleaning,  there are chemicals designed for this very thing. Used to get it a radio shack, but now It's more of a hunt....In a pinch, WD-40 seems to work but not as reliably as the real thing.
Title: Re: HELP!!!!!! 2001 Drifter 1500 speedometer not working.
Post by: basilbug on August 10, 2020, 10:27:56 AM
Quote from: Troll on August 02, 2020, 04:12:21 AM
Did you disassemble the speedo head? The ribbon cable extends from the circuit board to the actual instrument, itself. As far as contact cleaning,  there are chemicals designed for this very thing. Used to get it a radio shack, but now It's more of a hunt....In a pinch, WD-40 seems to work but not as reliably as the real thing.
No, I have not yet, but I will.  Thanks and I'll let you know if that worked. Just so HOT in my garage right now and I have other things goin on. It will be awhile, but I hope this works...