Calibrating Smiths electronic Speedo

Status
Not open for further replies.
I know that this is an older post, but I just wanted to share my findings on calibration. I have installed a couple of these systems at this point - first one was painful, but made some good notes and developed my own set of wiring schematics. Second one went smooth as glass.

With a bit of calculating, as well as trial and error, I have found that a value of 001055 seems to work for MPH speedos and 000659 works for KPH speedos. This of course is if you are using the speed pickup that attaches to the speedo drive.

Hope this helps.
 
Derek Wilson said:
I know that this is an older post, but I just wanted to share my findings on calibration. I have installed a couple of these systems at this point - first one was painful, but made some good notes and developed my own set of wiring schematics. Second one went smooth as glass.

With a bit of calculating, as well as trial and error, I have found that a value of 001055 seems to work for MPH speedos and 000659 works for KPH speedos. This of course is if you are using the speed pickup that attaches to the speedo drive.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Hi, would you mind sharing your wiring schematics. I got my e-speedo back recently from Smiths as the board was DOA, all done under warranty. My plan is to install the speedo as a winter project, electrics are not my strong point!!!
 
Derek Wilson said:
I know that this is an older post, but I just wanted to share my findings on calibration. I have installed a couple of these systems at this point - first one was painful, but made some good notes and developed my own set of wiring schematics. Second one went smooth as glass.

With a bit of calculating, as well as trial and error, I have found that a value of 001055 seems to work for MPH speedos and 000659 works for KPH speedos. This of course is if you are using the speed pickup that attaches to the speedo drive.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
There is a reason for doing calibration rather than assigning a fixed number.
Tire/rim profile of wheel wih the sensor being the variable parameter.
 
tomspro said:
There is a reason for doing calibration rather than assigning a fixed number.
Tire/rim profile of wheel wih the sensor being the variable parameter.
Click to expand...

True - but until we had electronic instruments, we had no easy way of calibrating our old magnetic instruments.... So unless you have wheel that is way different than the 18"/19" wheels that most Commando's have, the numbers that I have listed are in the correct ball park and will get you going.

Feel free to calibrate closer as you wish.
 
click said:
Hi, would you mind sharing your wiring schematics. I got my e-speedo back recently from Smiths as the board was DOA, all done under warranty. My plan is to install the speedo as a winter project, electrics are not my strong point!!!
Click to expand...

I have started a private conversation with you, e-mail me and I will respond to you with the documentation that I have developed.
 
nortoneye said:
Used my Zumo to check against the electronic Speedo. GPS says 60 and Speedo reads 69
Click to expand...
kept entering a different number and got the reading within 1-2 mph of agreeing with each other.
I used my zumo also and just
 
The Smiths E speedo/instructions should come with a 1911 Govt to shoot yourself with. It would save a lot of frustration.

OK, that's not really a good idea because too many people would actually use it! ;)

I've been as mechanic all my life and the instructions are probably the worst I've ever seen. Or maybe it's the implementation of the hardware/firmware/whatever that makes the required instructions so convoluted/ridiculous.
 
MexicoMike said:
The Smiths E speedo/instructions should come with a 1911 Govt to shoot yourself with. It would save a lot of frustration.

OK, that's not really a good idea because too many people would actually use it! ;)

I've been as mechanic all my life and the instructions are probably the worst I've ever seen. Or maybe it's the implementation of the hardware/firmware/whatever that makes the required instructions so convoluted/ridiculous.
Click to expand...

I did these up for myself after I was successful in getting them to work, in case I had to do it again. See attached.
 

Attachments

MexicoMike said:
The Smiths E speedo/instructions should come with a 1911 Govt to shoot yourself with. It would save a lot of frustration.
Click to expand...
I have one of those. I'm sure I could put 7 rounds of .45 ACP into a Smiths speedo at 25 feet if I got frustrated enough.
 
To be FAIR...at least in my experience...Once I got the E Speedo calibrated, it worked great. BUT...they could have done better with the trip meter which is essentially invisible in sunlight. After a couple of rides I almost pulled the E-smiths off and put the OEM back on, which has a useful (readable) trip meter. But I thought about it and realized that it wasn't super critical to be able to read the trip meter all the time - a quick "shading" with a hand to block the sun and I can read it.

