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Post by aryk21 on Jun 26, 2014 18:50:12 GMT -6
Hey everyone, I just recently bought my first bike, a 1986 Kawasaki 454 LTD custom bobber! I picked it up off of Craigslist for a steal, and mechanically everything works great! The guy I bought it from never had it on the road, but he had it professionally rebuilt and painted and all that jazz. Like I said, mechanically, it is all there, she runs like a top. However, I noticed when I got it home and started it up in the night, that there were no lights coming on behind the speedometer and tachometer. I asked the guy about it and he said that because he never had it on the road, that he never noticed it. I'm hoping that they are just blown bulbs, mostly everything else electrical; the turn signals, head lights, oil pressure light, neutral indicator, they all work fine. The only electrical components that aren't working are the lights behind the speedometer, tachometer, and my license plate light. I'm not too worried about the license plate one because I'm pretty sure it's just a blown bulb and I have figured out how to take it apart. However, I can't seem to understand how to take apart the speedometer/tachometer casings to get to the bulbs and see if that is the case, or if it is a wiring issue *fingers crossed that it is not*. So if someone could point me in the direction of how to take those apart safely, or to help me further diagnose this issue, I would really really appreciate it! Thanks guys!
-Eric
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Post by eaglerider on Jun 27, 2014 6:51:23 GMT -6
The only thing to take apart on the Speedo & tach is the cup...that is done by removing the single phillips screw in the center of the rear of the cup (unscrew the speedo and tach cables from the gauges first). I would check fuses...they are in the black round plastic "box" next to the horn.
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Post by aryk21 on Jun 27, 2014 21:43:30 GMT -6
I tired unscrewing that screw and took out the cable from the side but I wasn't able to take it apart, but maybe I wasn't trying hard enough and was afraid I'd break it. Where should I pull from? Where does it separate?
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Post by eaglerider on Jun 28, 2014 5:21:35 GMT -6
The cups covers the backs of the actual speedometer & tach, and gives access to the light bulbs. after the screw is removed, the cups should just pop off.
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Post by Blaine on Jun 28, 2014 5:21:54 GMT -6
I tired unscrewing that screw and took out the cable from the side but I wasn't able to take it apart, but maybe I wasn't trying hard enough and was afraid I'd break it. Where should I pull from? Where does it separate? It seperats right under the chrome ring at the top.There is a o-ring in there to keep water out.It may take a bit of prying to get it to slide down.   |
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Post by eaglerider on Jun 28, 2014 5:23:05 GMT -6
careful, the cups are plastic and will break.
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Post by aryk21 on Jun 28, 2014 22:04:08 GMT -6
Alright Eagle, thanks for the tips, I'll give it a shot tomorrow and get back to you! If it is a fuse thing, is that an expensive/difficult process?
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Post by Blaine on Jun 29, 2014 5:34:29 GMT -6
Alright Eagle, thanks for the tips, I'll give it a shot tomorrow and get back to you! If it is a fuse thing, is that an expensive/difficult process? Na Couple of bucks buy you a pak of fuses. |
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Post by aryk21 on Jun 29, 2014 13:32:58 GMT -6
I'm still not able to get it fully apart. I was able to separate the two cups but can't get the back to come off without hitting something, am I still doing something wrong?
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Post by Blaine on Jun 29, 2014 20:48:25 GMT -6
I'm still not able to get it fully apart. I was able to separate the two cups but can't get the back to come off without hitting something, am I still doing something wrong? They need to be angled & twisted to slide off around the bracket. |
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Post by aryk21 on Jul 3, 2014 16:10:53 GMT -6
I haven't gotten the chance to play around with those cups yet, but I did manage to get a new light bulb for the license plate light, but it still doesn't turn on  Are the lights for the speedometer/tachometer and the license plate light all on the same fuse system? How do I go about looking for/fixing the problem here? There's no way she'll pass inspection without the license plate light |
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Post by Blaine on Jul 3, 2014 19:31:36 GMT -6
I haven't gotten the chance to play around with those cups yet, but I did manage to get a new light bulb for the license plate light, but it still doesn't turn on Are the lights for the speedometer/tachometer and the license plate light all on the same fuse system? How do I go about looking for/fixing the problem here? There's no way she'll pass inspection without the license plate light Yep Check your fuses.They are on the same circuit. |
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Post by aryk21 on Jul 6, 2014 18:21:59 GMT -6
Finally had the chance to look at the fuses, turns out one was busted! It was the middle one, any idea what it's connected to? Thanks for all your help so far man, I appreciate it! |
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Post by Blaine on Jul 6, 2014 18:29:09 GMT -6
Finally had the chance to look at the fuses, turns out one was busted! It was the middle one, any idea what it's connected to? Thanks for all your help so far man, I appreciate it! Not sure.Just replace it & see what works that didn't work before. |
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Post by aryk21 on Jul 6, 2014 19:01:39 GMT -6
I dropped the fuse on the ground as I took it out and it broke How do I go about identifying what kind of fuse it is or do you even know which one exactly I should buy? Haha |
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Post by Blaine on Jul 6, 2014 20:39:32 GMT -6
I dropped the fuse on the ground as I took it out and it broke How do I go about identifying what kind of fuse it is or do you even know which one exactly I should buy? Haha It is a 15A short glass fuse. |
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Post by aryk21 on Jul 7, 2014 15:49:03 GMT -6
I switched out the fuse, that did the trick! Now for the bad news; she won't start at all, not even a pop start I tried charging the battery with a trickle-charger overnight, and I still get no sparks at all. I think that my battery is shot, I have a horn, license plate light, and a high-beam, as well as lights behind my tach and speedometer but no turn signals. Any ideas? |
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Post by aryk21 on Jul 7, 2014 16:14:40 GMT -6
I switched out the fuse, that did the trick! Now for the bad news; she won't start at all, not even a pop start I tried charging the battery with a trickle-charger overnight, and I still get no sparks at all. I think that my battery is shot, I have a horn, license plate light, and a high-beam, as well as lights behind my tach and speedometer but no turn signals. Any ideas? Or is it even a possible starter-related problem? |
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Post by platypus on Jul 8, 2014 0:15:16 GMT -6
Is it cranking at all? Or just won't fire up?
If you are blowing a fuse it sounds like there may be a short somewhere. Do your turn signals work with that fuse out?
Will it start without that fuse?
Some common starting issues I've seen on this board are:
Battery problems. Test with a multimeter. You should have better than 12.6 volts to start it. You can have enough juice for the lights but not enough amps for the starter. Make sure all your contacts and grounds are clean.
Kickstand safety switch, clutch safety switch, neutral switch. - Make sure the bike is in neutral side stand up. You should have a green neutral indicator on your dash.
Mine won't start if you pull the clutch while in neutral. And the side stand switch is notorious for sticking.
If you get nothing when you push the starter button. Try wiggling the key while you push the button.
Just a start....
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Are the lights for the speedometer/tachometer and the license plate light all on the same fuse system? How do I go about looking for/fixing the problem here? There's no way she'll pass inspection without the license plate light