Gauges in dire need of help.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

These 'before and after' photos say it all. These old white cases had the mounting tabs missing, which made it impossible to hold these cases into the main case, so another set had to be found.
These 'other' donor cases also had issues but were salvageable by repair and rebuilding the top edge surround area under the glass where someone in the past had hacked away that section when removing the original lenses.


The speedometers general appearance before.


The tachometers general appearance before.


How the fitted glass was siliconed on top the cases, its almost 1/4 inch thick and the workmanship is,,,,, well you decide.


The speedo mechanism has been restored and the white donor case has been repaired and restored for the new glass retrofit


The tach mechanism has been restored and the white donor case has been repaired and restored for the new glass retrofit.


The restored gauges shown here mounted into a restored main case I have for the final appearance test,,,,, yup that looks much better.

[kettle kid]

NOW THAT'S MAGIC!!

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Hello KK,
Thanks for your reply, its much appreciated. I posted the photos up as a visual aid to show whats possible with the odds against them as seen here.
Naturally some gauges are beyond help without parts being taken from a donor unit, which these also had such help from.
Just like your restorations on the switches, the gauge restorations follow a similar path; referring to resurrecting items considered by many to be in pretty hopeless shape.

[CJF]

Damn, you are good at this.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Its what you see that looks good, but theres a whole lot of other things under the faces that are just as important and very time consuming to make right so the gauges work as they should.

Heres some blue GT750 faces I've just restored for a set presently being worked on, notice the tachometer redline colours are as they should be and not the faded orange.

[Vintageman]

Wow,

You guys are good. I am such an rookie. I just don't have the patients even if I could.

I just hope my bikes look OK, somewhat clean and shinny as I drive by or park along the road side. And, runs as they should or maybe a bit better too!

I just love how two stroke runs. I wish I had every 2/3 cylinder made ( working on it, but getting harder and harder to find and $$$$$$ too) even if they are not so new looking.

Yes, it feels real good when they look good too. I have a few that I was just lucky they were as I found them. Nothing I did, but detail. Maybe some mechanical thing broke causing it to be parked prematurely and luckly out of the environment by the owner who thought someday it will be fixed again. I guess I am skilled enough to get them running again, but not much skill on cosmetic restoration is me,
Even if not so lucky where the bike was out of a poor environment sleep guys like you can make them still look new! What a tallent

It must be awsome when they look so new and even better than new. And you did it! Great job.

[Ivan]

How much do you charge to replace the lenses on a 74 GT380L set?

How quick do you turn them around?

I want curved lenses, just like stock.

The faces aren't faded and are clean & the meters work like they should... just some very fine "checking" like they all get.

Thanks in advance,

Ivan

[Suzsmokeyallan]

For any quote to be estimated you will need to first post up some photos of the gauges. A top view of each case and the lower side is helpful so I can see the condition of the white body sections and their mounting ears.

I want curved lenses, just like stock.

Now thats some positive thinking, I wish you luck on finding curved lenses in either plastic or glass of the correct thickness, diameter and curvature.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Here are some photos of recent restoration work I did to some early GT 550 gauges that were in pretty rough shape. The first four photos are what the customer sent me for a preview of his 'problem'.
In the last three photos they now look very presentable and just need to have the rubber boots fitted to the upper case surrounds as well as the harness, mounting bracket and undercovers added.



The speedometer out of the main case


The tachometer out of the main case


The scruffy looking main case


There's lots of glue showing where the boots are fitted to the top edges


The refinished case and fully restored gauges with new glass lenses.


The speedometer side view


The tachometer side view