Topic: Are you Refacing or Defacing your gauges?

[ElCheapo]

$10 a set!?!?!?!?[/b] - you'll have every owner knocking at your door. That would be incredible. Even $25 a set would be super if the replacement ones you make are spot on accurate. There are a great many variances in the gauge faces over the years and if you just did the most popular for now - wow.

And most popular, aren't those the K8s, dusterdude?

I mean $10 my cost  The will go for somewhere in the realm of $30.00 for a set here. I am sure they will pull a higher price tag on eBay. But here I am hooking up buddies  . I will do my best to get through all of the years. The K0 will problable be last as I do not see myself getting a set to scan.

I just got the tach open on the 500 gauges. I know 750's have a plastic card, but the 500 has an aluminum face, so the side lit comments are correct.

This will be a go the instant I have the proofs back from the printer.

[Bob Wessner]

The K0 will problable be last

 

[dusterdude]

i would like to have a set also

[MikeDeB]

i'm pretty sure they are actually SIDE lit, and not BACK lit. aren't there LEDs that wash the light from the edge?

They are both side lit and back lit.  There are two bulbs (top and bottom) in each case that lights up the dial.

[cbjunkie]

right, but not lit from BENEATH the dial - that's what was confusing me...it's an opaque material in any case.

the dials so far look really nice, by the way! seems we have some graphically astute among us.

[MikeDeB]

right, but not lit from BENEATH the dial - that's what was confusing me...it's an opaque material in any case.

the dials so far look really nice, by the way! seems we have some graphically astute among us.

No, they are lit from BENEATH the dial and from the side.  In the pic below you can see the hole for the bulb in the tach casing, just below the dial.  That bulb shines on the back (from beneath) of the dial as well as the small refector and the inner bezel (which you'll note is repainted white instead of turqoise blue on mine) that is in the lower part of the pic.  The inner bezel is already installed in the outer bezel along with the glass.

[cbjunkie]

aha - a picture is worth a thousand words...

so the bulb beneath illuminates the odometer counter? - obviously i haven't taken the dials apart, so i'm ignorant about the inner workings... the dial face itself is not in any way illuminated by the bulb beneath, or is it?

[ElCheapo]

On the KO's or other ones for all that matters if you guys can get out your spare gauges and scan them in at 600dpi I could get tracing on other gauage sets. As for the K8's, the closest thing I have is a 77 and a 76. The 76 is in green and the other in blue. Please try to be accurate when you are telling me what the gauges are from.

You can send them to tneubauer@charter.net. I know the files will be big so make sure you are on a cable or have extra time to send it. Now go and fill up my mail box. 

[MikeDeB]

On the KO's or other ones for all that matters if you guys can get out your spare gauges and scan them in at 600dpi I could get tracing on other gauage sets. As for the K8's, the closest thing I have is a 77 and a 76. The 76 is in green and the other in blue. Please try to be accurate when you are telling me what the gauges are from.

You can send them to tneubauer@charter.net. I know the files will be big so make sure you are on a cable or have extra time to send it. Now go and fill up my mail box. 

I'll work on it over the weekend.  I can do the K2 (which is the same as the K3), the K1 and possibly a K4-K5.  If you want, I can also send scans of the replacement faces I got from Italy.  They are a K0 and a K1.  They are definately worth a look.  Oh, and I can do an F1 as well.  The color on the K1/K2 and possibly the K3 is a very dark green (almost a Brunswick green).  I'm not sure about the K4 and K5 as I've never seen an NOS gauge of either; all I've ever seen are faded ones and they look dark blue but then so do the K1/K2 after they've been in the sun for a while.  Below is a pic of an NOS K2 speedo that I own (I also have a matching NOS tach).  It is a very dark green when viewed in ambient light.

[ElCheapo]

Replacement faces are good too. These are to provide reference places for all the increment lines and the speed and tach redline. They great places to start. From what hear the ones from Italy are damn nice

[MikeDeB]

aha - a picture is worth a thousand words...

so the bulb beneath illuminates the odometer counter? - obviously i haven't taken the dials apart, so i'm ignorant about the inner workings... the dial face itself is not in any way illuminated by the bulb beneath, or is it?

I'm glad you asked.  The dials are somewhat illuminated from beneath.  The dial is a blue translucent plastic piece that cleans up well with acetone.  If you use the thin appliques then you'll want to paint them white before application.  If you use the thick ones from Italy then don't paint them.  I've done both and ridden both at night.  It works well this way.  below are some pics of the dials.  The first is a K1 tach.  The second is the same dial with the paint stripped.  The third is of replacement dials.  The K1 tach and K0 speedo are the ones from Italy.   If they look a little fuzzy it's because they have a protective acetate on the front of the dial (to be removed just prior to installation).  The K2 tach is the thin applique (not easy to install and very fragile).  The fourth pic shows how thick the Italian replacement dials are.  They are .77mm thick with the protective acetate on the front and the backing that covers the adhesive on the backs (they are applied to the original dials after cleaning).

[MikeDeB]

Replacement faces are good too. These are to provide reference places for all the increment lines and the speed and tach redline. They great places to start. From what hear the ones from Italy are damn nice

They are.     The only drawback is that the redline and 70mph marks are kind of orange.  What you get between new and fully faded.  If they were red they'd be perfect.  Pic is of the Italian ones installed on my K2.

[Teach]

just goofing now 

What about custom faces per order?  I'm sure they would be quite a bit higher since you wouldn't get to have them made in quantity, but I'd be all about paying extra to have a set that matched my custom paint job.  Just a suggestion.

