Digital Speedo does not work with engine on

By digital do you mean wire less ? My twin when on the coast to coast passed the Radio Telescope station and for 5 miles did not work at all . I assumed it was interference. But later and for several 3 or 4 min periods it went off again. I have bought some new 2032 batteries as it appears to be a poor signal.we shall see. Interesting to add that the electronic ignition requires suppressor caps otherwise the spark formation disturbs its timing. Has your bike got a suppressor cap? if not try one as my television has gone all snowy. I will not be buying any more wireless ones as the older wire type have been fine.  Grumpy

Fender,

Do not despair.

I suffered this exact problem with my Cyclemaster Tandem.

I had fitted the sensor to the front wheel (where the engine was unusually located) and it sent the speedo haywire. I saw 99mph pulling out of the drive!

I moved the sensor (mine is a wired, rather than wireless type) and the magnet to the rear wheel (away from the engine) and all was then well.

I think I agree with you that the magneto needs to distant from proceedings.

Try fitting the sensor and magnet as remotely as you can from the engine with a very small clearance gap between them. A suppressor cap might help too, although I suspect that it is the rotating magnets in the magneto that is the culprit.

Good luck.

My experience exactly, and it gets worse if you try to use a new-fangled wireless one!

Get it as far away as possible from the magneto, best in fact to fit it to the pedal bike that just overtook you (in my experience anyway!

Joking aside, they can be made to work very satisfactorily.

Best,

Potty P.

.........Just had a very nice cycle ride from home to Campbeltown (Mull of Kintyre) and back, via the Isle of Arran. Loverly.  PP

Mine is a wired one.

I will try on the rear wheel. I have the same speedo model on my Power Pak bike. As the engine is on the back of that one, it works fine.

The most likely source of interfernce is actually from the points...the earliest morse code .transmitters used sparks to send signals, before anyone knew much about tuning circuits and other such amazing refinements..a spark actually radiates signals in a range of frequencies, which is why you can sometimes hear an unsuppressed sparking plug going past on a radio (am receiver), and also see lines across tv screens at the same time.....technically committing an offence, if you sinners know you are doing it!!!...but what the heck!...after all, you are past in a flash!,,,,I have a wired digital on my NIppy and that goes all over the place, but the wiring is not screened, tho' I did toy with the idea of fitting a different cable, seeing as the original wasn't long enough to start with....the front suspension makes it difficult to fit the sensor where it will actually work! 

We keep getting interference on our telly that lasts for several minutes which always seems to co-incide with the appearance of a revolting purple moped that takes ages to crawl by.
 
DC

My wireless digi speedo was 12 quid on e bay. Our local cycle shop sell similar ones which monitor turns of the crank, heart beat, calory burn etc etc and are 5 times the price. If they go wrong its carry on to the doctors. Mine registers average speed at over 80 MPH so it must be correct . The twin doesnt have any points ,the engine is as far away as possible. It has been suggested that Taxi radios can cause problems so bring back open gear .cable turning.milage recording.proper speedos wieghing a couple of pounds that no one will interfere with.   Grumpy

Suffice to say, father, that I will not be interfering with your speedos

If they are wireless how does he hold them up when he dives in - suspenders?

Hi Grumpy,
 
Perhaps its  the signal from your `pace maker` that`s causing your problems.........
 
Tesco sell a decent `speedo` for £6.
 
DC

Repsac I might be in my 70s but I will guarantee that if I did don on a pair of speedos held up or not I bet I could beat any of you over 50 metres in the water, ( including young worzel). My new steed wont be having anything on it post 1937 except a rider . Thanks for your dating information. I will meet you behind the bike sheds. Grumpy

Game on! 

Not sure where this thread is leading to, but please do keep it coming!

Puzzled and perplexed Potty P...........................

I fitted a wireless speedo to my twin engined bike.  speed in excess of 60mph measured so I guess its magneto interference, points, magneto itself or spark at plug.

Annoying but c'e la vie.  No problem with similar device on normal cyclemaster or powerpak.

The cord is too short to fit to back wheel.

Any suggestions on how I can get this damn thing to work with engine on?

What fixes could be tried?

Thanks.

I think you'll have to cut the wire between the speedo and the sensor (there will be two wires insulated from eachother) and then solder-in an extension piece as I did on my Tandem.

That sorted mine out.

Gordon's challenge is somewhat different however as he has two magnetos, one on each wheel! I reckon Gordon will need to add a trailer to his two-engined Cyclemaster and place the sensor on that, well away from the action!

Best Wishes,

My new steed wont be having anything on it post 1937 except a rider . . Grumpy

-grumpy

If your speedos are from 1937 then they could well be knitted with wool from one of my ancestors.

As to the swimming challenge, I suspect there could well be a challenge from the East Coast Paddlers (NB not the 'East Coast Peedos' as mistakenly mentioned in a previous post)

as I said before, youu're only jealous...anyway I have seen a luverly shade of green that I feel will have to be incorporated very soon, but Kermit is still not behaving, so if I change the shade of colour I think he might respond!

Yet another shot of Grumpy in his prime. I'll let him comment on this one I think. I can feel a bit of an Aesops fable coming on...

Proper picture of a topless group one of which is Grumpy. The full story is that the one with a hand on his shoulder was many times British long distance swimming champion. But we talk of perseverance of a few days or weeks or months playing with our favoured steeds. Joe Smith  ( My brother in laws  brother ) attempted to swim the channel twice sponsored by our club and Rochdale Council at the age of 25. He failed by a few hundred yards as the tide turned. At one of our family get togethers I said you should have a go again but for yourself. He did this in secret only declaring his successfull swim of the channel when he became the oldest British male to cross at 65 years of age, 40 years after he started. I use this to illustrate what real dedication is . So if your engine wont start try a bit longer before putting it int skip.   Grumpy  PS I am the one with Speedos on.