Topic: How to prevent the tach red zone from fading

[Tancdoc]

Hello Group,
I had the good fortune of finding a 750 K5 with 1700 miles in perfect original conditions. The issue is that since I am riding it on weekends I feel that the red zone is starting to fade. Photo included.
How can I prevent it from fading? I was thinking of applying some tape over the red zone it but I am afraid that the adhesive can damage the plastic cover. Any ideas, any tips?
Thank you

[bryanj]

You cant, its called patina

[flatlander]

yes they all fade when sunlight hits them.
the only thing you can do to permanently keep the original tone is to touch up the red with new paint - or keep the bike in dark storage and only ride at night 

[newday777]

As you have heard.....you can't prevent it. Yours are already faded over the years.
You can get replacement faces though to renew your guages.
https://www.cb750faces.com/en/20-honda-cb750-k5-1975

[madmtnmotors]

You could ride with the tach constantly in the red zone using the needle to help shade and protect the red paint underneath... 

[jlh3rd]

you could get aftermarket gauges and keep the originals ...or used ebay ones maybe.....

[flatlander]

You could ride with the tach constantly in the red zone using the needle to help shade and protect the red paint underneath... 

i like your creative solution 

[jlh3rd]

and, unfortunately, no matter how much they stay unexposed, they end up doing this...

[BenelliSEI]

Keep the sun off when you are not riding. Most of the fade occurs when you are parked.... after I restored my K1 gauges, I used an old woollen cap. Then I gave up.

[zabzob]

Slather some sunscreen all over the dials!

Now that I say that, I wonder if there is a clear UV coating or sticker that could be applied to the glass?

[dave500]

red fades more than any other colour i think?some hi tech stuff about the wave length absorption etc?most older red cars look faded?

[jlh3rd]

Slather some sunscreen all over the dials!

Now that I say that, I wonder if there is a clear UV coating or sticker that could be applied to the glass?

there are products out there with uv inhibitors in them for headlights.....couldn't hurt...

[ekpent]

red fades more than any other colour i think?some hi tech stuff about the wave length absorption etc?most older red cars look faded?

The brown on the 1971 750's and 1976 550's is notorious for fading into a green color that they must have used as a base. Orange candy bikes slowly turn to a silver.

[MauiK3]

Yes, I bet some of the clear headlight protector material could be placed on top to slow it down.

[jlh3rd]

Id be cautious using it on early plastic lens clocks.....

[david 750f]

Maybe I just got lucky, thats a NOS tach that I bought 15 years ago. About 10K miles..
[gifv]/gifv]

[fizzlebottom]

If you're really adamant about preserving the red, you could always get some cousin cut gauge glass made from UV blocking glass, like the stuff used in art framing. It'd cost a pretty penny but would do the job.

[zabzob]

@fizzlebottom

Interesting, if somebody is willing to try plexiglass, here is a reasonably priced sheet of UV stuff:

https://www.eplastics.com/plexiglass/acrylic-sheets/uv-filtering/PATTCLR0-125OP324X48

They can do circle cutting for you, but you could probably have it done at a maker space with some of their equipment for cheaper.

[Tracksnblades1]

Have to drag out your old Cannon  F1’s super telophoto FD lenses and rob the UV filters off of them..
To bad the bezels didn’t have threads for them…you could screw them right on like a lense cover.

Back in the day, I carried an old dish towel under the F1’s seat, to cover the bezels when parking in the sun while at work..
Didn’t stay on to good while riding…😁

[Kevnz]

Replacement instrument faces are readily available from Marcel, no big deal to replace, so order a pair for future use and just use your bike as intended. Or buy another instrument to use and keep the original safe.