tach question... repair guy lied!!!

[jazzrat2000]

Hi, just got my bike back from getting new fork seals... drove about 1/4 mile before I noticed the tach isn't working... took it back, the repair guy says he tried to hook it up for me, and that it wasn't working when I brought the bike in... a bald faced lie! His word against mine, so unfortunately I just lost my second (and last) local repair shop, darn it! Anyone got any suggestions for hooking it back up?

[randy]

Hey, Doc, calm down. should be a plug and play fix. Open the headlight bucket and you should see the plug & socket. If it IS connected, well then you have something to troubleshoot. Let us know.

[jazzrat2000]

thanks!

when I cool off (by tomorrow!) I'll give it a look... he said to me he "tried to tighten the holder, but it wouldn't work..." whatever that means... not being much of a mechanically minded person, I was really hoping this place was trustworthy...

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Doc,

Glad to see you back after the H-Cane troubles!! The Tach and Speedo fit into the chrome covers, but not terribly tight, that rubber grommet around the base of the BEZEL allows some snugness, but they can get dried up and shrivelled, and then there isn't much resistance for the 2 acorn nuts on the bottom of the chrome covers to pull/tighten against. He probably noticed that the gauges flopped inside the covers a bit, and was trying to get them to sit more snugly. Don't know IF he actually unplugged the gauge and pulled it out and then put it back in, and forgot to connect the plug!? Hope it's an easy PNP fix!?

Double check all of your charging circuit wires from the ALT, make sure they're plugged in as well. IF it's not charging, the tach won't work either!?
T.C.

[jazzrat2000]

I will give it a look later today! The worst thing about this is that the 1100 needs quite a bit of work (valve shims switched, carbs rebuilt and new boots, exhaust gaskets, pickup wire fix), and I was hoping this shop could do some of it... as time goes on I am less sure of my mech ability, not more!

[randy]

Yeah, T.C.

I couldn't think of any reason the guy would be inside the headlight to change fork seals? Hell, if you do 'em one at a time they just slide right out of the trees, headlight ears remain in place (like we did on Russ's bike on July 4).

Maybe the wires just got yanked a bit? Hope so. Then again, good advice on checking the charging voltage. Coincidences abound on XS's!

[jazzrat2000]

Also, there wouldn't be any reason to even start the bike to do this, would there? It was just rolled into the shop, and rolled back out... he wouldn't have even looked at the tach in the whole procedure... the thing has worked since I got the bike last year with no problem...

[randy]

"just put the mouse down and slowly back away..."

Like I wrote, could be just a coincidence. The electrics, when neglected, will fail in seemingly random fashion. Drive you nuts trying to troubleshoot.

Corrosion multiplied by a daisy chain of connectors = insanity.

[prometheus578]

Is it still a bald-faced lie if he had a moustache?"

Agree with Randy. Nothing electrical involved with fork seal job, other than maybe a wiring harness got jostled around a bit. Maybe when "He tried to tighten the holder"(connection) he bent a connector pin inside. Easy to find and fix.

valve shims switched, carbs rebuilt and new boots, exhaust gaskets, pickup wire fix),

Jazzrat... I seem to recall from months ago your many posts where you asked how to do stuff, and all the other repairs that you had made. Seems that I have more confidence in your abilities than you do! Might be time consuming...but nothing that you've listed is beyond your abilities.

[jazzrat2000]

yes, I did ask... I am better at asking than actually repairing! almost everything I have done is either cosmetic or nearly so (like replacing a starter button)... haven't done anything substantial like the above at all... thumpersja checked my valve shims, and found 2 needed replacing... that was the last time anything mechanical got done! I usually start and hit a wall, like having the wrong tool, etc... I wish there was a motorcycle repair course offered by a local CC (there isn't) where I could get instruction!

[randy]

Dr. Tim,

Some of the guys here have been wrenching on bikes and cars for 25+ years. A couple for twice that long! Hate to be so blunt, but there's no substitute for experience.

I'd suggest that you stick with us, and ask every question that comes to mind. You'll find the answer here.

Some of the guys ar developing how-to dvd/videos, but i don't know how far along they are. Meantime, pick our brains. That's what we're here for. i think!

[DiverRay]

Dr. Tim,
Try taking the car repair at the CC. You will learn the trouble shooting skills needed for almost any mechanical contraption. You will also find what tools you should have, and what tools to rent.
Most of the motorcycle repair is easy to some of us, and something to learn for others. If you can take something apart, and remember how the parts go back on, you can fix almost anything. Some of the "mechanics" in some shops would fail. As Randy said, just ask, and we will do everything we can to help. If it wasn't over 3K miles, I might be willing to give you some lessons. I have been doing that with car repairs, and I've tried to help some of the local XS'rs.
Ray

[jazzrat2000]

I think I might try a car repair course... it might even be that I could work on my bike there... thanks for the suggestion!

[fxrer]

Here's a pretty good starting point. Doesn't tell you everything, but you can't beat the price!

http://www.dansmc.com/mc_repaircourse.htm

[jazzrat2000]

I have heard of this... I am going to do it, thanks!