How do I get the speedometer assmembly apart?

[Sick Steve]

I've got a 1981 GS 550, and the bulb in the back of the speedometer is burnt out. I need to replace it. I got the head light off, the speedo cable disconnected, and the two small screws in the back off. I can't seem to get the trip knob off, or find a way to get to the inside so I can change the light bulb.

Where do I go from here?

[jadesystem]

If your instrumentation cluster is like mine (83 GS1100esd, same as 85 GS700es), the tripmeter has a black knob protruding out of the glass.

Use channel lock pliers to grab the knob, and pull it straight out. Then
the rest will come out by removing the glass cover, the rest will follow.

God luck to you.

KT :-D \\/

[bwringer]

Erm, no... please don't yank on it with pliers just yet.

Most of the tripmeter knobs are held in by a very small Phillips head screw. You likely just need a smaller screwdriver that will fit down inside.

Yours might be a kind that just yanks off, but that doesn't seem right on a vehicle that vibrates as much as a motorcycle.

From there, it's dead easy -- once you've extracted the speedo, the light bulb holders wiggle out like rubber corks, and you can replace the bulb. #194 bulbs, available anywhere, are very slightly brighter than the stock bulbs (#153 or #158, I can't remember which) and will work great.

I tried colored bulbs in mine, and it didn't seem to make any difference other than the lighting was quite a bit dimmer.

[Sick Steve]

I got it thanks, there was a rubber bit with wires comming out, I yanked it and sure enough, light bulb. off to walmart.