GT550 LED display

[Stevo58]

Hi out there,
I am new to this forum, but have had various Suzukis since the mid 1970's . My teen bike was a GT550, so, oh well you know how it goes, i bought one about 15 year ago and smoked around on her for a while then moth balled her. Anyways, so I am now doing a sympathetic restoration and going through the process, all good except the LED display is stuck on 4.

Now I know its a simple circuit, and it didnt take long to isolate the fault to the LED assembly itself - and in short it has had it - if you attach the orange "live" to a 12 volt supply and the earth to earth it just throws up the "4". I have had a look and it has a toshiba LED driver chip that looks like its unobtainium, so I will have to replace the display.

I would like to replace it with a newer tech unit - so have any of you found a decent replacement/work around unit? Its not the end of the world, but it would be good if it worked again.

Steve.

[Alan H]

Plenty on ebay.
I've replaced several over the last 10 years or so (I have 3 550s running + another resto in the garage!)
Look up 'motorcycle gear indicator' - prices from about £15. If you get a 'genuine' one prices start about £50.......

[Stevo58]

Thanks for that Allen,
I have ordered one (dimensions 3.5 x 2 x 1.5cm/1.38 x 0.79 x 0.59") - only £6 so worth a punt I guess, because of the size of the original unit with the tiny display in a big housing (Gotta love 1970's tech) its hard to get a handle on how it will look in comparason.

as an aside, I have managed to find a guy on Ebay who sells the cable sheathing that goes over the wires - you will know how brittle it gets - especially down in the clutch housing near the engine, I serviced the rotary gear switch sender unit that was full of oil because the seal had failed and the black stuff literally shattered as I pulled it free.

Thanks again,

Steve

[Alan H]

70s Tech is so mmmmmmm.
And I started as an electrical apprentice in 1967, working to a career in electrical engineering some time after, until I retired in 2015. Best days work I stopped doing.
Since then, I ve restored (and ridden!) several GT550s - still have 4 in the garage!