Topic: Gauge Face Plates/Decals

[DaveBarbier]

There’s a bunch of old posts about gauge face plates and decals etc. but nothing really answered my questions.




I got some new aftermarket 750 gauges from 4into1 for my 650. They have the same redline and same ratios so they should work fine. Only thing is that the face plates don’t look like the OEM ones and I’d like them to. I want them to be black and have the kilometers in red with the ND as you can see in the below picture.




I’m thinking some possible issues would be: 1) having the light shine through the white numbers and 2) that these new gauges have a needle stop at zero...so any plate or decal I put on would have to allow for that. What would my options be?

I know programs like Photoshop and Illustrator very well so I can easily scan the new aftermarket gauges and add the text I want and make them black but I don’t know what I would do after that. Do I just get them printed on adhesive vinyl and then carefully stick them on the plates? Or are there websites that I can upload an image to and then they print it on a translucent green plastic like how the OEM ones are? Could I possibly sand off or use chemicals to strip the paint off the plate so I’m left with a blank piece of plastic to put the decal on?

[Don R]

 I know guys have done it but it wasn't me.

[lash]

You could find what you need on Marcels website I think.
https://www.cb750faces.com/en/

[DaveBarbier]

You could find what you need on Marcels website I think.
https://www.cb750faces.com/en/

He doesn’t have any 650 stuff unfortunately. And I would need a faceplate that matches these gauges as far as number spacing and stuff. Actually what I would really need is 750 gauges that mimic the look of ‘79 650 gauges. Probably don’t exist.

[RAFster122s]

Marcel can make 650 gauge look alikes, actually asked him about that as I have a NOS 650 Tach and would need a black faced CB550 face to match it so I am not cracking open a NOS gauge. He didn't say how much though...

[DaveBarbier]

Marcel can make 650 gauge look alikes, actually asked him about that as I have a NOS 650 Tach and would need a black faced CB550 face to match it so I am not cracking open a NOS gauge. He didn't say how much though...

Interesting, thanks David. I do think it would be expensive since it’s a custom thing. But the issue is that these aftermarket gauges aren’t exact reproductions of 750 gauges so a 750 gauge won’t work with them. They have to be custom face plates for these aftermarket gauges. They’re a hair larger in diameter, slightly different number spacing and also have a needle stop which I don’t think any Honda gauges had.

I think my best bet would be to make them. I ordered some green translucent acrylic from McMaster carr and I might be able to get them printed on...maybe adhesive backed vinyl or something. I believe there’s a print shop near me. I just would need UV resistant ink.

I was hoping someone could chime in and say “here’s exactly what you need to do”

I am not totally giving up on my OEM gauges though. I spent time trying to get them working right but moved my mindset to new gauges since I saw the 4into1 gauges for $135.