Topic: Instrument light bulbs

[nickjtc]

So apart from the blindingly obvious places (the dealer, eBay?) can anyone suggest a source for the 12v 3.4w light bulbs from the speedo/tacho. Please don't suggest the local auto parts store....they are about as useful as t@ts on a nun.

[750k5]

Did you try Dennis Kirk???

[StevieMac]

I actually got a replacement bulb for my tach at Canadian Tire.  As I recall it I couldn't find a bulb there with the exact same markings so I just went with a small round 12V bulb that looked the same.  I'm not sure on the wattage off hand.  Works like a charm though.

"Close enough for the girls I go with"

[StevieMac]

Did you try Dennis Kirk???

He's in Canada (eh!).  The problem with DK to Canada is they rape you on shipping so it's not worth it unless you're placing a large order.

[tomkimberly]

So apart from the blindingly obvious places (the dealer, eBay?) can anyone suggest a source for the 12v 3.4w light bulbs from the speedo/tacho. Please don't suggest the local auto parts store....they are about as useful as t@ts on a nun.

Those bulbs are not just used on Hondas, the same ones are used on most other Japanese motorcycles.

Tom

[crp_iii]

I got some at AutoZone.  Just matched the size and pin location.  They are not as bright but still work.

Lighting Technologies Instrument/Indicator 1445

Part Number LT1445

When it comes to Auto parts store I have determined you have to find the knowledgable parts clerk. The rest are oxygen thieves and must be avoided like the plague.  I knew if walked in the my parts store in Columbia, SC if the bald black guy or the Puerto Riccan girl were not working I turned around and left or asked when they were working.  The other idiots always ordered the wrong parts.  I am struggling to find a new parts guy/girl now that I am stationed in Ohio.

[nickjtc]

I knew if walked in the my parts store in Columbia, SC if the bald black guy or the Puerto Riccan girl were not working I turned around and left or asked when they were working.

You're lucky. Most parts stores I have gone into, throughout BC, I am hard pressed to find anyone to even acknowledge my existence.  I was a parts guy in a new Polaris dealership for a few months, with little to no knowledge of snowmobiles or ATVs; if I did not know exactly what the customer wanted I would first tell them that, and then second get help from someone more knowledgable. Why anyone would order a part and hope that it would work without actually knowing for sure, is beyond me.

I see this as part of the whole degradation of customer service in retail.

[StevieMac]

I see this as part of the whole degradation of customer service in retail.

In my experience it's a lot worse in Canada (or at least BC) than what I see in the US.

[jevfro]

service manual has the SAE #  (for example: tailights\turns 1156\1157)

it's a #57 most auto places should have them...

[nickjtc]

Thanks, one and all.

I'm working in northern BC at the moment so the choices for parts supply are limited. I'll drop in the local Honda shop on the way home to see whether they can help, and whether they will want an arm and a leg to pay for the bulbs.

[super pasty white guy]

Since your doing it anyway, you might want to go with LEDs instead.  I got mine from www.superbrightleds.com, along with the rest of the idiot lights and a new LED taillight.

dave

[nickjtc]

Thanks for all of the info and help, one and all.

I must confess that I asked the question assuming that the local Honda dealer here would not be able to help, since they are more an ATV/dirt bike kind of store (also a Polaris dealer).

Anyhoo I dropped by on my way home and apart from insisting that there was no such thing as a '79 650, they had the bulbs in stock! Honda part #34902-259-000, total cost for two bulbs $5cdn and change.

But I do like the idea of doing a LED buld swap out.....over the winter perhaps.

[techy5025]

I got mine at Autozone and they were actually a little bit brighter....can't
remember the number but the wattage was obviously a little bit higher.  There
are probably several types that will fit.

And Dennis Kirk does have the bulbs....correct but more expensive.

Jim

[Jonesy]

service manual has the SAE # (for example: tailights\turns 1156\1157)

it's a #57 most auto places should have them...

I had posted a warning about this a while back. The SAE #57 bulb changed along the way, and now it has the correct base and wattage, but the glass bulb is too big to fit into the hole in the back of the gauge!  My local dealer had them in stock and were cheaper than if I'd ordered them by mail...

[RSV12K]

I have some extra bulbs... I replaced my tach/speedo with aftermarket versions. I'll give you the bulbs from my originals. They work, at least for now but they're ancient as you would expect. Send me an email to mjalex007 at yahoo with your address and I'm mail them. I have four, I think.

[jevfro]

I had posted a warning about this a while back. The SAE #57 bulb changed along the way, and now it has the correct base and wattage, but the glass bulb is too big to fit into the hole in the back of the gauge!

Thanks for pointing that out Jonesy! I think I might go the LED route now

[smashme33]

 Hold on there... My 1980 CB650c takes a #53 in the gauges , so try that. I just changed the old bulbs last week, and they work perfectly.

