Author Topic: Buck's Vintage Gauge Restoration - CB750 - Anyone have any experience? (Read 10652 times)

markb · « **on:** February 19, 2009, 07:13:52 AM »

I'm considering sending my tach and speedos from my sandcast and K0 to this guy for restoring. I saw his ad in the VJMC magazine. Not cheap though! He quoted me $700 a pair for cosmetic repair and $850 a pair for cosmetic and mechanical repair with a 1 year warranty. He told me that the early ones being made out of plastic are more expensive to restore. Maybe worth it for what they're worth. Any comments?
Mark

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2009, 07:55:42 AM »

Sounds a bit expensive to me but if you have the moolah and the means....

nokrome · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2009, 09:25:45 AM »

$700 sounds super spendy for "cosmetic" repair......did you get any specifics on what he actually does to gauges?

754 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2009, 09:40:34 AM »

If you need a very near minty tach face and drive, I have one I would part with.

markb · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2009, 10:15:14 AM »

nokrome: For the cosmetic repair he takes the complete assembly, wiring, chrome ring and all and completely restores them, new faces, polishes out the scratches, ets. He claims they will be at least 95% of new looking as long as there are no cracks. I know its a lot of money but my bikes look pretty good except for the gauges and I'm not sure I would be able to do it as good. I've seen new faces go for as much as $150 each and good looking gauges go for hundreds more. Mainly I'd like to hear from someone who's had work done by this guy so if I decide to bite the bullet I'll be comfortable with the quality of work.

754: How much?

Otto · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2009, 11:19:53 AM »

700 bucks ! Wow!

Do you know how long it takes to dissassemble guages. Minutes. Re-assemly takes a little longer and some patience. New applicae's (spelling) for the faces can be bought for $30.00. By a donor pair or cases and re-do em your self.

I wouldn't pay 700.oo to have guages rebuilt unless they came back to me with a Crisp $500.00 bill attached!

YMMV.

bc

JS550 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2009, 11:29:04 AM »

HOLY CHEESESTEAK! I'm having a hard time with wanting to spend less on building new wheels! But if its a sand cast it would be worth doing it. Mines only a K5.....

johnyvilla · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2009, 01:32:21 PM »

Buck's did a good job replacing the glass in a Titan tach of mine. He did leave somthing lose or somthing inside though, as it sounds like a GD marracca.

Johnie · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2009, 01:40:25 PM »

Geez Mark...$700 is a lot when you could do it yourself. I did not have any speedo or tach experience until I did my KO gauges last year. Piece-O-Cake to do. But I did splurge and bought the new faces from Yamiya which were $300...I see they are up a bit higher now. I guess it depends on how messed up yours are and if they are working. Mine were working so I just did a little greasing following a tech sheet on line. My clear bezels had a few minor scratches that came out with like 3000 or higher paper and water under the sink. You know, 80% of what made mine look bad was just dirt under the glass. Here is a pic below of mine...

markb · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2009, 02:05:32 PM »

otto: Good one!

Johnie: Yeah, I've seen a couple of articles on doing it yourself. Yours look great. Mine would look 80% better by just replacing the faded faces so maybe I should tackle it. Can't be harder than relacing my wheels, right? Obviously I'd rather not spend that kind of money but I want them to look good and if I did spend that kind of money I'd want to know they would be nearly perfect.

johnyvilla: Worth the money?

nokrome · « **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2009, 02:06:06 PM »

Quote

Posted by: Johnie
Insert Quote
Geez Mark...$700 is a lot when you could do it yourself. I did not have any speedo or tach experience until I did my KO gauges last year. Piece-O-Cake to do. But I did splurge and bought the new faces from Yamiya which were $300...I see they are up a bit higher now. I guess it depends on how messed up yours are and if they are working. Mine were working so I just did a little greasing following a tech sheet on line. My clear bezels had a few minor scratches that came out with like 3000 or higher paper and water under the sink. You know, 80% of what made mine look bad was just dirt under the glass. Here is a pic below of mine..

hey johnie how did you go about putting the chrome ring back together? im in the middle of doing a set right now..........i got some ideas of how im going to do it but i want some more options...........thanks

johnyvilla · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2009, 02:54:17 PM »

I didnt, uncle Buck did, and thats one of the reasons he is so expensive.

Johnie · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2009, 09:21:15 PM »

Quote from: nokrome on February 19, 2009, 02:06:06 PM

Quote
Posted by: Johnie
Insert Quote
Geez Mark...$700 is a lot when you could do it yourself. I did not have any speedo or tach experience until I did my KO gauges last year. Piece-O-Cake to do. But I did splurge and bought the new faces from Yamiya which were $300...I see they are up a bit higher now. I guess it depends on how messed up yours are and if they are working. Mine were working so I just did a little greasing following a tech sheet on line. My clear bezels had a few minor scratches that came out with like 3000 or higher paper and water under the sink. You know, 80% of what made mine look bad was just dirt under the glass. Here is a pic below of mine..
hey johnie how did you go about putting the chrome ring back together? im in the middle of doing a set right now..........i got some ideas of how im going to do it but i want some more options...........thanks

Nochrome...keep in mind the KO gauges did not have that chrome bezel around the gauges. They are seated in a rubber grommet and then the chrome trim strap is held on by 1 screw. The later gauges have the bezel you are talking about and there is a thread about carefully using a small screwdriver to lift the edge up all the way around to get it off.

