Author Topic: Gauge Faces (Read 8401 times)

spiritof67 · « **on:** June 25, 2012, 03:11:57 PM »

How do I get my CB750K4 gauges renewed? The previous owner allowed them to get significantly faded, and frankly they look bad. I'd like them to look better. What do present owners do about this?

Spirit

Johnie · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2012, 03:15:24 PM »

You can either send them to a restoration company or get new faces and do it yourself. Do a search as there is a lot of info on this board about that topic. Occasionally new ones come up on Ebay too.

DJ_AX · « **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2012, 03:45:13 PM »

Quote from: spiritof67 on June 25, 2012, 03:11:57 PM

How do I get my CB750K4 gauges renewed? The previous owner allowed them to get significantly faded, and frankly they look bad. I'd like them to look better. What do present owners do about this?

Spirit

That's pretty common...
Lot's of threads on this. I'm about to crack open mine pretty soon.
So much info on this site I'm psyched to dig in...
Here is just one of many threads......
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=58003.0

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #3 on:** June 25, 2012, 03:51:04 PM »

Hi Spirit, check this guy out....

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=88015.0

spiritof67 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 25, 2012, 05:06:37 PM »

"a restoration company ", like....?

Spirit

Johnie · « **Reply #5 on:** June 25, 2012, 05:21:17 PM »

Like: www.joellevinecompany.com

Accolay · « **Reply #6 on:** June 25, 2012, 05:22:50 PM »

Use The Oracle (google) for restoration companies as there are many.

Stev-o · « **Reply #7 on:** June 25, 2012, 05:53:49 PM »

Quote from: Johnie on June 25, 2012, 05:21:17 PM

Like: www.joellevinecompany.com

I emailed him about changing the faces on my K2 gauges. Thanks

brooze72 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2012, 06:42:00 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on June 25, 2012, 05:53:49 PM

Quote from: Johnie on June 25, 2012, 05:21:17 PM
Like: www.joellevinecompany.com

I emailed him about changing the faces on my K2 gauges. Thanks

Hang on to your shorts, he ain't inexpensive, I ended up with the DIY technique.

Stev-o · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2012, 07:16:41 PM »

Yeah, I'll hold on, curious more than anything. Told him I wasn't building a show bike and just want the faces changed. I'll probably just buy some here or eBay.

brooze72 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 25, 2012, 07:44:00 PM »

DIY is not so bad, takes a little time to pry open the gauges, sand off the paint down to 2000 grit & apply the new/repro decals. Looks good but I have noticed that the illumination at night is crap, I guess the light can't pass thru the plate & decal, just seems to come around the edges. Oh well, don't pay a lot of attention to the gauges at night anyways.

I got pics of before & after somewheres if interested.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #11 on:** June 26, 2012, 01:24:21 AM »

Quote from: Retro Rocket on June 25, 2012, 03:51:04 PM

Hi Spirit, check this guy out....

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=88015.0

This guy supplies gauge faces, also sells them on here and ebay.... excellent quality..

flybox1 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 26, 2012, 11:06:47 AM »

<<< my gauges are ebay - seller 000egor000
just contact him about what you want. appliques, or complete plates.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/000egor000/m.html?rd=1&item=261049466385&viewitem=&sspagename=WDVW&category=50461&vxp=mtr&ih=016&rt=nc&_trksid=p4340.l2562

Really? · « **Reply #13 on:** June 26, 2012, 11:24:41 AM »

If LeCram did blue, I would have bought a set. I have blue and prefer that color.

Stev-o · « **Reply #14 on:** June 26, 2012, 04:45:47 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on June 25, 2012, 05:53:49 PM

Quote from: Johnie on June 25, 2012, 05:21:17 PM
Like: www.joellevinecompany.com

Heard back from Joe, here is what he charges:

To install overlay decal...$100 each
To re silkscreen face.......$200 each

I don't think it's that outrageous for the overlay, but not sold yet.
I emailed him about changing the faces on my K2 gauges. Thanks

spiritof67 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 26, 2012, 07:14:20 PM »

...yeah, and I'll share how much our friend in the Low Countries charges for a renewal. The hurtin' thing about these kinds of searches is that we all know somewhere on a dealers' back shelf, these gauges are just sitting there doing nothing.

