Topic: K0 gauges restoration

[Ferenz]

Hi everybody out there,

my name is Tom Ferenz from Germany and I`m currently restoring a very nice 1970 CB750 K0,
which I have bought last summer in the states. Now the gauges are next to do.
Does someone have experience how to this the best way, especially how to open the plastic cover.
on the back of the instruments.
All Ideas or pics are very welcome 
Love and peace, Four fourever,
Tom from Germany.

[Johnie]

Welcome to the SOHC forum Tom. Yes, I did the same to my KO gauges a few years ago. You will need to break off the plastic black ring that you will see on the back of the plastic case to open them. Once you do that you can get at the guts. To remove the needle I use 2 spoons on either side and pop off the needle. Then you can get the faces off to replace them. Once you get it all cleaned up and clean and polish the inside of the clear face, you are ready to put it back together. With the ring gone you will have to find another way to hold the 2 pieces together. I used electrical tape so I can take it apart anytime I want to clean it or fix something. I have seen guys use a tub and tile caulk too. Good luck and post some pics here when you can.

[Ferenz]

Hi Johnie,

thank you very much for your fast and accurate reply.
The main question to me is how to open the plastic backside the best way, what do you think of opening
by a little saw or with a sharp curtaincutter?

Maybe someone has pics after the opening.

Love and peace,
Four fourever, Tom from Germany.

[Johnie]

Tom...I think I used a utility knife to get the ring off. I do have some pics when I did mine. What in particular are you wanting to see. I have the pics on a disc so I would need to upload what you need. Attached is a pic of the K1 gauges I just rebuilt. Almost the same as the KO. Click the pic to enlarge.
Johnie

[Greggo]

Gentlemen, I've read of (I think) lubing the mechanism in these gauges to restore smoother movement of the needles, but can't seem to find the information.  Could you tell me what type of oil I should use for this?  Here's a pic of the '71 CB500/4 tachometer I'm working on.




Thanks

[Terry in Australia]

G'Day Tom, contact Georg, (fire113 on this site) he lives in Germany and is currently restoring a K0, and has just finished restoring his speedo and tach, including the usual face replacements, and has also replaced the damping oil with silicon oil. He's a good bloke and I'm sure he'll be able to help you out. Cheers, Terry.

[Ferenz]

Dear Terry,

thank you very much for your mail and your help with may gauges. I just wrote Fire113 an email, and I hope he will contact me soon.
It`s unbelievable, how people all over the world can work together, so once more many, many thanks and greetings from Germany to
Australia.

Four fourever, Tom from Germany.

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, no worries Tom, I spent some time in Germany back in the 1970's and loved it. Beautiful women, beautiful food, excellent beer and wonderful machinery. If it wan't for your winters, I'd emigrate! Cheers, Terry.

[Ferenz]

Hi out there,

I have finished my gauges restoration of my CB 750 K0. Thank you all very much for your
support, especially to Marcel den Butter for his great replica faces, which look and fit 100%
perfect, as even for showing me how to remove the needles best from the instruments
by a teaspoon trick, which can be watched on Youtube.
I don't want to describe all steps close, I think the pictures speak for themselves, the
diamonds I have used are from Yamaha Japan, there from I took the turnsignal and the oil
warning diamond, the other ones are original. The glue I have used is called liquid rubber
in black and works absolutely great, it is available in Germany at retailshop OBI.
Hope you like the pics and how I have done it,
Four fourever from Germany,
Tom. Love and peace..........

[Ferenz]

Hi out there,

this is the second part of pics from my K0 gauges restoration,
hope you like it.

Tom from Germany.

[Ferenz]

Hi out there,

this is the last part of my K0 gages restoration, finally finished.
I think they look great, oops forgot to mention, before the final rebuild I had cleaned
the plastic glasses with a CD scratch removing paste, which worked out fantastically

Tom from Germany, I`m gonna have a nice ride right now......

[Johnie]

Looks like a great job there Tom. Got some pics of the entire bike for us? We love pics here...

[CB750faces.com (Lecram)]

See this topic for the first time. Great job and clear explanation, Tom. And thank you for using my face plates.

Here is the link to my Youtube vid how to remove the needle:
http://youtu.be/AGzVLhMpky8