Speedo Questions

[jimfj]

82 Gs1100G

I found a 140 mph speedo from an earlier GS model and put it on the bike. Everything good and works fine. Decided that it would be a good idea to take the bezel off and clean the glass and repaint the needle white and touch up the faded red tip. The procudure went well until I looked at the needle after turning the guage over from all the bezel uncrimping. FUBARed the needle into 3 pieces. Not from hitting it, just from the needle being old and the plastic almost gone from UV, I guess.

1st Question, Do we have a concensus on what to lube and what product to lube with.? I searched and found out alot of things not to do such as use brake cleaner and other plastic eating chemicals but never really got an idea of what to lube with?????

2nd Question, Does anyone have a spare needle or a inoperative gauge that I could salvage the needle from??

I just can't bear to only be able to go 85 mph again.

Any help appreciated,

Jim

[posplayr]

82 Gs1100G

I found a 140 mph speedo from an earlier GS model and put it on the bike. Everything good and works fine. Decided that it would be a good idea to take the bezel off and clean the glass and repaint the needle white and touch up the faded red tip. The procudure went well until I looked at the needle after turning the guage over from all the bezel uncrimping. FUBARed the needle into 3 pieces. Not from hitting it, just from the needle being old and the plastic almost gone from UV, I guess.

1st Question, Do we have a concensus on what to lube and what product to lube with.? I searched and found out alot of things not to do such as use brake cleaner and other plastic eating chemicals but never really got an idea of what to lube with?????

2nd Question, Does anyone have a spare needle or a inoperative gauge that I could salvage the needle from??

I just can't bear to only be able to go 85 mph again.

Any help appreciated,

Jim

have you tied super glue

[Nessism]

I have a pile of old gauges so let me take a look for an extra needle.

Regarding what to lube with, silicone grease would be appropriate for the gears but not sure about the other parts - plastic safe oil would be my guess.

There is a damping mechanism built deep inside the gauge that often gets all wonky after a while, and I have no idea how to service it. Someday I'll bust apart one of my spare gauges to try to figure it all out...

[chef1366]

Is wonky a tech term?


Do you have any round 140mph guages laying around?

[jimfj]

Super glue is not a option at this point ( read FUBAR).

Thanks ED. Let me know what you come up with on the spare needle and let me know what you need for it.

I have some teflon grease that I purchased for a model train that seems to hold up under some heat. I might try that. Any opinions on silicon vs. teflon? I'm not trying to overthink this, just kind of a pain to get inside the things.

Jim

[hampshirehog]

Super glue is not a option at this point ( read FUBAR).

Thanks ED. Let me know what you come up with on the spare needle and let me know what you need for it.

I have some teflon grease that I purchased for a model train that seems to hold up under some heat. I might try that. Any opinions on silicon vs. teflon? I'm not trying to overthink this, just kind of a pain to get inside the things.

Jim

Best stuff to use for lubricating and damping the insides of a speedo is spray furniture polish. I know it sounds a poor man's trick but I've done dozens and dozens of these over the years and it works a treat and lasts.

[chef1366]

Best stuff to use for lubricating and damping the insides of a speedo is spray furniture polish. I know it sounds a poor man's trick but I've done dozens and dozens of these over the years and it works a treat and lasts.

Really?! I'm about to try anything for a bouncing speedo.
Any particular brand or ingredient?

[Sandy]

[QUOTE=chef1366;1161495]Is wonky a tech term?QUOTE]
Yes, I'm sure Jim will be along shortly to explain how to get it unwonky.

[hampshirehog]

Really?! I'm about to try anything for a bouncing speedo.
Any particular brand or ingredient?

When I originally tried it out I raided my wife's cupboard and used Mr Sheen:

http://www.aquaesuliswatercoolers.com/catalog/images/Mr%20Sheen%20Polish.jpg

I swore that was the only make to use until about 5 years ago when my wife only had Sainsburys Lavender spray furniture polish and used that instead. It works just as well and has lasted for 5 years on my 550 (plus you also get the bonus of the lavender smell for a few hours )

[chef1366]

When I originally tried it out I raided my wife's cupboard and used Mr Sheen:

http://www.aquaesuliswatercoolers.com/catalog/images/Mr%20Sheen%20Polish.jpg

I swore that was the only make to use until about 5 years ago when my wife only had Sainsburys Lavender spray furniture polish and used that instead. It works just as well and has lasted for 5 years on my 550 (plus you also get the bonus of the lavender smell for a few hours )

Thanks
But no Mr. Sheen here in the states.
I'll just raid the wifes cabinet as you did.