Crank Position Sensors

Harley-Davidson motorcycles have not used breaker points since the late 1970s. Electronics are more accurate and, ideally, do not wear out at all, or at least not as quickly. Crankshaft position sensors are a central control element in electronic ignition systems and engine management. These sensors essentially take over the role of the breaker cam. They transmit the top dead center (TDC) of the first cylinder and the crankshaft speed to the black box. They are therefore also referred to as TDC sensors or rev sensors.

Twin Cam 1999→ and Sportster 2004→ have crankshaft sensors that allow the ECUs to read the engine speed and TDC position. These varaiable reluctance sensors with two connecting cables respond to the gaps that are milled on the circumference of a crankshaft flywheel.