Johnie · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2009, 09:23:53 PM »

Quote from: markb on February 19, 2009, 02:05:32 PM

otto: Good one!

Johnie: Yeah, I've seen a couple of articles on doing it yourself. Yours look great. Mine would look 80% better by just replacing the faded faces so maybe I should tackle it. Can't be harder than relacing my wheels, right? Obviously I'd rather not spend that kind of money but I want them to look good and if I did spend that kind of money I'd want to know they would be nearly perfect.

johnyvilla: Worth the money?

Mark...if you can lace your wheels you can surely do the gauges. I have not laced and trued the wheels yet but should learn someday.

Maxacceleration · « **Reply #14 on:** February 20, 2009, 06:37:28 AM »

Try giving HVC Cycle a call. http://hvccycle.com/servicerestoration.htm
Prompt professional work.
They are mainly a two stroke Yamaha service, but it is worth the ask.
$150 per gauge to start...

bert96 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 20, 2009, 09:45:55 AM »

I bought my face gauges on ebay,and this is not stickers,it's the real thing!!!

http://cgi.ebay.it/Fondi-strumenti-Honda-CB750-Four-K2-tacho-speedo-faces_W0QQitemZ360130344417QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRicambi_e_Accessori_Moto?hash=item360130344417&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A758|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

gonzobrian · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2009, 03:18:13 PM »

Quote from: bert96 on February 20, 2009, 09:45:55 AM

I bought my face gauges on ebay,and this is not stickers,it's the real thing!!!

http://cgi.ebay.it/Fondi-strumenti-Honda-CB750-Four-K2-tacho-speedo-faces_W0QQitemZ360130344417QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRicambi_e_Accessori_Moto?hash=item360130344417&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A758|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Well that is a good price! I don't see any gauge faces for the KO though

Do you know if they ship to the US? Which bike did you get the face plates for? The KO lights up so you can see it at night. Also for the US I don't think they are in MPH? Thanks for the link.

bert96 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2009, 03:33:44 PM »

''tutto il mondo'' mean worldwide shipping!

I don't know if he now sell face gauge in MP/H when i bought mine he don't.

That was for my K4.

Bert

markb · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2009, 06:43:18 AM »

Hey guys, thanks for all the great tips. If I can find the right faces I just might tackle it myself.
By the way, Bert, nice avatar!

754 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2009, 07:25:07 AM »

It's an avaTITar....

Johnie · « **Reply #20 on:** February 21, 2009, 07:44:00 AM »

Quote from: markb on February 21, 2009, 06:43:18 AM

Hey guys, thanks for all the great tips. If I can find the right faces I just might tackle it myself.
By the way, Bert, nice avatar!

Mark...don't be afraid to give a holler if you have questions. I did mine last year. And when you get the needles off you will want to freshen up the orange paint on the tips.

JimJ CB-750K4 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 22, 2009, 04:50:26 PM »

David Buck restored my 1974 K-4 gauges last year(Feb.) for $400.00. He powder coated the outer housings,refinished the inner housings in white, restored the wiring and new bulbs with the VDO bulb covers,
rechromed rear housings with new hardware. He refinished the mounting bracket and installed the gauges.
He used the new face decal/appliques that I supplied.......$150 more if he reproduces the faces. He'll reset mileage to zero, or leave at current mileage..your choice. They look new and work fine. For me it was worth it,
as I was restoring bike to original condition...I bought it new in 74.

CB750faces.com (Lecram) · « **Reply #22 on:** April 04, 2013, 01:03:27 PM »

I can offer a full restoration service for only $179/gauge (K0 and K1) or $160 for a K2-K5.
Including new face, new cover and glass and crimp ring (K1-K5). Also the damper will be refilled.

http://www.cb750faces.com/cb750faces.nl/en/13-gauge-restoration-services

I have restored many, many of these gauges.

markb · « **Reply #23 on:** April 04, 2013, 02:09:04 PM »

Quote from: CB750faces.com (Lecram) on April 04, 2013, 01:03:27 PM

I have restored many, many of these gauges.

And the two he did for me were great. BTW, Buck no longer does them.

Janesy · « **Reply #24 on:** February 24, 2019, 04:27:14 PM »

Greetings,
I had Mr Buck restore four gauges for me, three years ago, YDS3, C201, ST90, S90. They came back looking like they where right from the original factory! They were beautiful and certainly worth every penny! They were $450 each if memory serves me right. It took 6 months to get the gauges back to Canada, however some of the delay was probably due to our slow mail service! I called Mr Buck, what a nice chap.
We kept p emails as the process took place.
Absolutely no concerns with Bucks Gauge Restoration!
Will Jan es,
Ontario, Canada

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Author Topic: Buck's Vintage Gauge Restoration - CB750 - Anyone have any experience? (Read 10652 times)