As I read that last sentence, my objective reaction is: "REALLY? Does that seem like the way a display should work?" :rolleyes:

If I had to do it over, I wouldn't bother changing to the E-smiths. BUT that is because both my OEM tach and speedo were working fine. IOW, if something went wrong with the E-smiths, I'd put the OEMs back on; I wouldn't buy new E's to replace failed Es. But if the OEMs are not working, the Smiths DO work without any oscillation and they look 'right' so despite my annoyance, I think they are good replacements for broken OEM clocks.
 
That was the exact case for my dad's 850 - both clocks were N/S. The tach was a generic, red-needled Smiths unit, and really took away from the look of the bike in my opinion. So I was happy to see it go.

I sort of tripped over the electronic ones while I was living in England, calling AN to get replacements for dad, and finding out that they did not sell new magnetics any more. So electronics it was.

I really do find it disturbing that AN do not sell a comprehensive kit to make the swap, and that instructions are so abysmal. They didn't even mention when I ordered them over the phone that something to drive the speedometer was required, and not included... thankfully, I realized it shortly after receiving the speedo and ordered it in short order, while I was still in the UK.

I did call AN out on it, only to be connected to there lead customer service tech who had never fit a set himself!! At his request, I ended up sending him my notes when I finished getting the install working on the 850 - same ones I posted above.

I notice that RGM offers a set of electronic clocks, and it seems to come as a complete kit. Anybody have any experience with it?

My wavey needle clocks are still working well enough to be usable on my 750, so I am in not in any hurry to make the transition quite yet - although dad sings the praises of his e-clocks every time I talk to him - LOL
 
Derek Wilson said:
That was the exact case for my dad's 850 - both clocks were N/S. The tach was a generic, red-needled Smiths unit, and really took away from the look of the bike in my opinion. So I was happy to see it go.

I sort of tripped over the electronic ones while I was living in England, calling AN to get replacements for dad, and finding out that they did not sell new magnetics any more. So electronics it was.

I really do find it disturbing that AN do not sell a comprehensive kit to make the swap, and that instructions are so abysmal. They didn't even mention when I ordered them over the phone that something to drive the speedometer was required, and not included... thankfully, I realized it shortly after receiving the speedo and ordered it in short order, while I was still in the UK.

I did call AN out on it, only to be connected to there lead customer service tech who had never fit a set himself!! At his request, I ended up sending him my notes when I finished getting the install working on the 850 - same ones I posted above.

I notice that RGM offers a set of electronic clocks, and it seems to come as a complete kit. Anybody have any experience with it?

My wavey needle clocks are still working well enough to be usable on my 750, so I am in not in any hurry to make the transition quite yet - although dad sings the praises of his e-clocks every time I talk to him - LOL
Click to expand...

I’m 100% with you Derek.
When these clocks were new to market it was excusable. But now many have been sold and fitted. The fact that they are not sold as a plug and play kit option, and the fact that the instructions are so awful really is inexcusable.
Especially considering how expensive they are.
And that an accurate speedo is a legal requirement.
And that an incorrect one could lead to prosecution....
 
Has anyone contacted Smith's about all of this? I'd like to get a set of e-instruments but not until they are pretty much plug and play including dumping the pathetic gearbox.
 
Onder said:
Has anyone contacted Smith's about all of this? I'd like to get a set of e-instruments but not until they are pretty much plug and play including dumping the pathetic gearbox.
Click to expand...

You can dump the gear box if you fit a GPS unit, but it is significantly more expensive - which is hard to understand, since nearly everything these says has GPS capability...

I am happy to do the fitting for anyone who can get their bike to my shop in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.
 
Derek Wilson said:
You can dump the gear box if you fit a GPS unit, but it is significantly more expensive - which is hard to understand, since nearly everything these says has GPS capability...

I am happy to do the fitting for anyone who can get their bike to my shop in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.
Click to expand...

Or by using the magnetic pickup option for the eSmiths speedo. Not a big deal.
I did this years ago and it has been flawless and accurate since.
(Even after changing the bike electrical system from positive to negative ground.)
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Jerry Doe
Smiths electronic speedo transducer
2
Replies
22
Views
1,086
YING
YING
F
  • Locked
Smiths electronic speedo problem
2
Replies
28
Views
3,657
Derek Wilson
Derek Wilson
Back
Top