White Face Guages Update

[armourbl]

Ok guys,

I took apart the guages this weekend. It wasn't too difficult. Maybe the hardest part was removing the glass cover to get to the faces. But I've figured out how to do that correctly, so no issues there.

I'm going to scan in the stock guages and get to work on them today.

I'll post a rough draft example later this week.

I plan to do detailed instructions, with color photos on how to install them, so no one should feel like they can't install them.

So far I've learned a few things about the stock units. Each guage pod is back-lit by a single clear bulb. The illumination is distributed evenly around the guage face by a green-tinted plastic diffuser ring the is hidden on the out edge behind the glass cover. So, this means we are stuck with a green illumination. I may try to remove the diffuser ring and insert a blue back light, but I suspect that the light won't be distributed evenly without a diffuser mechanism.

More to come soon.

ben

[rs50 2002]

awesome! Hey, make about 5 different styles tho k? cause I know I like white faces with cblack numbers and red lines on the speedo, and black on the tach with red lines at the red line with a white face. Some people may want a different design. Just my opinion.

[Joukki]

About The Diffuser ring...

It might be possible to get some white shiny photopaper or something like that and put it instead of the green ring thingy. And voilá you can put what color led/bulb you want and it will reflect that color .

Just a thought

[CrAiGrOx2002]

u can actually dye plastics... but as its off Bens bike i wont ask him to try ill see about gettin hold of an old gauge n trying it....

[kiddkool69]

be careful dying the plastic...it must remain translucent... often when you dye plasitc it becomes opaque and no light will pass through

[CrAiGrOx2002]

yeh u have to do it lightly... thats why i am going to get some clear plastic to experiment on...

[armourbl]

Or, I could experiment with some clear plexi-glass to fashion a new clear ring. Then you could use whatever bulb color you like. Only problem is plexi-glass can be hard to cut in shapes other than square. I may need to create a cutting die and use a dremel, but we'll see.

But, my thought is, you guys are going to want me to keep this as cheap as possible. The more I have to invent and provide, the more the kit will ultimately cost. Also, I will most likely only make one version. That keeps production costs down quite a bit and takes the guess work out of supply vs. demand.

ben

[CrAiGrOx2002]

i could have one machined if i got drawings.... :D

[armourbl]

Just some quick advise..

If you are thinking about taking apart your gauges to take a look, don't! It really isn't that hard, but I can save you some headache and even possible damage to your gauges.

Lets just say that you will get to benefit from my hard lessons learned here.

I've figured out a very good way to remove the glass cover, but I'm going to need to take some photos and do up some instructions to illustrate it properly.

ben

[CrAiGrOx2002]

no i wondered if u could get pics of the diffuse and diamensions & of the clocks as i can get bits machined f simple enough

[armourbl]

I hear what you are saying, but I still think it isn't feasible. The only way you could have some made would be to actually take yours to whoever is making them. Pictures and measurements just won't cut it. These diffuser rings have some weird angles that just couldn't be illustrated enough by the average guy. Maybe an engineer could do it, but couldn't.

I'm going to experiment with different color bulbs. For example, a blue light through a green filter or diffuser should make an aqua color light. Yellow light with Green diffuser make Blue light. The only real way to get a true indiglow blue is to use LEDs.

ben

[jojy]

how does yellow and green make blue?

[armourbl]

Zip-Lock baggies...Yellow and Blue make Green. Sorry.

But you get the idea. I need to find the right color combo to create a desired effect.

ben

[CrAiGrOx2002]

that was one of my ideas i was thinking about... depends how it turns out...