I need a specific technical answer and no one is biting on my post in the tech forums section. Since it is Sporty related I figured I'd take a stab here and see if anyone here can enlighten me.

I've got a mini-tach (69427-04) from an 06 Sportster. Catalog says it only fits 04-06 XL's. For earlier models and 07-later, the correct part number is 68953-04. Catalog says that one fits '96-'03 and '07-later XL Custom, '96-later FXDWG, '06 FXD35, '07-later FXDC, '84-later FX Softail® (except '07-later FXSTC), '86-later FL Softail® (except '07-later FLSTF), and '94-later Road King® models.

Anyone know the difference? The 04-06 tach runs $219 while the other one is only $129. Is there harm for the tach of the bike if I attempt to use the 04-06 XL tach on one of the bikes listed under the 68953-04 compatibility list?

 

I'm guessing but it may have to do with fitment and/or pre-manufactured plug in connectors.

Is the expensive one a drop in fit, or does it include a bracket? Maybe the cheaper one has to be custom fitted to your bike, or maybe does not come with a mounting bracket/pod.

The tachometers themselves should work in the same way. The big question is what is the difference in the pick up point on the different year model bikes. For example, is it a pre-wired connector on the bike, or do you have to tap into the ignition somewhere?

It could also be as simple as a difference in supplier price to the MoCo.

 

From all external appearances the tachs are identical. Size and fitment is identical. They are both compatible with the same brackets and housings.

Here's the wire-up for the 04-06 tach; three splices, one connector, and a plug for the digital-analog converter that comes with the tach. I think the latter is the difference (connector plug #1 in the diagram). The tach itself is pretty straight forward, having connections same as any other tach I've handled: power, ground, and signal.

So my guess is the 04-06 have a digital pickup for the engine RPMs and the converter "dumbs" it down for the tach. Someone decided this wasn't such a good idea and they went back to analog pickups in the engines in 07.

I'm going to confirm this and see if a replacement wire harness, or simply modding the one I have will make this work for me. Certainly just buying the one that says it'll fit would be easier but I already have this one in hand. And if its just a wire harness mod, that'll be easy and much less hassle than buying a new tach, trying to sell this one to recoup some $$$, etc.


[IMG]local://upfiles/5927/3F663524CF2F4190AF358DE7C1D7EA85.jpg[/IMG]

 

I tried all these tach's and couldnt get any of them to work for one reason or the other so I bought this one.

http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/fo...icro-tach.html

Scroll down to bottom of link for my pics....

 

Different electronics and computer controls on the 07 and later Sportys to accomodate the EFI. That's gonna be the difference.

 

Attached should be a pic of the 2002 wiring diagram.

[IMG]local://upfiles/48626/673870D77A7E4850910E97A3DFFE44CC.jpg[/IMG]

 

I recently installedPN 69427-04 Mini-Tach on my '06 1200. Initially I was overwhelmed by the instructions but I finall relized all I had to do was splice into the speedo harness in the riser. I disassembled the riserso I could get into the speedo harness and sliced in the 3 wires; Ground, Power and the Data. Actual hands on work time about 2 hours.

The instructions are crazy the way they describe to install the thing.

Good Luck!

 

Got the answer. It was as I thought: The 04-06 kits are using a digitial pick-up for the RPM signal. Hence the need for the digital-analog converter and the extra connections in the wiring.

The tach itself is the same unit for both kits. There is no difference between carb or EFI, or electronics. It's a simple analog tach with a power, ground, and signal terminals.

Apparently HD decided to try a different approach for the 04-06's and then changed back for 07+.

Attached here for visual comparison are the wire harness diagrams from both tach kits. The 04-06 harness is the one with the extra connections. The other one (with only three wires total) is the kit with the much broader application (68953-04 Fits '96-'03 and '07-later XL Custom, '96-later FXDWG, '06 FXD35, '07-later FXDC, '84-later FX Softail® (except '07-later FXSTC), '86-later FL Softail® (except '07-later FLSTF), and '94-later Road King® models).

So the moral of the story is that if you have an 04-06 tach kit you aren't doing anything with, you can indeed install it on a bike identified under the 68953-04 kit by simply replacing or modifying the wire harness.

FYI: Sorry for the typo in the original post. It was tach kit 69427-04 not 69724-04.

[IMG]local://upfiles/5927/883ED22DBF84409CAF9398E1DB4A1CB2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/5927/1066345954574F91BB337190A6C11BA6.jpg[/IMG]

 

Woops, Wrong thread this one's for smart people[sm=confused06.gif]

 

Now THAT is funny don't give a damn who you are!