So the other day I was riding spiritedly, and after jumping thru a few gears, my tachometer needle decided it would be best to jump up to about 1,500 RPM's higher than what I was actually doing. Ex: My idle says 3,000, versus the 1,500 I know it's set too. I took the gauges apart, and fiddled with it for a minute, and it looks like the needle can be pushed closer to the black backing with the numbers. Is that what I need to do?

Sidenote: When I start the bike, the tach goes to zero, then to redline, like it should. And when I turn it off, goes to zero then literally snaps to 1,500. And just sits there. Bike runs totally fine too.

 

check your fuses, i think either its the taillight or speedometer fuse. mine did that when i blew a fuse

 

Have you taken the needle off before this? Or was it fine and happened while riding?
If it sits at 1,500rpm after it goes to redline and back with the engine off and if you know an rpm vs speed that you know is correct and it is 1,500rpm higher (6th gear 4,000rpm = 80km/hr for me), then it is probably just set off from zero

 

The needle has never been off before. It's literally just showing higher revs. And was totally fine before I stated riding, then happened mid-ride.

I'll check my fuses later today. Thanks.

 

Ok, an important question is...where does the tach get its reading from? Crank position sensor or what? Because that seems like it could be the problem

 

Ok, we finally have had some nice weather, so I could get out and work on the bike.

It is NOT a fuse. ALL the fuses are intact.

I'm going to try and disassemble the gauges and push the needle all the way down, to see if that works. If not, I have no clue how to fix it.

Shox, it's reading the RPM's totally fine. the needle just is 1500 revs higher. And when I turn it off, drops to zero, then bounces up. Like a spring/mechanism defect.