Tach not working

[TheDuck]

Anyone have experience with a tachometer not working. Fixing up another 80G and the tach won't move when running, but the fuel gauge seems to be just fine. Bike is in descent shape, just needs some cosmetic work since the PO left it outside for most of its life up north. Thanks

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Duck,

If it was left outside, it probably is full of corrosion in the electrical connections. Did you notice whether the headlight is coming on? Both are linked to the charging system, if it's not charging, then no tach signal and no headlight due to relay not being latched/thrown.

T.C.

[TheDuck]

Headlight

Headlight comes on when the bike is running. I'm going to pull out the battery and charge it tonight to see if that may be part of the issue.

[skids]

Clean the connectors behind the fuse panel.

[fredintoon]

Headlight comes on when the bike is running. I'm going to pull out the battery and charge it tonight to see if that may be part of the issue.

Hi Duck,
if there's enough battery to start the bike, it ain't the battery.
If the latching diode turns the headlight on and the headlight gets brighter as the revs build, it ain't the alternator.
As posted, most likely connections &/or rust.
If you can borrow a working tach off another XS11, see if IT works on the bike.

[TheDuck]

Connections

Sounds like the connections are a good place to start. Not sure the bike was maintained well by its PO, so ill be going through all of the wiring. Hopefully I'll have time tonight to check these, thanks.

[brcree]

Tach.

Hey Duck....like these guys have said...the connection for it may be crudded up....when I rebuilt my 1100 I connected two plugs behind the head light that were diff colors. They fit together but one was white and one was green, I got them mixed up. I didn't pay attention to this. All my stuff worked before I did this.....so....make sure plugs are the way they should be and clean inside.

[Rasputin]

While you have the electrical connections apart do not be afraid to try to test the field coill and stator coils. A few minutes here may save hours of grief spent elsehwere. I do not know the numbers off hand but they are readily available in any manual you have. If you do not have a manual see Catatonicbug's page and download one.