Gauge lighting

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 14, 2008 | 08:44 PM

#21

TheShrink

Road Warrior

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 1,484

Likes: 2

From: Sarasota, Florida

http://www.bluegauges.com/

Anyone use this guy? I've been thinking about it.

Dec 14, 2008 | 09:39 PM

#22

Dcrane

Cruiser

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 129

Likes: 1

Bluegauges.com

I had Scott change my speedo/tech to blue leds to match my other gauges. He did great job matching the leds in my other gauges perfect Leds for small gauges came from Super Bright Leds these are the ones I used they are brighter than stock I used the blue.http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/bulb_specs.htm Leds are directional light use the ones that point to the side of the gauge.

Dec 14, 2008 | 11:00 PM

#23

05LowRider

Road Captain

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 654

Likes: 2

From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I went with 2825's which are just a little higher wattage than the 168's that were in the guages. Noticeably brighter. But, I was very surprised to find that the oem bulbs were turning black inside the bulb so soon. All in the period of one season! I just thought it was my imagination that they weren't as bright as I remembered them being at first. Guess not!

I'm right there with you guys on hoping the extra wattage might help clear up the fogging a little better too.

Dec 15, 2008 | 08:37 AM

#24

Ultraman1

Advanced

Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 61

Likes: 0

Gauge Lighting

I'm interested in the results also. Let us know whether this works for the tach and speedo.

Feb 7, 2009 | 09:03 PM

#25

Rudeman422

Intermediate

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 40

Likes: 3

From: Anoka, MN

You can do it yourself

I just finished the swap the other night, it wasn't really that hard with a little out of the box thinking on the reassembly. I have a '08 RK and it took 12 of the small leds to change the color, it didn't use any of the large. I purchased them on ebay and got 2 kits by mistake by trying to get a better price (you can best offer right around $11 and win), but it worked out in my favor. To start, you have to remove the dash panel from the tank flip it over and unplug the speedo. Then pry on the red ring to pop the ring over the top tab and then one of the other 2 and it will fall out. Now with the gauge out, you will have to go around the back side of the chrome ring a few times gently prying it away a little more each time until you can slip a flat screwdriver in between the plastic gauge and the chrome trim ring. Keep prying it more until you can roll it over the edge (the chrome ring is a little tougher than you would think). Now that you have that off, you can use 2 flat screwdrivers to pop the speedo needle off (put one on each side and pry against the gauge). Now use something to pull the plastic with the numbers out (grab in one of the open notches, it is just glued down and will stick right back on when you're done). Take out the 3 torx screws and you in. Now you have the circuit board out and can start with the swap. You are going to need a good soldering iron with a small point, some new small gage rosin core solder, some solder braid for removing excess solder, and a normal tweezer that will grab the small leds. I would suggest doing one at a time and testing the gauge after each led until you are comfortable with what you are doing. Make sure to note which side the notch is on and make sure the new one goes on the same way. Start by loosening up the solder on one side, then go to the other and heat that up and gently pull up with the tweezer until it tips up, then go to the other side and heat it up and pull it off. Now use the solder braid to get the pads clean. Now put some fresh solder on one pad, set the new led down and push on it while heating up the solder you just put down, go to the other side and heat it up and put some solder on. It should be done, test it. Now continue to do the rest of the amber lights that you would like to change. My gauge took twelve small leds. Once you have done all the leds that you want to change, put it back together but make sure you have it plugged in and the bike on when you put the needle back on. Then unplug it and keep reassembling. Now, to get the chrome ring to seat back on, once it's on, use a junk CD or unused CDR that you can throw away and put that on the face of the gauge and use a plyers and go around and crimp the chrome ring back to being tight. AND YOUR DONE! It looks beautiful! And it was cheap.

Feb 7, 2009 | 09:13 PM

#26

dawg

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 28,524

Likes: 3,953

From: Vermont

Rude, that looks great

Feb 7, 2009 | 09:24 PM

#27

Jerry L

Road Warrior

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 1,929

Likes: 301

From: moved to Florida!

Dang, Rude, that looks great! But I'm sure you'd get better if you had more practice. What's your address so I can send you mine!
Jerry

Feb 28, 2009 | 09:27 PM