I found a brand-new 1970 CB750 saddle this way. Just asked to walk through the parts inventory section of his store. The saddle was on a bottom shelf still in the (yellowed) plastic bag.

Spirit

bjatwood · « **Reply #16 on:** June 27, 2012, 08:14:36 AM »

Here's the email I just got back from him to "restore" my gauges on the K3!
Think I'll just keep looking at the faded RED ZONE area of the tach....

Hi
Depending on the type of replacement dials, about $450.00-$800.00 Please call for any questions.
Thanks

Joel Levine
joellevinecompany.com
j14levine@aol.com
1226 B zonolite road
Atlanta ga. 30306
800-456-6267
404-219-0594

Johnie · « **Reply #17 on:** June 27, 2012, 08:29:10 AM »

Oh my gosh...that seems outrageous $450 - $800. Do it yourself...not that difficult.

bert96 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 27, 2012, 10:49:04 AM »

I have a set that i bought from ebay,

http://www.ebay.it/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360451583350&clk_rvr_id=349992142722

But that is the real thing,not stickers or something like that,they are in KM/H,i don't need them anymore,would sell if interested,just PM.

Bert

bjatwood · « **Reply #19 on:** June 27, 2012, 10:59:51 AM »

Quote from: Johnie on June 27, 2012, 08:29:10 AM

Oh my gosh...that seems outrageous $450 - $800. Do it yourself...not that difficult.

Exactly what I thought John! Will make a excellent winter project too

CB750faces.com (Lecram) · « **Reply #20 on:** June 27, 2012, 01:52:59 PM »

Quote from: bjatwood on June 27, 2012, 08:14:36 AM

Here's the email I just got back from him to "restore" my gauges on the K3!
Think I'll just keep looking at the faded RED ZONE area of the tach....

Hi
Depending on the type of replacement dials, about $450.00-$800.00 Please call for any questions.
Thanks

Joel Levine
joellevinecompany.com
j14levine@aol.com
1226 B zonolite road
Atlanta ga. 30306
800-456-6267
404-219-0594

Please check the prices on my website. That's much more attractive.

Honda gauge restoration services

You can find the face plates in the webshop: www.cb750faces.com

Happy to help you.

spiritof67 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 30, 2012, 03:43:40 PM »

I'm going with our poster from the Low Countries here. I'll document the journey for SOHC4 but I have a feeling this is going to be "better than you expected" territory.

Spirit

tortelvis · « **Reply #22 on:** July 02, 2012, 09:05:14 AM »

Quote from: bjatwood on June 27, 2012, 08:14:36 AM

Here's the email I just got back from him to "restore" my gauges on the K3!
Think I'll just keep looking at the faded RED ZONE area of the tach....

Hi
Depending on the type of replacement dials, about $450.00-$800.00 Please call for any questions.
Thanks

Joel Levine
joellevinecompany.com
j14levine@aol.com
1226 B zonolite road
Atlanta ga. 30306
800-456-6267
404-219-0594

Good Lord, I only paid $450 for my bike!

cameron · « **Reply #23 on:** July 02, 2012, 02:35:31 PM »

is it just the red zone you are worried about?

If so.. I wonder if Ron has gotten to the 750 yet.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=91396.25

His 550 solution was perfection.

bjatwood · « **Reply #24 on:** July 08, 2012, 04:57:15 AM »

I told Ron I wanted to be his first 750 guniea pic on those Red Zone 750 stickers but never heard anything from him either...

SohRon · « **Reply #25 on:** July 08, 2012, 07:53:04 AM »

Hi, guys! This thread is quite timely as I have, just yesterday, received my first batch of Red Zone stickers for the '750, plus a new run for the '550.

