Magic Mirrors causing gauges to misread

[spydermanstever]

I have heard that the magnets on the Magic Mirrors can cause the fuel and temp gauges to mis-read. I recall reading somewhere that there is a solution to this problem. Could someone please post this solution here if they have heard about it. Thanks.

[Jim&Teresa]

Lamonster mentioned this when we visited him in Springfield. I already had mine mounted with no issues at all.

He stated if that happens, just take the magnet off and flip it (reverse it - so that the other side points towards the inside of the bike).....That's what I heard and understood - hope it helps. Again, I've had mine on for 2 months now with no issues.

[tlb2525]

Lamonster mentioned this when we visited him in Springfield. I already had mine mounted with no issues at all.

He stated if that happens, just take the magnet off and flip it (reverse it - so that the other side points towards the inside of the bike).....That's what I heard and understood - hope it helps. Again, I've had mine on for 2 months now with no issues.

Well this explains why BOTH the gauges malfunctioned at the same time. Fuel gauge pinned counter clockwise when low, pins clockwise when over half full. Temp gauge reads hot real fast. Rests at 120 degrees.

[SPIDR1]

Lamonster mentioned this when we visited him in Springfield. I already had mine mounted with no issues at all.

He stated if that happens, just take the magnet off and flip it (reverse it - so that the other side points towards the inside of the bike).....That's what I heard and understood - hope it helps. Again, I've had mine on for 2 months now with no issues.

Same problem here....temp gauge did not work.....reversed and temp gauge worked but in opposite direction....reversed back only on one of the magnets and bingo, works perfectly....I also mounted the magnets only on the bottom and kept the original hook on at the top....Very happy with it.....sweet riding everyone!!!!!!

[ByronM]

I got magic mirrors early before anyone mentioned possible problems with the gauges, installed them in the spring before taking my bike out of storage so when my temp gauge did not work I just assumed that it went bad over the winter, not wanting to spend the money to replace it I just disconnected the analog gauges and tossed them, best thing I ever did, I like the digital gauges better.

Glad I didn't know about repositioning the magnets or I would still be watching be wondering how much fuel I had as it down below 1/2 tank.

Oh bye the way, Brillant Peter, makes me want to change my own oil.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I have done some research on Magnets ...... and frankly I don't understand how Flipping the Magnet ( ie reversing the polarity ) ..... is going to effect the elec. Guages ..... They can't know what Polarity is on what side ......... The magnets I use have directional magnetic strength ie. they have 90% strength in one direction and 10% in the other ( the guage side )..... this is because they are encased in a steel cup, which A. improves the strength of the magnet and B. directs which way the magnetic waves are going ...Plus C. if they should break / shatter etc. they will work the same ( maybe better ) because they are EPOXIED into that Cup........... Mike

[Lew L]

My Magic Mirrors work perfectly with no gauge problems. Can't say the same for the LED headlights I recently installed. One failed on the trip we just got back from.

Lew L

[Danz28]

I have heard that the magnets on the Magic Mirrors can cause the fuel and temp gauges to mis-read. I recall reading somewhere that there is a solution to this problem. Could someone please post this solution here if they have heard about it. Thanks.

Thank . I could not figure out why temp was reading low.

[Peter Aawen]

Thank . I could not figure out why temp was reading low.

Danz, I doubt very much that a temp gauge reading LOW should be attributed to the Magnets!! The reason being that, while a few temp gauges might read HIGH because there may be loose or close wires in the loom inside the dash cavity, AFAIK they MUST satisfy the following conditions for this to occur:

1). the wires need to be closer to the inside of the mirror mounts than they should be;
2). there needs to be a compromised solder joint or weak insulation on those wires close to the mirror mounts; &
3). MOST IMPORTANTLY, those wires MUST have enough slack in the loom/their fastening to allow them to move, which might create a micro current which can only ADD to the gauge reading!

This won't make the gauge reading LESS because AFAIK you can't induce a 'subtractive current' or take electricity from a circuit thru passing a moving wire thru a magnetic field unless it's shorting or being used somewhere else!

Sooo, even if flipping one or more of the magnets works for you in getting your gauge reading correctly again, then it'll be because you've stopped the creation of or minimised the strength of the magnetic field that allowed the wires moving in it to create the micro current which ADDS to the temp reading; but you still haven't necessarily removed the loose or close & moving wiring that allowed it to be created in the first place and if your gauge is reading LOW, then I believe that there's likely to be something else in there shorting or using current - AND THAT NEEDS RECTIFYING!

[Peter Aawen]

That might be the case for some PMK, but I took my RT with magnets & gauges down to the specialist instrument fitters & Smiths Gauge repairers well before any were sold, & they went over the whole thing with a fine tooth comb before assuring me that when they are installed as directed, the magnet mounts WILL NOT directly effect those gauges unless they are actually touching the casing or the wiring is compromised/moving as outlined in the (very small) magnetic field that might end up behind the dash! And every effected gauge that we have been able to physically inspect so far has had those features mentioned above. So you can discuss it or argue about it all you like, but I'm just passing on what the experts told me was the case for the gauges & the magnets as used on the RT's.

[Peter Aawen]

Like I said: "So you can discuss it or argue about it all you like, but I'm just passing on what the experts told me was the case for the gauges & the magnets as used on the RT's. "

[Lamonster]

We've had good luck with flipping the magnets. I've also removed the top magnets and just used the stock clips and that works great too.