2006 Vulcan 1500 classic speedometer error

[vulcanboy2006]

Hi all new to the forum just purchased a 2006 Vulcan 1500 Classic. I did notcie that there is a error in the speedometer, typically reading 5-10 MPH faster than actual. Is there a way to slow it down? I was checking the HealTeh calibrator. Will that work for my motorcycle?

[RichLockyer]

Ya, the Speedo Healer and Yellow Box are the only way to correct it.
Typical errors are 8-10% high.

Keep in mind that when you recalibrate, it will also slow down your odometer so it will seem that your fuel economy has dropped, but the odo error is typically about half of the speedo error, so when you calibrate, the odo will end up being too slow by 4-6%.

Remember that when you change tires, if you upgrade to a 160/80-16, that will change the calibration so you'll have to adjust the Speedo Healer.

[vulcanboy2006]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Ya, the Speedo Healer and Yellow Box are the only way to correct it.
Typical errors are 8-10% high.

Keep in mind that when you recalibrate, it will also slow down your odometer so it will seem that your fuel economy has dropped, but the odo error is typically about half of the speedo error, so when you calibrate, the odo will end up being too slow by 4-6%.

Remember that when you change tires, if you upgrade to a 160/80-16, that will change the calibration so you'll have to adjust the Speedo Healer.

I was looking at one of these, I myself am not literate when it comes to this stuff, do you think by chance a dealers could fix this error for me if I purchased the product?? Or do you think they can just fix the error if I just took it in? Course I will call and see what they say..

[vulcanboy2006]

I highly doubt they will fix it since i been reading previous threads on this. They probably wont even bother with my business even when i buy the healer product for them to correct the error.

[RichLockyer]

They can't and won't fix it. It cannot be fixed without the addition of one of the above aftermarket units.

A larger rear tire will help... 160/80-16 for the 1500 Vulcans, 200 for the 900, and a 180/70-16 for the 1600s, but even that will only correct part of the error.

If you buy a unit through the dealer, they should be willing to do the installation, but it's really not that difficult, and the secret to getting it to work properly is in the calibration, so you need to take actual GPS speed compared to indicated speed and plug those numbers into the calculator to find the correction factor needed.

[mkelley]

How in the world is a larger rear tire going to correct something fed from the front wheel?

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by mkelley

How in the world is a larger rear tire going to correct something fed from the front wheel?

'06 1500 Classic is fed from the transmission output just like the 1600.
They went to the electronic speedo when they upgraded the tank size a few years ago ('04 I think).

[vulcanboy2006]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

They can't and won't fix it. It cannot be fixed without the addition of one of the above aftermarket units.

A larger rear tire will help... 160/80-16 for the 1500 Vulcans, 200 for the 900, and a 180/70-16 for the 1600s, but even that will only correct part of the error.

If you buy a unit through the dealer, they should be willing to do the installation, but it's really not that difficult, and the secret to getting it to work properly is in the calibration, so you need to take actual GPS speed compared to indicated speed and plug those numbers into the calculator to find the correction factor needed.

Yeah i have a handheld GPS. Should I measure at higher speeds so I can get a better calibration? Like around 65 MPH? (actual speed from the gps)

[RichLockyer]

Highest speed you are comfortable with.
I calibrated mine at 80.

[vulcanboy2006]

Ok so for example if I do the actual 70 MPH and say for example my speedo reads 78 I would just plug these numbers into the calculator? How would I figure the percentage divide the numbers? Thanks a bunch

[RichLockyer]

They have both an online calculator and a downloadable one that'll give you the exact parameters to program the unit.

Mine is the older one, so for a 70/78 error, the programming procedure would be:

Total error: +11.4%
Correction factor: -10.3% ( don't know why the difference)
SH Calibration Value to be stored: -10.3%
SH Conversion mode Value to be stored: 0

- the ignition must be OFF
- set ALL SH switches ON
- turn ON the ignition
- press the button => memory cleared

- set ALL switches OFF EXCEPT #4
- press the button 1 time(s)

- set #6 switch ON
- set #4 switch OFF
- press the button 3 time(s)

- set #6 switch OFF => all data stored in Flash

The newer unit is actually easier to program. On mine, the various switches represent the "places" in the correction factor. Switch #4 is the "tens", switch #5 is the "ones", and switch #6 is the "tenths"... so I would set switch 4 and press the button once to set a "1" in the 10's place.
Switch 5 is left at "0", and the 10ths place is set to "3".

[vulcanboy2006]

So the sending unit is underneath the seat?

[vulcanboy2006]

Just did the test with my GPS. At Actual 40 MPH speedometer reads 45-46 & at 60 mph it reads 66-67 there ya go.

[RichLockyer]

Sending unit is in the tranny.
To install the Speedo Healer, you remove the shift levers, loosen the front floorboard bolt, remove the rear, and drop the floorboard.
4 bolts in the side cover release that exposing all kinds of goodies you should familiarize yourself with, including your stator cover, the bevel gear housing, and the clutch slave cylinder (like brakes, it should be bled/fluid replaced every year or two).

Above the bevel gear housing you'll see a wiring harness with a triangular connector. That is the connector for the speed sensor. The Speedo Healer plugs in between the factory connectors. You can mount the Speedo Healer under the left side cover above your toolbox for easy access to programming.

[vulcanboy2006]

Me and my friend installed the speedohealer and it works perfect
The box is tucked into the glove box. Thanks for all your help!

[vulcanboy2006]

Did one more test with GPS and speedometer reads 2 MPH slow at 60 MPH (actual 62). So the existing calibration thats in memory is -11.8% do I just add +3.3% from the -11.8% ? Since the +3.3% will show both speedometers @ 60 MPH. So in this case would I calibrate the speedohealer to -8.5% ?

[RichLockyer]

Their conversion factor varies slightly depending on how much correction is needed.
At 0% correction, the SH is set to 0%
At 11.1% error the SH calibration is set to 10%.
At 10% error the SH calibration is set to 9.1%.
At 9% error the SH calibration is set to 8.3%.
At 8% error the SH calibration is set to 7.4%.
At 7% error the SH calibration is set to 6.5%.
At 6% error the SH calibration is set to 5.7%.

So you have 11.8 in there now... meaning that you assumed a factory error of 13.4%, which indeed would be higher than anyone has ever reported.
If you're 3.3 off now, then it appears that you were indeed at about 10% factory, and you should be able to reprogram the SH for 9.1% and be pretty close.

Otherwise, reset the SH to bypass mode and recheck the speedo.