Topic: Odometer cleanup

[Kevin D]

I’m anticipating a milestone odometer rollover next year, if all goes well. Too bad the numbers are dirty, especially the one that counts. Im thinking to open the speedo and clean the odo. I’m hoping the numbers will clean up with a cotton swab, soap and water, maybe alcohol.
 I hope I’m not opening a can of worms, I don’t have a backup gauge.
 Is it possible to match the mileage and swap the spools?
 Aside from the indicator lamps, are all 750 odometers/speedo guts similar?
 Yes, I have faceplates from Marcel.

[ekpent]

IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT !    100,000 miles that's a big deal for sure. Congrats Kevin. Actually that face plate has held up well. Have seen a lot worse on other K1's. Gave Sean a K1 gauge this fall that was pretty rough looking.

[Don R]

 Often you need the offset rubber tubes that go between the light bulb and the jewel. Marcels faceplates are the best, I used some brand X ones once that don't match as well.

[Kevin D]

I just want the old gal to look her best for the big moment. I have held off refurbing the gauges because they remind me how old she really is, and they work just fine.

offset rubber tubes

The tubes deteriorate, think I have read that.
But if I don’t disturb the face, maybe the tubes will stay put.

I have been inside once before, in the tach?, for a lens that dropped out. That was…. 50? years ago, and I had help from a senior tool and die man at Ford Rouge. I remember Mike Quinlan opening the crimp ring, I closed it. The loose oil pressure lens was glued to the back of the face plate.

I should visit Marcels website

https://www.cb750faces.com/en

[seanbarney41]

IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT !    100,000 miles that's a big deal for sure. Congrats Kevin. Actually that face plate has held up well. Have seen a lot worse on other K1's. Gave Sean a K1 gauge this fall that was pretty rough looking.

yeah Erik!  Those gauges you gave me work fine!  Although, I only used the tach as I didn't want to change the original odometer reading.  And yeah, they are quite a bit rougher looking than yours Kevin.  And yeah, I am too scared to tamper with taking them apart.

[ekpent]

IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT !    100,000 miles that's a big deal for sure. Congrats Kevin. Actually that face plate has held up well. Have seen a lot worse on other K1's. Gave Sean a K1 gauge this fall that was pretty rough looking.

yeah Erik!  Those gauges you gave me work fine!  Although, I only used the tach as I didn't want to change the original odometer reading.  And yeah, they are quite a bit rougher looking than yours Kevin.  And yeah, I am too scared to tamper with taking them apart.

If I remember correctly Sean that K1 speedo had some pretty high mileage on it also, up in the 70,000 + range ??

[WideAWAKE]

Well if you’re gonna pop it open it would probably make sense to pull the face plate and clean all the number spool if you want em to look nice.

Those rubber boots turn brittle and basically turn to dust. Very easy to replace and you should do it if you’re opening the gauges.

The numbers on my gauges were pretty beat but cleaned up very nicely with a little bit of degreaser and a tooth brush.

[Johnie]

My K1's were so bad I had no choice but to replace with Marcels. They did turn out really nice though. Guess it depends on how far you want to take it and how fresh the rest of the bike looks.

[cfairweather]

Don't use alcohol on the numbers because it will remove them.  Be very careful cleaning them and you may want to test whatever you use on an old set that you don't need. 

[Kevin D]

Marcel’s website shows the rubber tubes are available, as well as other parts. Reasonable price and shipping.

I also found a post from Jake where he got a set of replacement odometer numbers, a set of properly sized and colored stickers.

[chiefum]

I had no problem opening my k1 gauges and giving them a cleaning and lube. I'll see if I can attach some pictures.  My k1 is a patina bike, so I replaced the seals and light tubes, but left the original faceplates.




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[BenelliSEI]

Kevin….. I sent the gauges for the S/C to Marcel. They were tough. I’d never done that before and I must say it was well worth it. They are perfect and he left the odometer at the original mileage.

My K1 set looks just like yours and I’ve often thought of giving them the same treatment, but I kind of like the look……

[Kevin D]

Kevin….. I sent the gauges for the S/C to Marcel. They were tough. I’d never done that before and I must say it was well worth it. They are perfect and he left the odometer at the original mileage.

My K1 set looks just like yours and I’ve often thought of giving them the same treatment, but I kind of like the look……

John, what was the turnaround time?
When I ordered my faceplates the local USPS held them for what reason I don’t know, until I went to retrieve them myself. My address was plain as day on the envelope.
The faceplates remind me just how old this motorcycle really is, and only show themselves on a close inspection. If the numbers were clean I’d be happy.

Thanks for the photos chiefum. What kind of DowCorning grease did you use?

[chiefum]

[/quote]
Thanks for the photos chiefum. What kind of DowCorning grease did you use?
[/quote]

I'll see if I can look through some of my pics, I think that might have been to coat either my seals or the light tubes. I think I used some light oil for the gears, and rc diff oil for the damper pots.

[Stev-o]

When Marcel rebuilt some K1 gauges for me, I had him set the odo to the approx mileage of my bike.
[So the odo can be cleaned and reset]

[BenelliSEI]

Kevin….. I sent the gauges for the S/C to Marcel. They were tough. I’d never done that before and I must say it was well worth it. They are perfect and he left the odometer at the original mileage.

My K1 set looks just like yours and I’ve often thought of giving them the same treatment, but I kind of like the look……

John, what was the turnaround time?
When I ordered my faceplates the local USPS held them for what reason I don’t know, until I went to retrieve them myself. My address was plain as day on the envelope.
The faceplates remind me just how old this motorcycle really is, and only show themselves on a close inspection. If the numbers were clean I’d be happy.

Thanks for the photos chiefum. What kind of DowCorning grease did you use?

Kevin….. It did take 3-4 months, but I did tell them I was in “ no rush”.

[Kevin D]

I opened my speedo last week and attempted to clean the number dials, but was unable to remove the stains.
Dish soap, hot water, q-tips only. But it’s not all bad news, only the 9xxxx.x is illegible. When it rolls over to 0xxxx.x the 0 is readable, a little dirty but readable. Didn’t change the faceplates, maybe a future job for Marcel.
I have come to like the patina of the faceplates, they tell me how old the bike really is.

[chiefum]

I think I used a tooth brush to scrub mine when I had them opened.

[willbird]

I remember rolling my K2 over 50K :-). I was on Ocracroke Island in SC. Had taken the ferry over for the day and was heading back to take it back to the other side. Had some time to kill so just rode a few miles back and then turned around so I could roll it over 50K wound out as fast as it will go :-). I think it is good to roll up that fresh interval wound out as fast as they will go :-).


Bill

[BenelliSEI]

Kevin.... every Christmas I think about s nding my K1 gauges to Marcel, but like you said; I kind of like it the way they look too! Both work perfectly and I figure “ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

[The Lone Builder]

When Marcel rebuilt some K1 gauges for me, I had him set the odo to the approx mileage of my bike.
[So the odo can be cleaned and reset]

There have been many posts on how to open up clocks to clean them up and replace the faces.
I have never seen one on how to change the mileage numbers though; can anyone explain how to do this?

[chiefum]

When Marcel rebuilt some K1 gauges for me, I had him set the odo to the approx mileage of my bike.
[So the odo can be cleaned and reset]

There have been many posts on how to open up clocks to clean them up and replace the faces.
I have never seen one on how to change the mileage numbers though; can anyone explain how to do this?

Going from memory here, I think I used a very small standard screw driver to slide the numbers or a washer to the side, then the numbers moved freely. It might even have been possible just using my fingers and sliding them to one side and then they would move freely. Maybe someone else here has done it more recently and can chime in.