HD Fairing - Gauges?

[kpmhspirit]

I got my inner fairing and am trying to figure out how to plug all them damn holes. I have no interest in putting a radio and speakers in. I got plugs for the 4 small cable holes at Ace Hardware and bought the HD plugs for the 4 small gauge holes and the glove box insert. That leaves the four large holes on the top. I can figure out how to block off the speaker holes (Harley actually makes a plug for those at a somewhat reasonable price) but am thinking I might like a tach and something else in the two center holes. It would get rid of the handlebar mounted tach I have now. HD naturally is very proud of the gauges that fit in there so I was wondering what you'all who've have gauges in there put in and besides a tach, what did you install. Will automotive gauges work. I wouldn't mind a speedo as well but don't have any idea how to hook it up. Any leads would be greatly appreciated.

Pete

[ringadingh]

I wish I had an inner fairing with the holes already in it. Automotive gauges will work fine, I think the Harley gauges are 1 1/2" dia. and a lot of automotive gauges are 2" dia.
Use elecric gauges rather than mechanical for the oil pressure and water temp. Youll have to install sending units for them as well. You should be able to use almost any electronic speedo as long as you can mount the sending unit or splice into the existing one. Hopefully it will still read ok with the stock sending unit.

[strobe]

The smaller holes are actually 2 1/16" gauges. There are a lot of options for them, not many for the larger holes though. In the full size gauges you are pretty much limited to the 3 3/8" size tach and a speedometer. The other option that I looked at is a 4 in one gauge from Autometer. The only real trick is to make sure the fuel sender is compatible with the gauge. This one is compatible with a 240-33 ohm fuel gauge.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AT...5&autoview=sku

I went with a 2 5/8" gauge instead and made an adapter to fit it in the larger 3 3/8" hole beside the tach. Here is a picture:

[duneseven]

nice setup cory

[kpmhspirit]

Thanks, guys. The picture is great, Strobe. That setup looks very nice. I think I'll go with the tach and clock. What kind of tach should I get? The automotive ones are for 4. 6 or 8 cylinders. I have a Drag Specialities tach mounted on the bars right now. Will the automotive one just hook to the same wires?

For example, would this one work?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-1398/

Thanks again,

Pete

[kpmhspirit]

Originally Posted by strobe

The smaller holes are actually 2 1/16" gauges. There are a lot of options for them, not many for the larger holes though. In the full size gauges you are pretty much limited to the 3 3/8" size tach and a speedometer. The other option that I looked at is a 4 in one gauge from Autometer. The only real trick is to make sure the fuel sender is compatible with the gauge. This one is compatible with a 240-33 ohm fuel gauge.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AT...5&autoview=sku

I went with a 2 5/8" gauge instead and made an adapter to fit it in the larger 3 3/8" hole beside the tach. Here is a picture:

Strobe, just curious as to what you used to plug the long hole above the radio and between the bottom of the gauges. I found plugs for the other small holes but haven't come up with anything for that slot yet.

THanks,

Pete

[lonewolf]

dont mean to pee on your parade, but why are you putting an inner on if you arent going to utilize it ? from what ive heard the install of a fairing is easier if you dont use the inner! ive got the inner on mine, but also have a stereo, speakers, tach, voltmeter and temp guage also !! btw the brand of guages i used was Equus ! got them at o'reilys

[kpmhspirit]

Originally Posted by lonewolf

dont mean to pee on your parade, but why are you putting an inner on if you arent going to utilize it ? from what ive heard the install of a fairing is easier if you dont use the inner! ive got the inner on mine, but also have a stereo, speakers, tach, voltmeter and temp guage also !! btw the brand of guages i used was Equus ! got them at o'reilys

Probably a good question and I'm not done yet..... :) One reason for the inner is that I will put a couple gauges in to start with since I want to get rid of the handlebar mounted tach and clock but it also covers up the HD headlight I'm going to use with the outer rather than trim the headlight opening. The HD headlight also holds the bra I'm going to put on for now rather than paint it. And I can always change and add radio etc. in the future if I feel the need... Might as well get the hard part out of the way early. And I like tinkering with this kind of stuff...Ask my wife, I never take the easy way out....

