Tachometer repair

[Anonymous]

I own a 1981 GS550L. The face plate of the tachometer (the RPM numbers are printed on it) is loose, with the mounting screws rattling around inside the tachometer. The housing appears to be one-piece of plastic, and the glass bezel is attached with a press-fit metal ring. Any ideas on how to get into the tachometer without cutting/bending/breaking the metal ring?
Thanks

[focus frenzy]

Unfortunatly, cutting the ring is the only way to get in the tach. (other than breaking the glass) you could try and very carefully bend the edges of the ring out but the risk of damaging the housing or glass is pretty high.
you could also very carefully cut the plastic case just below the metal ring and when done carefully glue the halfs back together.

......Leon

[Anonymous]

Does your light work? If so, I'll trade you the tach on my '80 GS550L... The number plate is secure, but it has no light.

As far as I've heard, I have to cut through the plastic to fix that too....

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure, but check and see if the nose piece (the part of the case that faces forward away from the instrument face) isn't removable. Obviously the light bulbs can be replaced and if you can do that, I bet you can remove the rest of the guts and tighten the screws without screwing with the lens or bezel that holds it in place.
GY

[Anonymous]

My tach's light doesn't work, but it appears to be replaceable. I do not see a way into the case through the nose-piece: the case appears to be one piece of plastic. Thanks for the help, it looks like I'm going to violate the case with a saw.

[Clone]

You don't have to cut the case to replace the light. If you go to bike bandit and look at the breakdown of the tach you can replace the light by dismantling the case. As for the loose screws (no not my wife's) you will have to get the glass off. I have seen this done and done it myself with a dremel too. cut the back of the ring cap in about six or so places to relieve the pressure (radius cuts, in and out, you don't have to cut the ring entirely through. then bend out the bottom like tongues until you can get the ring off. put some locktite on the screws and fresh paint on the needle tip and close it up with some black engine silicone to keep 'er tight.