I'll be preparing a thread, but if you guys want to be guinea pigs, give me a PM with addresses and I'll send you out some stickers. The '750 stickers include, in addition to the Red Zone decal, a stripe to replace the "70 MPH" marker on the speedo, so it's a pretty comprehensive kit.

Price, when I officially release the kits, will be around $10 apiece. They'll consist of two Red Zone stickers and four "70 MPH" stripes. The Red Zone stickers have markers so they can be cut down and used for other applications (K0, K1, for instance).

I've been having trouble finding an acceptable printer. My first batch was done by a company that went out of business shortly afterwards, so I tried a couple different places with terrible results, which left me a bit gun shy and I had to table the stickers for a while.

The new ones look good, though; so send me info and I'll send them out! (limited to the first five respondents)

Stev-o · « **Reply #26 on:** July 08, 2012, 01:15:28 PM »

Hi Ron,

I'm a little gun-shy about taking my tach apart. I knowi get get it apart but getting it back sealed concerns me.
What are your thoughts on this? My next project, a K2, really needs gauge faces.

bjatwood · « **Reply #27 on:** July 08, 2012, 03:50:27 PM »

PM sent Ron

I'll post up some pics of the before and after "glamour" shots

SohRon · « **Reply #28 on:** July 09, 2012, 05:09:59 PM »

Here is a shot of progress so far

I'm working on the speedo and will post a Red Zone thread when I finish it.

Quote from: Stev-o on July 08, 2012, 01:15:28 PM

Hi Ron,

I'm a little gun-shy about taking my tach apart. I knowi get get it apart but getting it back sealed concerns me.
What are your thoughts on this? My next project, a K2, really needs gauge faces.

Putting them back together is pretty ttricky. What I did was find a metal cannister that was just the right size for the guage housing to fit into with the ring fitted. It gives me pretty good leverage and it's easy enough to just go around the ring with a small hammer or pliers and close it back up.

Here's one in progress (of course, I've gotta have pictures!

:

Quote from: bjatwood on July 08, 2012, 03:50:27 PM

PM sent Ron
I'll post up some pics of the before and after "glamour" shots

Cool! PM sent right back at you! Thanks!

cameron · « **Reply #29 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:44:05 AM »

Quote from: Stev-o on July 08, 2012, 01:15:28 PM

Hi Ron,

I'm a little gun-shy about taking my tach apart. I knowi get get it apart but getting it back sealed concerns me.
What are your thoughts on this? My next project, a K2, really needs gauge faces.

Hey!

so.. i have split mine MANY TIMES for various reasons.... and Ill tell you- it is hard to get perfect, but easy to get PASSABLE.. and VERY EASY to get workable.

To get things perfect.. you pretty much have to either use the cut/resolder method on your chrome rings.. or you have to pry the rings off very, very carefully so that you only barely make enough room to get them out. You also need to take care to only deform the BACK side of the chrome, as it is mostly invisible.
If you are clumsy, then you drop right into the "passable" level. You can always take a pair of pliers (which I wrap in electrical tape) and just crush that ring right back into place. As long as your rubber is intact, your seal is good.

Now.. if you just want a seal, and are not concerned about perfection.. this is what I do. (Generally when I think I will need to take them apart again soon.)
As above, use care to only open the bottom of the ring, and only as much as needed. Then, when reassembling, but the cases together, and just run a strip of electrical tape around the union. THEN slip the chrome over it. It should be tight enough to stay on due to the tapes added thickness.. and it looks just fine.

Thats my experiences.
I stay go for it- the first time is the hardest!

oldbob · « **Reply #30 on:** December 09, 2012, 09:00:28 AM »

I, too, am gun-shy about opening up my gauges. Since the CB400F uses smaller instruments, there are fewer shops willing to take them on. I've spoken to Joel Levine, but I would like some other options.

Bob

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Author Topic: Gauge Faces (Read 8401 times)

oldbob