Getting Ready to change my Speedometer... Wiring Help Needed

I just bought an 1983 XJ900. it came with this aftermarket Speedometer.



The upper bulb is burned out. While driving at night, I can't read how fast I'm going if the needle is higher than 40km/h. I was looking for bulbs, when I stumbled across this speedometer.



As is, I have no neutral light, and no indication if I leave a turn signal on. If I buy this new speedometer, how hard do you figure it will be to get all the features working.

 

Not very hard i wouldn't think, i was thinkin of maybe gettin one of these in LCD form to replace the old gauges. But i'm torn on modernizing it, or leaving it stock

 

Easy day wiring that thing. Just need your existing wiring harness schematic to figure out which input goes where.

 

Re: Getting Ready to change my Speedometer... Wiring Help Ne

that's what I am concerned about.

There is no schematic. the previous owner installed the current gauge himself, and left me with a thick tube of electrical tape stemming from the current gauge.

My issue is; where will I get a neutral indicator wire if it's not inside that homemade harness?

is there a source I can easily get to? right from the transmission?
what about the high beams?
turn signals?
oil pressure?

The bike doesn't even have a hazard light switch anymore, so the hazard light signal probably won't get wired up.

I was reading another thread, where people were discussing digital gauges. I have decided to go this route if you guys think installation will be do-able

settled on this on:

 

I'd say good choice on the gauge but I'm not familar with the 900 and it's neutral switch. The wiring is not too difficult, you just need an ohm meter and some time to "ring" out your existing harness to determine what all is in the bundle. We'll get to that point in due time. Get yourself a meter and get a schematic for your bike.

 

Can you post a link to that gauge? I like that one. Thanks

 

Re: Getting Ready to change my Speedometer... Wiring Help Ne

That's an Acewell gauge:

http://www.acewell-meter.com/

I've got the black pod version on my streetfighter - it's pretty good, but not as good as the standard gauges (as far as speedo / tach reading stability). And the speedo sensor is a magnet type (like a bicycle speedo)

Also, your neutral wire is sky blue (as per my XJ900 wiring diagram). This would probably still be in the harness that the PO has taped up, but if it is not, just unravel the harness back along under the tank until you find it.

The Acewells come with a wiring harness and diagram, so all you need to know is your what your XJ wires are to match them up.

 

I have installed the Acewell shown above and it works pretty well. Some observations though, the fuel guage part just flashed like it was empty...need to research how to modify the sensor in the tank if possible to match the resistances needed by the gauge. The tach wire is soldered to my TCI and although jumpy (haven't put the supplied resistor in to rectify this yet), it works ok. The speedometer is accurate with where I've placed the sensor and magnet. Oil and Neutral lights work good. Remember that you lose the signal light cancelation feature after removing your original gauge set. The signal lights are a little dim in direct sunlight, but are good at night. All in all I think you'll like the new setup.

 

There's a forum about Acewell here in Oz:

http://acewell.com.au/forum/

 

Thanks Hillsy....the site looks like it might give me some answers I need!!