[Short Round]

I just went to walmart and got #1445 12V3W bulbs, yes the glass is bigger but I just made the hole a bit bigger.  Cant beat it $1.74 for two bulbs, even if you have to replace them one every few years, walmart is not going anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bob Wessner]

I know this is an oldie, but I knew it had come up before. I'm in the process of trying to refresh the guages on my 750. Along with the stock bulbs I found one, a GE 1891. Some of the stock bulbs look pretty dark so I might as well replace them. The 1891's are available and fit through the holes easily. They are a bit taller, but that poses no problems that I can see.

[WashingtonCB]

Hey everyone, digging up an old thread is better than starting a redundant one, right?
It doesn't seem like a good consensus was ever reached on the LED swap.
From my 15 minutes of research it looks like these bulbs are referred to as BA9 in general industry, does anybody know that I am wrong about that? Otherwise it seems sound since they are bayonet mount and I measure 9mm diameter across the socket. Dual pin, single contact, and grounded body are all the standard/default for bayonet light bulbs.
Wikipedia says incandescent bulbs deliver approximately 16 lumens/ watt, so that would mean the standard 3.4w bulbs for back lighting the gauges are delivering about 54 lumens.
superbrightleds.com has some options. There is PN BA9S-WHP which apparently produces 40 lumens using .4w. But I'm skeptical of that because if the incandescent only used 3.4w I would expect a comparable LED to use less than .4w
PN BA9S-W4-90-12VAC is rated at 15 lumens without a power consumption figure listed.
Does anyone have experience with either of these options? I consider the light output critical in this case because having your gauges blast you with too much light would be irritating, but obviously so would not having enough back light.
If nobody can say what works best I'll order a few and report back, it sure would be nice to stick LEDs in and never think about them again.

[flybox1]

Correct.  The BA9S bases are a direct fit for our gauges and instrument clusters.
I used these, and they are plenty bright.
Wide angle for the gauges, and narrow angle for the cluster.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/ba9s-ba7s/ba9s-led-bulb-1-led-ba9s-retrofit-car/3/

[WashingtonCB]

Sweet thanks for the insight! a dollar each is cheaper than some of those folks payed for old school bulbs! I expected to get worked over on a crazy shipping mark up but it was 3 bucks for 10 bulbs.

[Chachi]

I use the superbright leds as well. For the gauges... I tried warm white and cool white and liked warm white much better, it was much more visible.

[Phinn]

Correct.  The BA9S bases are a direct fit for our gauges and instrument clusters.
I used these, and they are plenty bright.
Wide angle for the gauges, and narrow angle for the cluster.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/ba9s-ba7s/ba9s-led-bulb-1-led-ba9s-retrofit-car/3/

I think a better bulb for the speedo and tach gauges is the round-top one that simulates the incandescent version: https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/ba9s-ba7s/ba9s-led-bulb-1-led-ba9s-retrofit-classic-car-bulb/4/29/

It has the widest angle, and is available in both warm and cool colors.

For the idiot lights, the narrow-angle flat-top ones are better, in the same color as the corresponding plastic indicator lens.

[flybox1]

^^^ A good alternative, but may not be visible in direct sunlight as the output is only 1 lumen.
For the cluster lights, be sure to buy bulbs the same color as the crystal they are behind.
N-green bulb, Oil-Red, etc.

[trainerrob]

hit or miss, but i have had good luck in the past looking on eBay.   Search '12v 3.4w NOS bulb' or add 'lot', 'box' and what ever assortment of that nature.  I have 4 of 4 times found a dusty of the shelf box of the early 60's-70's 6v & 12v bulbs as a box. 

It smells cool as heck when you open the barn find, plus i have paid $12-22 (usa dollars) for boxes of 12 bulbs on average.  And the price point has been $4-7 per bulb through the standard channels (partzilla/DavidSilver/ect) to order.

Test them when you receive them.  I have had zero non-functional bulbs to date on my orders too.  Good luck searching/hunting.

[JerryWayneCattle]

Howdy. First time using the forum. Hopefully this thread isn't considered dead. Was wondering if anyone had thoughts on the 360 degree BA9s. 96 lumen! Is that just too bright? There are also some that are 40 lumen with a 270 degree beam angle. I want bright, but I don't want to be annoyed. Anyone tried these super bright ones?

96 lumen:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/ba9s-ba7s/ba9s-led-bulb-5-smd-led-tower-ba9s-retrofit-car/2077/

40 lumen:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/ba9s-ba7s/ba9s-led-bulb-1-led-ba9s-retrofit-car/958/2359/

Also I read somewhere that using a blue led is bad for your night vision. Anyone thoughts on this?

[flybox1]

I use these in my gauge and cluster.  They are plenty bright.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/ba9s-ba7s/ba9s-led-bulb-1-led-ba9s-retrofit-car/3/

I use blue LEDs under white faceplates.  Never had an issue, but these bulbs are putting out far fewer lumens than the ones you linked.

[CycleRanger]

Correct.  The BA9S bases are a direct fit for our gauges and instrument clusters.
I used these, and they are plenty bright.
Wide angle for the gauges, and narrow angle for the cluster.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/ba9s-ba7s/ba9s-led-bulb-1-led-ba9s-retrofit-car/3/

Yep, that's what I used. They are plenty bright, run cooler, and use less power.