Gauge lens removal? What bulbs do the gauge lights use?

[jtolbert]

I have new gauges for my GS1100GL. I've got them pretty clean externally, but there's some condensation on the inside of the lens that I'd like to remove. How do I remove the gauge lenses? I have the gauge out of the bracket and the black cover ring has been removed.

Does anyone know what light bulbs are needed for the gauge lights?

Thanks!

[txironhead]

There's a post on here somewhere about lens removal for repairing and restoring gauges. Have to warn you though, it involves cutting either the ring or right below the ring that holds it on and epoxying the lens back on. There is no easy, "unscrew this and it comes off" method. These were not meant to be repairable items. For inner condensation, you may be able to use a hairdryer at the back after it's disassembled as much as possible.

The bulbs are available from the dealer I believe, or you can take one of the original bulbs to a good auto parts store and they can match it, but I believe that the aftermarket ones are something like .2 watts dimmer, but most people don't mind. They shouldn't be too expensive at the dealership.

I know someone that replaced all of his gauge lights with LED's and was highly satisfied with the results, but he did solder in resistors to stabilize the voltage. Plus, that way you could change the color of the lights.

[jtolbert]

Thanks for the info. That makes sense. For the life of me I couldn't figure out how to get the gauges the rest of the way apart without cutting anything up. Maybe I can leave the sitting out in the sun upside down for a bit tomorrow and see if that helps with the condensation.

As far as the bulbs go, I should look in to LED replacement. I'd love to have red gauges and I know how to solder...

One final question...Know how to get the trip-meter reset knob off so I can take the black cover ring off and clean it up well?

Flitz is wonderful stuff.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Trip knob pulls off

[Nessism]

The gauge can be taken apart without cutting the plastic housing. Take a medium small screwdriver and bend the metal bezel tab up where it's crimped around the side of the housing. It's tedious work but work your way around the housing bending up on the bezel lip until you can pull the front off with the glass. While the glass is off you should check to see that the small phillips screws are tight on the gauge front since they like to come loose. To put the gauge back together carefully bend the tab back around where it was to crimp. A screwdriver/drift punch and small hammer work great to get the crimp tab down nice and snug - to ward off water leaks. I did this on my 450, both gauges, and it worked out great. Much better repair than cutting the plastic housing in my opinion.

Cut housing method. http://www.thegsresources.com/garage...ide_gauges.htm

After bending tab photo...

[saddlewarmer]

had to repair the speedometer on my 850. pried the ring off very carefully. i then used pliers that i put tape on the jaws to recrimp the ring back on. unless you know about it, you can't even tell i did it. just TAKE YOUR TIME. took me about 2 hours to disassemble, repair, and reassemble. I used a small screwdriver to remove ring.