[MikeDeB]

just goofing now 

What about custom faces per order?  I'm sure they would be quite a bit higher since you wouldn't get to have them made in quantity, but I'd be all about paying extra to have a set that matched my custom paint job.  Just a suggestion.

I was thinking the same thing.  A set of K2/K3 in black with white numbers and lettering and real red speed mark and redline.  That would be so cool for a custom project.   

[ElCheapo]

MikeDeb has been keeping me busy. You will be happy to know that K0,K1, and SS gauges will be available quickly thanks to him. I sent a link to Steve "Carpy" Carpenter to take a look at this forum subject. Let's see if he will install a set in one of his bikes. Who knows??

 

[ElCheapo]

just goofing now 

What about custom faces per order?  I'm sure they would be quite a bit higher since you wouldn't get to have them made in quantity, but I'd be all about paying extra to have a set that matched my custom paint job.  Just a suggestion.

These can be done easily, messing around with some due south position gauges tonight. Just figured it would break up the O.E. madness.

[carpy]

 Hello Gang
Well I have tried them Bloody horrible GREEN appliques on ebay, and they were about as pliable as my granny.
The colour was greener than frog snot, and the digits were about as sharp as the end of my knob.
I have seen the white ones on Ebay and they are not my thing, but someone could bring some better ones out for stock bikes.
I have made my own cafe ones, with a clear coat decal that goes over the top.
these are vinyl and fade resistant.
they apply easily and spray water first and they will move around like poo on a shoe.
then squeeze any air out and there you go.
If I have time I may produce some myself, but, the trick with stock ones is that the vinyl decal must first off be screen printed white, then a green laquer with a transparent dye in it added and printed, thats how you get that spooky Green at night.


but , who ever makes a set, sling them on the forum, we can all have a look and see if they are cool.
i do sometimes restore the odd 750, but not much these days as my cafe's are keeping me busier than the border patrol in San diego.


Great forum none the less.

Keep up the great work.
PEACE and GREASE

CARPY
www.cb750cafe.com

If you want me to try a set when El cheapo bangs a few sets out, let me know and I will always have a go.
I have just made some red metalflake ones and a set of gold flake ones for a custom look.

Will show them on here later this week if ya like???


Things have been busy for me lately, and thats a great thing.
I am building yet another cafe for the japanese market, my last one went there and we think HONDA have now got it, so look out, there may be a retro cafe in the works, now, that would be way cool.


Good to see so may people into the 500 pounders right now too.


See Ya on the Tarmac.

[ElCheapo]

You guys pulling gauges apart watch out when you clean the blue diffuser cup inside. I wiped a bit hard earlier and cut the tip off my middle finger on my right hand cleaning that 500 gauge that I pulled earlier. The edges inside at the gauge face can be wicked sharp.

Thanks Carpy for all the input. Nothing like sharing sucess. I will remember your input when talking to the printer. Will get a set off to ya as soon as we get some acceptable faces.

Monday the printers.....
Next month world!

[MikeDeB]

Well I have tried them Bloody horrible GREEN appliques on ebay, and they were about as pliable as my granny.
The colour was greener than frog snot, and the digits were about as sharp as the end of my knob.
I have seen the white ones on Ebay and they are not my thing, but someone could bring some better ones out for stock bikes.

I've used the appliques from Ebay also.  And, they are not easy to use but I did successfully apply mine.  Yep, the green is off.  Several shades too light.  Should be more of a Brunswick green.  The reason the digits are blurry is that the appliques are probably just touched up scans of old faded dials.  When the instruments were new the digits were much sharper (as in my pic of my NOS K2 gauge above) but when they fade the digits tend to blur.  I like the white ones and installed a set last winter.  They look rather cool but again, the digits are a little blurry.  I did get them in the earlier style as I like the way the numbers are layed out; classic and not so busy.

[kghost]

hmm shoulda read this post earlier...........

Did mine about a year and a half ago

there are posts of mine on here somewhere

they look great and have held up well the last 5 thousand miles

white and they glow in the dark like neon lol

sent terry in australia a set of the 750 ones...

shoot me a message if ya havent figured it all out

[ElCheapo]

OK in the file work we so far have KO's , K1, K2, K3, K5, K6ss and K7ss. Sorry Quail I dont have the K8 yet.

The K1's and KO's were very very close. There were only minor changes to get them right. So I guess I was wrong when I said the KO's would be last, they are FIRST! .

I will be meeting with the printers over the next few days. With any luck I should have "proof" set with in the week. On the idea of the semi transparency of faces we will be applying a clear sheet to teh back and drop them on a light box. This should give us a good idea what they will look like lit. I will keep you guys all posted.

Special thanks to MikeDeb for getting all the faces together thus far.

[mrbreeze]

I would still like to get a set of chrome housings for the speedo & tach. How about it Carpy? Like the ones on your website under "Cafe racers I built". Those look way cool.

[MikeDeB]

Special thanks to MikeDeb for getting all the faces together thus far.

You are very welcome Tom!   

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

OK in the file work we so far have KO's , K1, K2, K3, K5, K6ss and K7ss. Sorry Quail I dont have the K8 yet.

What over 1/2 of this form is left waiting?  I know the K8s need few parts but a little dress up would be nice.  Damn i hate being the red headed Woodpecker all the time.  We K8 people have to wait for everything.  I'm mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore!

[ElCheapo]

Well I am getting close. Heres a K9