Welcome, Guest
Username: Password: Remember me

TOPIC:

Refurbishing meters 05 Apr 2019 14:28 #801601

  • martin_csr
  • martin_csr's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 7976
  • Thank you received: 1620
Thanks for the how-to info. I like the 4" pvc pipe idea, but my meters are larger than that. Maybe I could glue the pipe into a coupling, but next problem is that I don't have a way to mill it. doh. Access to a machine shop would be handy for making housing jigs. Lacking that, I'm thinking of getting an adjustable hole saw circle cutter for making jigs out of wood.


....

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Last edit: by martin_csr.

Refurbishing meters 05 Apr 2019 21:48 #801618

  • bluezbike
  • bluezbike's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Sustaining Member
  • Posts: 598
  • Thank you received: 104
Cool, I think I may try to do a set. What do you use to renew/repaint the tip of the needles and the "reed line" on the Kawasaki speedos (I don't mean the swimwear)
79 KZ 1000 LTD
77 KZ 1000 B1 LTD (awaiting electrical resurrection)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Refurbishing meters 06 Apr 2019 07:36 #801626

  • martin_csr
  • martin_csr's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 7976
  • Thank you received: 1620
Maybe Krylon Fusion >> it's supposed to bond to difficult surfaces & can be sprayed on various materials, including plastic & hard vinyl. Rustoleum may have a similar product. or use Krylon colormaxx >> both Krylon products are indoor/outdoor. Krylon also has fluorescent paint. Revell or Testors paint might could also be used.

Before just getting after the crimp ring, do what asphalt900 did and make the jig & modify some cirmping tools. New crimp rings are available for the 70s KZ meters, so you have a fallback solution. Replacement crimp rings aren't available for my meters.

Here's another topic >> it has a couple of good how-to photos from a magazine article >> KZR >> how to remove trip reset knob
....

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Last edit: by martin_csr.

Refurbishing meters 06 Apr 2019 16:33 #801656

  • old greek
  • old greek's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 28
  • Thank you received: 15
Martin, did you try calling Z-Resto Gauge Restoration for some ideas?

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Refurbishing meters 06 Apr 2019 17:34 #801659

  • martin_csr
  • martin_csr's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 7976
  • Thank you received: 1620
No, but I have been to their website.



...

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Refurbishing meters 08 Apr 2019 03:10 #801762

  • asphalt900
  • asphalt900's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 491
  • Thank you received: 166
Give this paint a try. Yes Captain Krylon but it works! I have used it for years on the needle tips and the faded redline on original faces.
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Refurbishing meters 08 Apr 2019 03:26 #801763

  • asphalt900
  • asphalt900's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 491
  • Thank you received: 166
Oh forgot to mention. The spoon trick to remove the needle is a Horrible idea. Not sure who came up with this dandy, blind leading the super blind thru google search I suppose. Why is it a bad idea? If You understand where the forces are applied using this spoon technique it will make sense, see photo. The needle shaft is retained by two tiny clips, like in photo, that rest in a land on the stainless steel needle shaft. These clips are brass. So as a byproduct of removing the needle this way, if it comes off at all, is distorting the clips. Now you might have a nice looking gauge after completion but chances are it will be notchy in movement. My thoughts
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Refurbishing meters 08 Apr 2019 05:46 #801765

  • martin_csr
  • martin_csr's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 7976
  • Thank you received: 1620
Thanks. I don't expect to remove the needles as the meters I'm dealing with have good faces, but I'm sure others can use that warning about the spoon trick. Since my meters are different, I kind of wonder if the needles are attached the same. ???

Needle & Red Line: What do you use to paint the needle tip & red line?

...

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Last edit: by martin_csr.

Refurbishing meters 08 Apr 2019 06:04 #801767

  • asphalt900
  • asphalt900's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 491
  • Thank you received: 166
Hello Martin! Krylon Glowing Orange Fluorescent #3101, see photos from previous post. I think they changed the can style since I purchased last? Here is a jig You might be able to use with minimal tinkering, just remove the threads, see photo. This is what I use when doing the triple instruments. And just to keep it super simple None of the jigs shown ever saw a Bridgeport or machine shop, just offset align them under a spinning twist bit in a drill press! Also a simple DIY crimping set-up, see photo also. Just an old Kawasaki Z sprocket I cut out a section of to get the smooth face Vicegrips in there to reset the crimp ring. Keeping it All OEM.
Attachments:
The following user(s) said Thank You: loudhvx

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Refurbishing meters 08 Apr 2019 06:37 #801770

  • martin_csr
  • martin_csr's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 7976
  • Thank you received: 1620
Do the stock needles you deal with fluoresce? I don't think mine do that. I shined a flashlight on them, then shut off the lights. nuthin'.

In a Honda article that davido provided in my how-to-remove-reset-knob topic, they used model kit luminous red paint. not sure if that paint is fluorescent.


....

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Last edit: by martin_csr.

Refurbishing meters 08 Apr 2019 08:32 #801790

  • asphalt900
  • asphalt900's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 491
  • Thank you received: 166
I don't think any needle ever "glowed in the dark"? No radium or whatever made the old analog clocks/watches glow in the dark of yesteryear. Some of the Honda needles are semi translucent but don't emit their own light. The needles and/or tips have a reflective property only so I suppose that would be considered fluorescent. Luminous red paint would probably be better suited for Honda instruments. The redline on face was more red than the Kawasaki OEM color.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Refurbishing meters 23 Apr 2019 03:56 #802672

  • asphalt900
  • asphalt900's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 491
  • Thank you received: 166
Here is an idea for the KZ1300 owners. New needle replacement for the oem tired needles, you probably know this symptom as a 1300 owner. I just shuffled my way to the local library equipped with a 3-D printer. They took the measurements and downloaded it to their equip. and 15Min. later I had two sets, for free. Plastic was grey and a bit rough out of the machine but with a bit of time with some sandpaper/utility blade I got the correct taper and length. Painted with the previous paint mentioned and pinned and superglued to needle holder.
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Powered by Kunena Forum