Motorcycle Repair: Honda shadow 1983 problem tachometer temperature gauge, hawaii thanks, honda shop

Question
Aloha Bill,

My '83 shadow 750 tack and temp gauge is unresponsive. Just purchased and it was sitting in a garage for a long time. Is there a connector that might be loose or is it more complex.

Otherwise it runs very nice.

I am not a mechanic and live in rural Hawaii.

Thanks for you advice.

Jonathan

Answer
I did attend some of the holistic lunches in Kona, way back in the 2002-3 era.

I imagine that a study of the wiring diagrams might show some kind of connection between the two gauges failing at the same time. Either voltage to the gauges or a ground issue, perhaps.

Bill

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Aloha, Jonathan

I lived on the Big Island for 5 years and know what the moisture does to motorcycles and their electrical systems.

The tachometer is electric and gets a pulse from the ignition coil. Temp gauge has a sender up around the thermostat housing. Do make sure that it is full of coolant. Check your owner's manual or buy one online, so you have some basic guidance on the operations and specifications of this bike.

If you have enough info and general skill to remove the seat and fuel tank, then I would suggest going over all of the electrical connectors and ground connections to check for corrosion that is causing your problems. There could be a power problem in the instruments, as well, but that would require dis-assembly and inspection. There is a good Honda shop in Kona, but I don't know about other islands.

Bill Silver