Intro and help needed

[GreatOdinsRaven]

Hi everyone! I bought my '03 9r about a year ago from a forum member with 7000 on the clock. Performance wise, it's stock other than the race kit.

Here's the problem that started roughly a month ago. I was moving back home from college for the summer so I gave the bike a wash before I put it away to pick it up 2 weeks later. When I came back to take it home and tried to start it, the gauges didn't sweep and the bike didn't start. I bump started it and it didn't make it down the block before it died again. I put the charger on it and in case there was any water where it shouldn't be from the wash, used an air compressor to try and blow it out.

After some hours on the charger, it fired right up and was fine the entire ride home. A couple days after I got it home, I fired it up again and went for a short ride. Now the gauges sweep but the speedometer doesn't work and the odometer/trip, but the clock still works. Is it a gauge problem or a sensor problem? Thanks for the help in advance!

 

[user_deleted]

so it all changed after the wash job? i'd pull the seat and check that all the connections including batt cables are dry and tight. also spray compressed air in your right side handlebar control in case you moisturized the kill switch during the wash. sounds moisture related to me. there is a diode on these bikes that can act up but brian or steve or bolt know where it is...i don't. nice looking machine by the way.

 

[Mark XB12r]

is it throwing a CEL? If not I think it can be as simple as dielectric greasing all the connectors. The relays and fuses. Take the front pulley cover and chin faring off to get at all the connectors there. Betcha this will help!

 

[Mark XB12r]

the diode is in the fuse box BTW!

 

[GreatOdinsRaven]

is it throwing a CEL?

Nope, all lights are off.

there is a diode on these bikes that can act up

I made sure to use the compressor around the kill switch when it happened. I'll check the connectors today. Thanks guys.

 

[Mark XB12r]

dont check em.... lube em with dielectric grease.... fuses and relays too

 

[GreatOdinsRaven]

Ok, greased everything you recommended, checked fuses and diodes with a multimeter, still no luck. And I used compressed air around the kill switch again.

Any other ideas?

 

[d_adams]

Kinda sounds like the battery is just dying. Relatively speaking, batteries are cheap so I'd just go get a new one and put it in.

 

[GreatOdinsRaven]

Would a dying battery only affect the speedo and odometer? It starts right up so I didn't think the battery would be the problem.

 

[d_adams]

I put it away to pick it up 2 weeks later. When I came back to take it home and tried to start it, the gauges didn't sweep and the bike didn't start. I bump started it and it didn't make it down the block before it died again.

After some hours on the charger, it fired right up and was fine the entire ride home.

That's why I suggested changing the battery. I don't know that the speedo is connected to that problem, but I'd still recommend changing the battery anyway, it sounds like it's getting weak.

 

[GreatOdinsRaven]

I guess that will be the next thing I try then.

 

[Iamarchangel]

Sheesh, people.

You have two problems. The first is easy. Never, ever, no matter what anybody else here says, use power wash on a bike, any bike. What happened is what will happen, and it will get worse. Sounds like once it dried out completely, it's back to normal.

Your second problem will probably cost you. Your speed sensor is shot. You can try taking it out and cleaning it. That works once in a hundred times. Otherwise, just replace it. It's not too expensive or hard to do. (Hint, hint: wiring snake pit under sprocket cover. Take some good pics to help put it back together.)