It has been getting warm enough here in the afternoons to get some scoot riding and trying to get things to work better.
This weekend I swapped out the XM speedometer with an EVD speedometer to see what happens.
I had to do some mods to the XM graphics insert to get the EVD speedo in. I cut the graphic insert to remove the XM speedo dial graphics and cut the red scooter graphics into a circle and glued it into the silver mask. The EVD speedo was a bolt in change.
I did find that the EVD speedo was off compared to GPS and had to recalibrate the thing 3 times to get it accurate. Calibration consisted of removing the 0mph stop pin and letting the needle find its natural stop point. I then marked this location on the dial with a pen. I then gently pulled the needle off the speedo shaft using my thumb and finger. I marked the distance I wanted to move the pointer from the natural stop point and carefully reinserted the needle on the shaft with out twisting the shaft. The 0 mph stop pin needs to be glued back in place.
The biggest improvement was being able to read and accurate speed in MPH on the big scale as opposed to the miniscule small scale of the XM speedo. Amazing those little things that bug the crap out of you on a ride.
Gordon
Nice! Where did you get the EVD Speedo graphic, though?
Lenny Zimmermann
Metairie, LA
I bought a complete EVD instrument panel with the speedometer and graphics as part of the assembly. I don't think you can buy just the speedometer or just the graphics.
I have been having a lot of problems with electrical(especially lighting)things stop working thru the course of owning this 3500 it really sucks. When I was completing the speedo swap I started checking all of the connectors, connector pins and factory wire splices and connections. I was amazed at how many wire splices were made that were just twisted wires with NO solder, and the amount of corrosion built up on these joints. I had to go thru the whole wire harness and pull the electrical tape off of every joint and redo and solder just about all of them.
Gordon
Oh, I gotcha now. So you bought the speedo from R Martin, then? I knew they had a lighting kit they were selling (and I wonder how that stacks up against some of the other lighting designs some of the folks on this forum were putting together) but I didn't realize we might be able to purchase other parts from them.
Lenny Zimmermann
Metairie, LA
OH NO I do not want to read this:
Ok so I/we should really go through the whole wiring harness and redo all the connections/connectors....sigh="you get what you pay for...."
I remember the old adage & experience of having a ICE motorcycle and it being down as much as it is actually running....I somehow thought EV bike would be different....Mikie
ps oh yeah electro, thanks for the truth and your good work....M
mikie
No we shouldn't have to do all that stuff. These bikes aren't cheap compared to the ICE competition either. Mine is a late 2008 model and I have not found anything like that though and I've been over it pretty well. I finaly got a tomtom and mounted it with velcro over the left gage that does nothing.(my guess is that was supposed to be a regen indicator) I use that as a speedo now.(pretty expensive speedometer though)But it's handy for navigation and figuring distances, which can be important on an electric vehicle. Also I got my plates today so I'm pretty happy about that.
2008 XM3500li Mods/Kelly KBL12251/84v 28cell 40AH pack/ Variable regen brake trigger on left brake handle/Givi/Cycle Analyst/Homemade BMS
KMX Typhoon Home build (recumbent pedelec) with two Astro Brushless 3220motors/twin castle Phoenix ICEHV 160/ Cycl