Suzuki NZ250 - illuminated gauges?

[djmant]

I just bought a 1987 Suzuki NZ250 tonight,
and I noticed while riding home
that the speedo/tachometer/gas gauges weren't illuminated.

All the other indicator lights (signals, kick stand, top gear, etc)
were working properly, just no gauge illumination.

Are the gauges supposed to be illuminated?
Am I missing a switch somewhere?

I tried searching threads and came up with nothing.

(also, this forum seems really excellent,
and I should be spending some time here.

I killed my Honda GL145 a week ago
by not checking the oil and cooking it [noob mistake]
so I hope to hold onto this NZ250 for quite some time.)

Thanks!

[JimO]

my boys one had the lights in the gauges, there is a kbr called conquistador who knows these bikes inside out, for what they are they go pretty goodhttp://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x67/jim157/DSCF2479.jpg

[Icemaestro]

I had that problem with the cbx - was a fuse in the fuse box...

[djmant]

Thanks jimjim.

I texted the previous owner,
and he said that he could never figure out how to get into the gauges
without destroying them.

I might end up wiring up a couple LEDs to illuminate the gauges
if no one has a better/more correct idea.

Here's the bike:
http://astoned.com/Images/nz250hotness.jpg

[xwhatsit]

Normally with gauges you don't need to get `into' them as such, there's just two or three or more little rubber plugs which are a press-fit into the bottom of the gauge... each plug contains a bulb.

Just unbolt the gauges so you can see them from all angles. Then look at where the wires go into them. Should be fairly easy to spot, surely?

[JimO]

they are a tough little bike one of my boys got tboned at a intersection and apart fron bent gear lever and a few cracks in the plastic around the seat there was no damage

[Conquiztador]

I just bought a 1987 Suzuki NZ250 tonight,
and I noticed while riding home
that the speedo/tachometer/gas gauges weren't illuminated.

All the other indicator lights (signals, kick stand, top gear, etc)
were working properly, just no gauge illumination.

Are the gauges supposed to be illuminated?
Am I missing a switch somewhere?

I tried searching threads and came up with nothing.

(also, this forum seems really excellent,
and I should be spending some time here.

I killed my Honda GL145 a week ago
by not checking the oil and cooking it [noob mistake]
so I hope to hold onto this NZ250 for quite some time.)

Thanks!

They only work if lights are on.

Sold all ours now, and can not remember how the illumination works. But there should be a wire from the lights that goes to them. Check inside the front light. As all illumination is dead the chance that all small bolbs are gone at same time is slim. Speedo and tacho has own bolb (from memory). Sadly I also sold the manual. It pays to get a manual for her as it makes life easier if you need to tinker. But in NZ only s/h ones available.

There is no new bits for these available anymore from Suzuki NZ. Bolbs etc are generic so no problem. Best is to find a second bike for parts. Some wreckers still has some. I know the Whakatane bike wrecker had one a few months ago. They also pop up on TM now and then.

Good luck! If U need any advise please feel free to ask. (These small things can fly!)

[djmant]

They only work if lights are on.

Ok, they aren't on even when the lights are on.

I'm hunting through the stickied "Service Manuals" thread without luck,
though I'm hoping to find a similar model that will have something about the gauges.

The bike is idling around 2k pretty much all the time,
and the previous owner said he never used the choke.

Does that sound normal?

Also, do you think there's any chance the mounting hardware off the GL145
will fit on the back of the NZ250 for a plastic carrier box thing?

I appreciate the help. Cheers.

[JimO]

i bought his manual, but sold it with the bike