Complete Idiot's Guide to Installing the USB Retrofit Kit on your 2018 Scout
I will not go over the whole installation. Just the parts that tripped me up. You will have to readjust your handlebars and possibly your headlight, so be prepared for that. You will need a philips head screw, drivers, allen keys of different sizes, and the star-shaped allen-key-lookin' wrench.
1. Watch this
video before you even break out the tools. It is for a Scout Bobber, but the experience is similar. A regular scout is actually a little less complicated.
2. Before you go on a disconnecting frenzy for the headlight, take some white-out, chalk, colored tape, blood (your own, hopefully), or whatever you have available and mark each side of the connections on the small wire coming from the headlight into the harness. This will keep you from having a "Did-I-see-which-wires-were-connected-to-each-other?" moment like I did.
3. The main (big) headlight connector is tight. It will come off with some brute strength.
4. Use long nose pliers to pull apart the connections on the small wire. REMEMBER: LABEL THEM FIRST!
5. When you start to remove the speedometer assembly, remember to put towels down over your tank. Your handlebars may fall down and hit it. (Mine didn't, but I quickly realized it was a possibility).
6. When disconnecting the speedometer, use a pair of duck bill or long nose pliers (Thanks, JJHEMPHILL) to squeeze the tab inward as you pull. It's a whole lot easier than trying to do it with your fingers.
7. When separating the speedometer from the speedometer mount, turn the whole thing sideways and push hard on the bottom of the speedometer. Yes, in the directions, it shows what looks like screw threads; they are not threads. They are a rubber piece which acts as a bottle stopper.
8. The instructions just say to slide the collar off the USB module. The collar slides down the wire. You
don't have to pull on both parts to make this happen. Cursing (and perhaps damage) will ensue if you try to pull them apart.
9. If the screw holes don't line up when you are putting the speedometer assembly back together, you are putting it on upside down. (Yes, I tried to do this).
10. You may need another person to help you keep the handlebars from falling when you bolt the speedometer assembly back on. My daughter graciously came out in her bare feet to help me with this. The handlebars and the speedometer assembly were working against each other.
I hope this helps someone who may run into these stumbling blocks. The installation was a success even though I am mechanically clueless and disorganized with my tools and workspace. The forum members were very helpful and were helping me in real time. This took me about 4 hours to do, but most of that was spent looking for the right tool or banging my head against the wall because I was looking at the problem from the wrong side. Knowing what I now know, this could be done in less than an hour. Most of that would be spent gathering tools.
