Tachometer Installation

Ready, Set, Rev!


Who the heck needs a tachometer on a cruiser? Well, probably nobody but it's really sort of fun watching your engine lope along at 70 mph at 2500 rpm and you'll quickly realize you've been running your big 1500 or 1600 a lot slower than you'd thought around town. (Anybody want to fess up to hitting 4th on a city street? Thought not.)

This is a very simple install. The hardest part, removing the gas tank (on the 1500 FI, not necessary on the 1600) which really works better with two people, one to hold the tank the other to disconnect the hoses and wiring connectors. The wiring is extremely simple.

What You'll Need

  1. A tachometer. Barons offers a beautiful billet model priced at the higher end of the scale while Drag Specialties gets the job done on the low end. The links are just so you can see photos, shop around for best pricing.
  2. A "multistack connector" (photo right). Don't panic you've probably seen these before on Volkswagen bugs and that's where you'll find them, any VW (or sand buggy) outlet and many ordinary auto supply stores. This connector makes attaching your tach to the coil very simple.
  3. Soldering gun or clamp type wire connectors
  4. 1-female flat crimp type wire connector
  5. A multimeter or 12 volt test light
  6. If your bike (VN2000 or VN900) has single fire ignition (spark plug fires every other revolution) you'll need a "single fire adapter." You can purchase them almost anyplace motorcycle tachs are sold and Barons throws one in the box with each tach purchase.

Instructions

  1. Determine how you want to mount your tach. If you looked at the vendor links above you noticed it can simply be clamped to your handlebar or you can spend some extra dough and get a spiffy housing that replaces the top cap on your risers. Mount the tach whichever way you prefer.
  2. There will be four wires coming out of the tach housing. The color may vary depending on the maker but one will be ground, another goes to one of your coils and two will run to power. Got em? Remove your headlight front ring (two Phillips type screws, one on each side) and pull the plug on the headlight bulb. Set the assembly in a safe place (not on the garage floor you'll most certainly trip over it)
  3. Run the tach wiring harness into the housing and (if provided) trim back the black plastic covering on the wires until you only have a couple of inches inside the housing.
  4. Look for a black wire with yellow stripe. This is Kawasaki's ground (there are several) one is really handy running to the headlight bulb. I suggest soldering connections but if you prefer you can use the clamp type wire connectors (available at any automotive store). Determine how much of the ground wire coming from the tach you need to easily reach the bike ground wire you've chosen. Trim it to length and attach.
  5. Using your multimeter or test light, find a + wire inside the housing that is "switched". The easy one is gray and goes to your front running lights, one on each side. Whatever you choose test to be sure the power is off when the key is off and on when the ignition is on. This will power your tach and the light inside. Trim your hot wires from the tach to length and attach to the + wire in the headlight bucket you've chosen. When finished turn on your key. The light in the tach should be on. Got it? Go to step 6. If not go back and check your connections.
  6. You have one wire left and it goes to one of the coils. (which one doesn't matter) For this you'll have to remove your tank or at least move it back a few inches on a 1500 Nomad or Classic. On carbed Vulcans this is a piece o' cake. Remove your instrument cluster, remove the seat, remove the bolts holding the tank front and rear, disconnect the fuel line from the petcock, lift tank and set aside in a safe place. Owners of 1600's have easy access to both coils as they sort of peek out from under each side of the tank so those owners can just skip ahead to step 7.

    The FI tank is a little tougher and really helps to have someone assisting you. You'll be removing the instrument cluster (study the electrical connectors to determine what you have to press down to release). Remove the seat and two nuts holding the tank to the bike. Pull off the one (49 state) or two (California) small hoses from the rear of the tank. Lift the tank from one side of the bike and have your helper disconnect the hoses from the other. At this point you can try to move the tank rearward a few inches for access to the coils. If you can see them and get to them then go straight to step 7. If not lets get the tank off. The vent hoses are pretty obvious, the pressurized fuel line can sometimes be a little stubborn. Press in on both sides of the connector (rectangular buttons) and wiggle the connector loose. There are two more wiring connectors under the tank. One of these comes right apart the other has three (countem) latches that have to be pressed for the pieces to release. There's probably a special tool for this but two small screwdrivers (one wedged into the top latch while you press the others with a second screwdriver and wiggle) get it done. You did siphon most of the gas out of the tank right? If not the tank holder needs a beer now. Take a break.
  7. Using a flashlight (unless you have terrific garage lighting) peer down inside the frame from directly above on a 1500, up from below on a 1600. Spark plug wires are going into the front of each of the coils. Got em? Now look for the black wire which is connected with a standard female flat connector. The assembly line can't seem to decide which side up to mount the coils so some Vulcans have the black (negative) wire on top, some on the bottom. Even same year bikes seem to be different. At any rate whichever side the black wire is on is where you'll connect your tach wire. If you can't find the black wire it's time to dig out the tester again. Turn on the ignition and test both sides of the coil. One side will show 12V positive; you want the other side. The coil on the right side (#2) is a little easier to get your fingers or needle nose pliers on if you're working on a 1500 but the left side coil is easier to reach on a 1600. Remove the black wire and replace it with the "multi" connector discussed earlier. Now re-connect the wire you just removed. Note there's no doubt some riders have simply removed the connector, stuck the tach wire inside then pressed it back on the coil. Not very elegant but it'll work.
  8. Run the appropriate tach wire back out of the headlight housing (sheathed in shrink tubing makes it look better) back along the left side of the bike (path along the stock wiring) and to the coil. Connect a female flat crimp type connector to the wire and attach it to the other male connector on the multi connector.
  9. Your assembly is complete. Just put the tank back on (FI riders listen for a soft "click" when attaching the pressurized fuel line). If all the lines are connected (including wiring at the bottom of the FI tank that powers the fuel pump) the bike will run without the instrument cluster in place. Fire it up and make sure the tach is working. Yes? Button it all up and go for a ride.

Wiring tip (for those who bothered to read all the way to the bottom). When pulling wire through any kind of sheathing (like shrink tubing mentioned above) it'll pull much easier if you blow a little bit of baby powder into the sheath.

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