Pictures inside Speedo and Tach?

swooshdave · Mar 4, 2015

drones76 said:
Very nice Jean. Mine are holding up nicely. My only complaint is that I get some direct light in my eyes from my LED's. I need to move them down in the clock cases. I just don't have the impetus to open them back up. The other side effect is that my face and chest are lit up at night and a neighbor said it looked like a ghost rider going through the neighborhood.

Sorry to drag up this old post but I've finally gotten around to thinking about my instrument lights again.

If you recall from a more recent post I got a roll of lights. I suspect they may be much brighter than the ones mentioned in this older post. I cut two strips the right length for the instruments.

diy-led-lights-cheap-t21177-15.html#p280070

Of course it's a good idea to test your handiwork. Helps to have a spare bike around and tap off the battery charger. Quick and easy.

I may need a diffuser layer if they are too bright. And they will definitely need to be at the very bottom of the cases. I have one new bezel and glass and I need a second replacement bezel.

Hobot · Mar 4, 2015

Pretty cool lighting. I"ve inked or painted over blubs I want dimmer or some color but does fades after time. Don't know if applicable to LEDs.

swooshdave · Mar 4, 2015

hobot said:
Pretty cool lighting. I"ve inked or painted over blubs I want dimmer or some color but does fades after time. Don't know if applicable to LEDs.

That would work too.

CanukNortonNut · Mar 5, 2015

This is what I use.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinf ... -base/199/
You can also get the bayonet type for your instrument light socket for the earlier commandos. No need to probe inside the housing. Just plug and play On Any Sunday.

Cheers,
Tom
CNN

swooshdave · Mar 5, 2015

Assuming I had a stock wiring harness.

CanukNortonNut · Mar 5, 2015

Swoosh
I got the cool white and it is really "white". The warm white would be closer to the original color of a stock bulb. :idea:
Just an FYI
Cheers,
Tom
CNN

Hobot · Mar 5, 2015

Ugh didn't really want to know what clock insides looks like but busted a glass so wonder if mine will look as pristine as the photos. I passed the lazy plug in LED URL to riding friends. I've store bought LED strips for signals and other reasons not people related.

btw a beaming Rod Rayborn from North Carolina walked me after dark at 2004 INOA ralley to his box frame tarp covered r/w/b 850 to flip cover off then lit the hidden LED highlighers and instruments and voltage raindow for UFO effect I almost swooned back in wonder. Peel get purple tinted glows and sparkles. These flat LEDs ya can snip to suit seem made to adapt for this.

swooshdave · Mar 6, 2015

This is with only three LEDs (one section). The full 15 LEDs would be blinding. You don't want too much light at night. It doesn't take much.

This was with the string just shoved into the hole. More careful placement should provide a more even light.

utahnorton · Mar 6, 2015

Just thought I'd throw this in but certainly not as cheap as doing it yourself. The new Smiths electronic gauges come with built in LED lights that illuminate the gauge perfectly. I have three different versions for the Commando alone...Green Globe, NVT, and Green Dot Norton "N" which replaces the big green blob. Apparently Smiths thought that the big green blob wasn't their most aesthetically pleasing design and made a new version which is smaller with the iconic Norton "N" which to me looks a lot better. The website should be updated this weekend with new gauges including a new race tach, more chronmetrics. Euro gauges, and speedo drive conversion kit.

Cheers,

Tom Kullen
http://www.smithsgaugesusa.com

cjandme · Mar 6, 2015

Thanks for the info and link Tom

Anonymous · Mar 6, 2015

My gauges remain to retain the 'look' but I stopped trusting my licence to a mechanical speedo a while ago. A smartphone now fits between them and a GPS speedo app provides more accurate and consistent speed info regardless of the wheel/tyre combinations I choose. The app also has a 'night' mode so gauge glare is minimised (especially good for long trips). To further this thread re LEDs, you may choose to fit a rheostat to achieve a similar reduction of the glare from your bright LED'ed gauges when on dark country roads at night (reduces eye strain considerably).

toppy · Mar 7, 2015

Instead of taking the gauge apart i bought readily available (Ebay) LED bulbs the fit in the stock holder. Cheap simple and easy to use.

swooshdave · Mar 8, 2015

toppy said:
Instead of taking the gauge apart i bought readily available (Ebay) LED bulbs the fit in the stock holder. Cheap simple and easy to use.

I'm missing the bulb holders.

toppy · Mar 8, 2015

swooshdave said:
toppy said:

Instead of taking the gauge apart i bought readily available (Ebay) LED bulbs the fit in the stock holder. Cheap simple and easy to use.

Click to expand...

I'm missing the bulb holders.

Got mine from RGM. They take the capless type bulbs so getting LED bulbs is easy and polarity of electrical system is not an issue as if LED doesn't work simply remove it rotate it half a turn and refit an it works.

Pictures inside Speedo and Tach?

swooshdave

Hobot

swooshdave

CanukNortonNut

swooshdave

CanukNortonNut

Hobot

swooshdave

utahnorton

cjandme

Anonymous

Guest

toppy

swooshdave

toppy

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