Speedo woe - ideas/experience needed

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IsleFalco
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Speedo woe - ideas/experience needed

#1 Post by IsleFalco » Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:00 am

After a trip away I got off the ferry and looked down as I was going down Douglas prom. To my astonishment I was doing 165mph!! What an amazing bike, it felt as if I was only doing 35! A little later, as I approached the TT course I was doing 280mph! These TT boys could learn a thing from me!

This erratic speedo behaviour continued all the way home with a mixture of crazy high readings and 0 mph as I slowed down. A 22 mile journey was recorded as over 40 miles, no doubt due to speedo readings of 280mph. At least my current 280mph VMax reading surpasses all my previous records :smt004

I have never had a speedo problem before and, as a result I have never given the speedo operation much thought. Has anyone else had similar problems? Is it a sensor problem or, gulp, a dash malfunction?

Appreciate any advice before I start investigating.

Cheers.

T
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Firestarter
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#2 Post by Firestarter » Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:36 am

Sounds like a sensor problem, there have been reports of wild numbers before complete failure before.

Bit of info here - https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.ph ... eed+sensor, probably more on the archive site
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IsleFalco
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#3 Post by IsleFalco » Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:42 am

Thanks mate. Looks like the sensor then. Better than have a dash gremlin.
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Aladinsaneuk
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#4 Post by Aladinsaneuk » Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:27 am

am also guessing sensor....


Let's face it, you wouldn't go to a nurse to get good advice on a problem with a Falco - you'd choose an Engineer or a mechanic...

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#5 Post by D-Rider » Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:48 am

Yes - I've had the same .... establishing record speeds and then no speed at all.

Fixed by replacing the speed sensor.

If I remember correctly, the workshop manual tells you how to check the sensor.

The sensors can be quite expensive - I bought a brand new one off ebay for about £20 - they come up regularly .... but what you pay depends whether anyone else is bidding (guess we should consider buying up a few of these things when nobody else is bidding so that we've got one or two available for forum members at a good price at the moment they need it)
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HowardQ
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#6 Post by HowardQ » Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:57 am

Just a silly comment, but it has not reset to KPH has it?
It is easy not to notice the KPH bit.
Having said that 280KPH on the VMax is pretty quick in MPH.
Otherwise agree with comments already made, sensor is most likely.
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wavey
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#7 Post by wavey » Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:32 pm

HowardQ wrote:Just a silly comment, but it has not reset to KPH has it?
It is easy not to notice the KPH bit.
Having said that 280KPH on the VMax is pretty quick in MPH.
Otherwise agree with comments already made, sensor is most likely.
280 kph = 173.983934 mph

Hmm, still a bit quick I think

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HowardQ
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#8 Post by HowardQ » Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:37 pm

Come on, Aprilia did once put out a top speed of around 160, allowance for speedo error and following wind :smt017
Yeh, it's still a bit bloody quick. :smt001
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IsleFalco
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#9 Post by IsleFalco » Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:30 pm

Definitely MPH. Its the sensor. I checked it at lunchtime and the wires are exposed. Looks like I might have damaged it myself with the paddock stand. I will be bidding on ebay shortly...
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Fausto
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#10 Post by Fausto » Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:57 pm

The sensor is easily damaged by water - especially if hit by a direct jet from a pressure washer. There has been someone on the forum who successfully stripped one down, dried it and sealed it up again.

May be wirth you trying to repair it?

Also they may not be bike specific. I,m sure my mates Guzzi has exactly the same sensor (although calibrated for lower speeds obviously) so if you are prepared to do a little research it may be possible to pick up a new one cheaper.
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GregD-UK
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Sensor...

#11 Post by GregD-UK » Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:15 pm

Hi all,

Same thing happened to me last year, I was doing 275mph :smt016 Then went to 0mph, what a disappointment :smt012 Replaced the sensor, and all went back to post star ship enterprise.......

Got mine from aprilia dealer, decided sod it! Can't be doing 110mph in a 30 zone, my license is clean, want too keep it that way :smt002
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IsleFalco
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#12 Post by IsleFalco » Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:10 pm

I tracked an auction on ebay but last time I looked it was about £56 + postage. Next auction finishes as I am leaving on another trip down to Devon on the bike (my mother is terminally ill) so I could not wait. I ordered a new sensor from my local dealer. I have been clocking up the mileage recently going down to Devon and back. The Aprilia is more fun than my Triumph but it gives me a neck ache after about 100 mile stints. The Triumph is just comfy comfy all the way. Not sure why I keep taking the Falco - I might just need the fun bit on the way down. Problem with the speedo will be sorted tomorrow evening. The 280 mph VMax might just last a while!
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IsleFalco
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#13 Post by IsleFalco » Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:12 pm

With the aid of a length of string the speedo sensor was replaced in about 5 minutes flat. One of the easier fixes I have experienced with the Falco, once I had decided to part with £70.
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herbacious
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#14 Post by herbacious » Tue Feb 01, 2011 11:55 am

mine has just started doing this now :(

just found this on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brand-new-Speed-s ... _673wt_907

reckon that will fix it?
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dyzio
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#15 Post by dyzio » Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:26 pm

Think I bought mine from that guy when it died. Make him an offer, you'll get a few quid off.
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