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How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:48 am
by pearljam724
More preferrably is there a way I can fix or replace the yellowing glass on the gauge cluster. Or a place I could send mine that does that kind of work ? Mine aren't that bad, but show slight yellowing.
Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:14 pm
by Scorch
Allan, you're up.
Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 2:46 am
by Craig380
I fixed mine using a car polish I had in the garage. It's a mildly abrasive liquid resin polish, a little spot on each lens and 2 minutes work with a soft cloth.
Two goes of the above got rid of the yellowing and made the lenses clear again. I do this about once per year, works a treat. Of course, it's not as perfect as a new lens, but it's a lot less work

Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 6:06 am
by pearljam724
Craig380 wrote:I fixed mine using a car polish I had in the garage. It's a mildly abrasive liquid resin polish, a little spot on each lens and 2 minutes work with a soft cloth.
Two goes of the above got rid of the yellowing and made the lenses clear again. I do this about once per year, works a treat. Of course, it's not as perfect as a new lens, but it's a lot less work

Good to know. I have a bottle of clear coat scratch remover. I'll give that a go. Thank you
Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:59 am
by Fritz500
I bought this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Novus-2-Polish- ... 2ebfb84082" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I had some really bad scratches in both my T500 instruments so I used 600 grit and finally the Novus No.2 They look like new now. I was so pleased with the final result. Took about 10 minutes all up.
Cheers
Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:17 pm
by Cliff
If the yellowing isn't too bad use some toothpaste and a paper towel to clean them up.
If that doesn't work, try a chrome polish, such as Solvol Autosol.
Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:32 pm
by pearljam724
Fritz500 wrote:I bought this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Novus-2-Polish- ... 2ebfb84082" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I had some really bad scratches in both my T500 instruments so I used 600 grit and finally the Novus No.2 They look like new now. I was so pleased with the final result. Took about 10 minutes all up.
Cheers
600 grit sanding paper ? Thanks guys. I know toothpaste does pretty well on most glass or plastic small scratches. Downside with toothpaste, as soon as it is wiped away. Those improvements are lost in no time. I tried some Meguire's Scratch X 2.0, worked pretty good. Mine aren't that bad, but I also have some hairline spider cracks on the tach which is slightly worse than the speedo pic I posted. I know new glass would look awesome. I would just like to improve them. Preferably with new. This pic was taken before the Meguire's.
Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:41 pm
by pearljam724
Another cluster pic before the Meguire's.
Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:45 pm
by pearljam724
Sharing a pic.
Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 12:08 am
by Craig380
She's VERY nice indeed, I haven't seen chrome that shiny for a while

Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 1:17 am
by pearljam724
Craig380 wrote:She's VERY nice indeed, I haven't seen chrome that shiny for a while

Thanks Craig. I take very good care of it. Anyone that owns one of these time capsules, should be shot if they don't.

Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:01 am
by Coyote
Nice ride!!
Sandpaper. It's the only way. Here is a particularly nasty gauge. Can I fix it?
I removed the speedo from the housing. It was so bad I had to start 320 grit then 400 Here's how it looked.
Then on to 600grit, 800 and 1200.
Finally on to 1600 and 2000.
From there I used plexiglass light scratch remover and polish. Rub, rub, rub with a damp cloth.
Yep. It's the same one. Clear as new !

Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:07 pm
by Cliff
Nice job Coyote!
The odometer reading on that speedo brings back memories! I remember having 6,000 miles on my GT550L, it was the summer of 1974!!
Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 12:28 pm
by pearljam724
Wow, thanks Coyote. I assume the steps would be water and the light grit sandpaper ? Then a soft cloth and scratch remover of your choice ? I'm gonna give that a go this winter.
Re: How can I fix yellowing gauge clusters ?
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:04 am
by Coyote
Yes. All sanding is wet. You can see the tub of water in the next to the last pic. Change the water with each decrease in grit.