Thanks for the note on the gauges. I'll check them out tomorrow. How did you hook up your tach? I'm still not sure if I can just hook a car tach to the Drag Specialties M/C tach wires I have now.

thanks.

Pete

[lonewolf]

the tach came with pretty good instructions, plus it has a button on it to set it for all kinds of mototrs from 1 cylinder on up. hooked up power, then hooked tach up to neg side of coil. ( i think) been awhile since i did it. but the instructions are pretty straight forward.

[lonewolf]

btw , pete, if you havent gotten a harley bucket yet, start lookin now ! that was the one thing that held up my project for over a month. was emailing and sending parts back and forth from a bike parts yard, til i got the right one. told them exactly what i needed, but kept gettin sent wrong bucket components. is way over $200 to buy new from harley.

[kpmhspirit]

Originally Posted by lonewolf

the tach came with pretty good instructions, plus it has a button on it to set it for all kinds of mototrs from 1 cylinder on up. hooked up power, then hooked tach up to neg side of coil. ( i think) been awhile since i did it. but the instructions are pretty straight forward.

btw , pete, if you havent gotten a harley bucket yet, start lookin now ! that was the one thing that held up my project for over a month. was emailing and sending parts back and forth from a bike parts yard, til i got the right one. told them exactly what i needed, but kept gettin sent wrong bucket components. is way over $200 to buy new from harley.

Thanks for the info. I'll check them out today. Also good tip on the headlight. I'm working on it already. Stan Wright has a helpful list on his web site:

http://nomad.eurekaboy.com/fairing.htm

Pete

[strobe]

Originally Posted by Pete

Thanks, guys. The picture is great, Strobe. That setup looks very nice. I think I'll go with the tach and clock. What kind of tach should I get? The automotive ones are for 4. 6 or 8 cylinders. I have a Drag Specialities tach mounted on the bars right now. Will the automotive one just hook to the same wires?

For example, would this one work?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-1398/

Thanks again,

Pete

This is the one that I ended up with. The one pictured shorted out. It was an automotive tach and was only registering 1/2 the RPM, I was going to put an adapter on it to get the signal from both coils, but it died very quickly so went with this one:

http://www.bikebandit.com/autometer-...eet-tachometer

It works very well with the Nomad and fits nicely in the opening. You will need to make something to hold it in from the back, but it is a very nice tach.

[kpmhspirit]

Originally Posted by strobe

This is the one that I ended up with. The one pictured shorted out. It was an automotive tach and was only registering 1/2 the RPM, I was going to put an adapter on it to get the signal from both coils, but it died very quickly so went with this one:

http://www.bikebandit.com/autometer-...eet-tachometer

It works very well with the Nomad and fits nicely in the opening. You will need to make something to hold it in from the back, but it is a very nice tach.

Thanks, Strobe. That is a good looking gauge.

I was also looking at clocks to match the white face tach and they all seem to be electric, ie. hooked up to the battery. I guess the accessory plug in the headlight would work but how much draw do these have? My bike tends to site for weeks at a time and was thinking these would drain the battery. I do have a battery tender at home but on the road it's a different story. I was really looking for a battery operated one but haven't had any luck.

Thanks for any help.

Pete

[strobe]

Originally Posted by Pete

Thanks, Strobe. That is a good looking gauge.

I was also looking at clocks to match the white face tach and they all seem to be electric, ie. hooked up to the battery. I guess the accessory plug in the headlight would work but how much draw do these have? My bike tends to site for weeks at a time and was thinking these would drain the battery. I do have a battery tender at home but on the road it's a different story. I was really looking for a battery operated one but haven't had any luck.

Thanks for any help.

Pete

Mine has sat for at least a couple weeks, maybe even 3 or more a couple times with the clock running and it fired right up with no battery tender hooked up. The draw for the clock it very low, the lighting is obviously wired separately so you should not have an issue. Problem is finding a clock bigger than 2 5/8" from what I could find anyway.

[kpmhspirit]

Strobe,

Yeah, 2-5/8" is the biggest I've found so far as well. Not a big deal. I'll just make an adaptor plate. Good info on the clock. Looks like it won't be a big deal.

Thanks again for all your help and patience.... :) Greatly appreciated.

Pete