redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

kz.chris
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redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

05 Aug 2010 07:53

I want to redesign the look of the gauge area but im not sure how to do it.

Should i use fiberglass and form something?

I'm new to bike hacking so just wondering if there are any tips,tricks and pitfalls i should be aware of.

thanks

1977 Kawasaki KZ650

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TerryK
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Re: redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

05 Aug 2010 08:29

#388350

lol, well it's entirely up to you and your imagination. If you are changing gauges, you could make a nice aluminum plate to mount them in with maybe a fiberglass cover for the backs. Like I said, your imagination is the only limiting factor. If you are not that creative, there are some pretty cool aftermarket gauge clusters available.
Just do a Google search for "motorcycle gauges" or something to that effect.

1977 KZ1000
GSXR swingarm and rear brake
WM6 rear Akront rim
Wiseco 1075c pistons
33 smoothbores
stage 3 Web Cams
Head porting
Dyna S ignition
Lockhart oil cooler
Wiseco header

1980 Z1R drag bike
1200cc
38 Flatslides, .
500' cams
7" slick
Dyan 4000 SP ignition
etc

Ontario, Canada

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kz.chris
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Re: redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

05 Aug 2010 09:05

#388356

Thanks for the reply.

its not so much the gauges, but more the mounting brakets. Thats the questionable part.

But I think i've come up with a few ideas.

Thanks

1977 Kawasaki KZ650

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MFolks
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Re: redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

05 Aug 2010 11:21

#388383

The housings will have to be Ozone and sunlight resistant along with keeping out moisture,possibly formed out of thin Aluminum sheet.

Shock mounting will be needed, also gauge illumination and access to either LED's or regular light bulbs.

1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)

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kz.chris
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Re: redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

05 Aug 2010 22:12

#388549

I'm thinking about picking up a spare gauge set to experiment on.

thanks

1977 Kawasaki KZ650

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Mark Wing
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Re: redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

06 Aug 2010 00:00

#388554

here's the bracket I made from some 1/8 plate.
Mark

Jesus loves you Everyone else thinks your an ***

77 KZ650 C1 with ZX7 forks, GPZ mono rear, wider 18 police wheels and Yoshimura motor.

Yorba Linda Cal.

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kz.chris
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Re: redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

06 Aug 2010 07:42

#388617

Mark Wing wrote:

here's the bracket I made from some 1/8 plate.
Mark

Thanks! I really appreciate that pic. looks great too!

1977 Kawasaki KZ650

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kz.chris
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Re: redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

06 Aug 2010 08:44 - 06 Aug 2010 09:27

#388626

Taking your design as inspiration I've created a starting point template

Heres the bracket view

and heres the end result

I think I'll use 2 layers of 1/8 steel since i have narrow support paths.

Any thoughts?

1977 Kawasaki KZ650

Last edit: 06 Aug 2010 09:27 by kz.chris.

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dshelly
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Re: redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

06 Aug 2010 09:21

#388632

WOW!!! you ought to go really FAST with 2 speedos. :laugh:

Occupation:Machinist 25+ exp.
'77 Kz1000B1
'78 Kz1000A2
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MFolks
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Re: redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

06 Aug 2010 10:24

#388648

If you're going to use steel, I'd suggest sand/grit blasting
for good paint adhesion.Spray them with primer,and then the top coat followed by baking the parts at 350 F for 1 hour.

I don't have the luxury of a grit blaster, so I rough up parts with a wire wheel,wash throughly,primer,paint and then bake.

My parts get a tough coating that makes removal of the finish difficult, but they resist moisture and abrasion better.

1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)

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Skyman
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Re: redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

06 Aug 2010 13:15

#388708

I know little about metalworking. So I have to ask...what tool(s) do you use to cut out the brackets? Are we talking about a large machine that only a machine shop would have?

West Linn, OR

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kz.chris
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Re: redesigning spedo/tach/led. What materials to use?

06 Aug 2010 13:41 - 06 Aug 2010 14:00

#388714

Skyman wrote:

I know little about metalworking. So I have to ask...what tool(s) do you use to cut out the brackets? Are we talking about a large machine that only a machine shop would have?

Im probably going to use a hole saw bit and pneumatic grinder.

1977 Kawasaki KZ650

Last edit: 06 Aug 2010 14:00 by kz.chris.

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