Topic: What is everyone doing about gauges?

[Jayelwin]

So as expected on my 74 CB 750 my speedometer and tachometer  are in really crappy cosmetic condition. Someone painted all the chromed parts flat black with Krylon. And everything is all dented and dinged and cloudy and faded. I see lots of sellers sell these almost correct reproduction gauges for around a hundred bucks a pop. They look like they fit but they're really not the same. But brand-new gauges would be nice.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181261316961?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1

Then there's the restoration service you sometimes see on the right-hand side of this webpage. He claims he restores the gauges for about 180 bucks a pop but he's located somewhere in Europe.

http://www.cb750faces.com

All the other gauges that our original for sale on eBay are all in only slightly better condition than mine. If I'm putting in the effort I guess I want them to look really good.

Does anybody have any experience with the 750 faces guy? Or how unrealistic to those new replica gauges look. I thought about replacing the tiles on the replica gauges but the gauge distance between the numbers is different so it would read the wrong value.

Ahh, the dilemmas of restoration.

[flybox1]

did the ebay replacement faces and refreshed teh covers myself.  good enough for me.

if you want OEM perfection...go with lecram

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=125803.0

[bjbuchanan]

Second lecram. Go to the services section on the homepage. They will look factory fresh

[Jayelwin]

Lecram is 750faces. Did not know that. Well if he's recommended then that's what I'll do. At $185 better to get perfection vs $110 for new but different.

[robvangulik]

Marcel makes 'm better than new, absolutely worth the money!

[seanbarney41]

I actually prefer the faded faces on my gauges.  I think there should be something on an old bike that looks old.  It's not hard to find decent chrome buckets and the black gauge bodies can be masked sanded and painted on Saturday afternoon.

[Stev-o]

Marcel makes 'm better than new, absolutely worth the money!

FYI, [to avoid confusion]....Marcel=Lecram=750faces


There is also another guy in GA that restores them.....

http://www.joellevinecompany.com/custompage.asp?pg=vintagegage

I have not used him.

[Jayelwin]

That guy wants $200+ for just internals. Mine work fine, I'm looking for a cosmetic restore.

I'm a little bummed that Marcel doesn't want the chrome holder. That's a hugely visible part and mine are awful. More Krylon. People sell mediocre ones on eBay that are possibly nicer but not perfect.

[MCRider]

I bot an OEM base, still in package from eBay. Very good (new) shape but the chrome was that dull(ish) OEM chrome. I'd had the other base done at Brown's and its that deep luxurious show chrome so they didn't match.  I took another used base and sent it to Brown's as well. The OEM base is now for sale.

Finished them off with Stainless Buttonheads to hold the bases on.

Brown's price on the bases was $30 ea I think which was the price of the OEM base. Give or take. They have a higher minimum order so you'd have to throw some other pieces in the box.

[LesterPiglet]

You can get repro chrome bases at David Silver, also gauges. I bought a speedo but wouldn't again. The black flaked easy and started rusting where it meets the glass.

[MCRider]

The 2 on the left are rechromed K1 bases. They were in pretty rough shape. The one on the right is the NOS/OEM base. IIRC it has a larger cut out than the original K1 so that it can accommodate more models than just K1. Another reason I decided not to use it as I wanted authentic K1 pieces (even though the finish is not authentic I know).

You can "sense" the dullness of the NOS, even though I took it out of the original bag. Looks pretty good in the picture, but it is duller than the show chrome. Though more authentic.

[Jayelwin]

Marcel has decent ones (his words) for €20 each. I can't find them on David Whoever on my phone at work as I have no idea how to search on that site. Too many things.

[David B]

You can't go wrong with Marcel.  I've had nothing but great transactions with him.  His stuff is first rate.  It can be a bit overwhelming, can't it!  Don't get too lost in the details.  There are always lots of people willing to help out on the site.  Besides, it's getting cold and crappy out.  Lots of time to work on bikes before the good riding season is here again.

Dave B

[LesterPiglet]

Ooops, maybe no chrome bases but you could contact them directly as all their stock is not listed.
Here are repro gauges though.

http://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB750K4-FOUR-1974-USA/part_105757/

http://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB750K4-FOUR-1974-USA/part_105756/

[Stev-o]

Ooops, maybe no chrome bases but you could contact them directly as all their stock is not listed.
Here are repro gauges though.

http://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB750K4-FOUR-1974-USA/part_105757/

http://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB750K4-FOUR-1974-USA/part_105756/

out of stock