Strange Happening Today

[zenbiker]

Riding today in 101 dgree heat. All is fine until I stop for lunch. Try to start the rocket...nothing..one click at first and then nothing.
Go to the battery terminals ( always my first step when I can't start a vehicle) and tightened them them down althought they seemed fairly snug. Voila! Instant start but my speedo was reading 100 mph at 25 and the tach was reading 5K!
The bike was running fine and when I got home, shut her down and both needles stayed up there. Turned ignition switch on and off a few times and each time both needles dropped down a bit until the rested at zero after about 5 ons and offs.
Do any of you have an explanation for this?

 

[xhdskip]

You're the zenbiker and you're asking US for help?
None of us has attained enlightenment yet,
we're all still on or off the path to it.

Zen emphasizes the attainment of enlightenment and the personal expression of direct insight in the Buddhist teachings.
[SUP]
ok, I'll quit being a smart alec, sorry, couldn't help myself.
i've never heard that one before, wish I could help, but have no clue on this one.
Good luck and let us know what ya figure out.[/SUP]

 

[zenbiker]

Ah, grasshopper. The truth can be easily seen but not with electrics! Unfortunately, Zen teaches little about speedos and rev counters.
Instead of being a wise ass, do you have an answer?

 

[Blastedbones]

Well, it is known that some errors can be reset with 5 successful on/offs, sounds like an electrical shutdown caused the error, mebbe there's a ground short still to be found?

 

[zenbiker]

I doubt there is a short since just tightening the battery terminals solved the issue.I was only asking to try to understand WHY? I just now restarted the engine and all is normal.

 

[Jim/Maine]

It is said that only two understand electricity: Edison and God. Edison is dead and God is not talking. Good luck and will wait to here anything you find out.

 

[budman]

it was the Gods of Harley Davidson laughing at ya..

 

[Hooter]

Sounds like a ground issue? If not at the battery it may be at the frame. Dirty or loose or both, just a place to start.

 

[pjsmithres]

not zen but logic.
Lift tank and check the plug connection of the cluster.
Not the same, but I had a similar odd function of mis reading after I had a dead battery in may.
It would not settle and I disconnected the plugs and put di-electric grease on the connection. It has been working perfectly since.
It probably is coincidence, or the Lucas Zen acting out, but its fine now.
I bought the bike used last year and have found three connectors that have either not been fully "clicked" or have worked their way loose. There are a few connectors that are a almost too short and are strained when the steering goes to the stops. I released all or the harness tiedowns and adjusted the harness to sit easier.
The factory or original owner did a crappy job at the add in of the fog lights and heated grips and they tapped in and just shoved things "out of the way".
All is fine now and hope your electrons are reset.