HD gauge cleaning

[sledgehammer]

Got a set of the HD gauges and was wondering if there’s away to get the speedo apart to clean the inside of the glass and paint the needle. I can’t figure out a way. Got the others apart and cleaned and painted those needles. Haven’t tried the rpm gauge yet

[Conrad]

Got a set of the HD gauges and was wondering if there’s away to get the speedo apart to clean the inside of the glass and paint the needle. I can’t figure out a way. Got the others apart and cleaned and painted those needles. Haven’t tried the rpm gauge yet

I've thought about using a speedo restoration service like Bobs Speedometer https://www.bobsspeedometer.com/

I watched a video of how to pry back the bezel ring with a shucking knife slowly by doing a little bit and continually rotating the speedo around. And then tapped it back into place when done. I guess if the area you are working on is on the backside, it would hide any mistakes. I’m sure I’d mess that up though.

I did buy an NOS HD Speedo - but want to put the CSS (chrome center) speedo back in place instead. At the time I bought the HD gauge I didn't know the difference between the two.

[sledgehammer]

Thanks for the info. Not sure what I will do.

[Txas2step]

Got a set of the HD gauges and was wondering if there’s away to get the speedo apart to clean the inside of the glass and paint the needle. I can’t figure out a way. Got the others apart and cleaned and painted those needles. Haven’t tried the rpm gauge yet

I've thought about using a speedo restoration service like Bobs Speedometer https://www.bobsspeedometer.com/

I watched a video of how to pry back the bezel ring with a shucking knife slowly by doing a little bit and continually rotating the speedo around. And then tapped it back into place when done. I guess if the area you are working on is on the backside, it would hide any mistakes. I’m sure I’d mess that up though.

I did buy an NOS HD Speedo - but want to put the CSS (chrome center) speedo back in place instead. At the time I bought the HD gauge I didn't know the difference between the two.

What do you mean chrome center speedo?

[Txas2step]

Got a set of the HD gauges and was wondering if there’s away to get the speedo apart to clean the inside of the glass and paint the needle. I can’t figure out a way. Got the others apart and cleaned and painted those needles. Haven’t tried the rpm gauge yet

Not for the "faint of heart". I opened up 2 of the round speedo's. I took a very thin flat edge screw driver, heated up the end and bent it over just enough to clear the back side of the bezel where it meets the housing. Slowly pried up the bezel all around the housing. Took about an hour. When back together. I used some flat nosed stained glass breaking pliers to bend the lip back in place. Some minor nicks on the face of the bezel but not bad. Not sure I would recommend doing this. I have always been a risk taker.

[Txas2step]

Got a set of the HD gauges and was wondering if there’s away to get the speedo apart to clean the inside of the glass and paint the needle. I can’t figure out a way. Got the others apart and cleaned and painted those needles. Haven’t tried the rpm gauge yet

Not for the "faint of heart". I opened up 2 of the round speedo's. I took a very thin flat edge screw driver, heated up the end and bent it over just enough to clear the back side of the bezel where it meets the housing. Slowly pried up the bezel all around the housing. Took about an hour. When back together. I used some flat nosed stained glass breaking pliers to bend the lip back in place. Some minor nicks on the face of the bezel but not bad. Not sure I would recommend doing this. I have always been a risk taker.

[Conrad]

What do you mean chrome center speedo?

Sorry for the suspense.

The HD gauges have a silver center disc covering the needle pin.
The (early?) CSS gauges have a chrome center disc.

There was probably some overlap in there over the years. But I found both early and later replacement gauges in both styles, so it appears intentional rather than 'stock on hand' or variations in production quality.

[Txas2step]

What do you mean chrome center speedo?

Sorry for the suspense.

The HD gauges have a silver center disc covering the needle pin.
The (early?) CSS gauges have a chrome center disc.

There was probably some overlap in there over the years. But I found both early and later replacement gauges in both styles, so it appears intentional rather than 'stock on hand' or variations in production quality.

OK, now I understand what you were saying. Chrome center buttons vs Matte finish. Have the Matte finish on set in my '67 shorty. Bought an extra set from a Facebook member awhile back and restored them. Just looked closer, and they are the chrome buttons. Guess I should be more observant.

[Conrad]

That SW tach looks right at home there. Nice job putting that together.

[Txas2step]

That SW tach looks right at home there. Nice job putting that together.

I have the original w/control module that needs repair. The SW was plug and play.

[sledgehammer]

I went ahead and used a screwdriver and slowly pried it apart. You can notice some spots that I marked up a little but doesnt look bad. I’m happy with how it turned out. I’ll post some pics later. I laid it on a towel and used a hammer and punch to bend the edges back around it. Question I have now is when I hooked up the HD gauges my amp gauge is bouncing back and forth from the first mark on each side of the 0 very fast. Also, when I have the key in the on position ( engine off), and turn on lights and heater the gauge goes toward the “charge” position. Did I hook up something wrong?

[PwrWgnDrvr]

Gauge is hooked up backwards.

[sledgehammer]

Thank you. Switched the wires and now it’s correct.

[PwrWgnDrvr]

[sledgehammer]

When I had the old gauges in the gas gauge never worked right. When tank was full the gauge would read just above half. I put in a new sending unit and no difference. After time it stopped working all together. Then just before I got the HD gauges the Temp and Gas gauge pegged all the way to the right. Now with the new gauges in the fuel gauge reads correct.

[sledgehammer]

Closer view

[sledgehammer]

Another pic

[Txas2step]

Looks great! Do you have the Tach?

[sledgehammer]

I do have the tach but didn’t grab the box that it hooks up to (it was broken up a bit). Haven’t decided if I’ll get a new one or what

[zmandan]

Sledgehammer, where did you get the carbon fiber gauge panel?