bogan
12th May 2010, 17:52
So I had to make a custom tach dial for one of my project bikes, the ease and cheapness at which I did it surprised me :D
New dial was printed at Speedy Signs (PN) for $15 (was in with another order so may have been cheaper cos of that).
Step 1)
Take apart dial, pry round and round the folded over seam and the cover glass will just pop off. Flick needle onto the other side of its pin stop at 0 and mark where it rests (you need to put it back to the same place to set the spring preload correctly), Pry needle off (a fork works well). Unscrew and remove current faceplate.
Step 2)
Measure plate and draw up new version, did mine in vector format as thats what the signage places like. New format is just a black overlay to mask the light. Remember to mark holes for the screws and needle as the signage place can cut these out.
Step 3)
Sand faceplate back to clear plastic, I went down to a 2000grit but it doesnt have to be too great as it just has to allow light through it.
Step 4)
Stick new overlay onto the now blank dial (get it right cos you only get one shot :P) to get the colors for different digits or whatever, find some transparent vinyl and stick it on the back of the faceplate, don't have to worry about cutting them too accurately as the masking layer takes care of that.
Step 5)
Reassemble!
I'm kinda at step 6 with mine as the blue transparent vinyl I got wasn't transparent enough with the standard lighting so I've ditched the blue transparency and will just replace the standard lights with blue LEDs (I don't need no stinking redline btw :D)
New dial was printed at Speedy Signs (PN) for $15 (was in with another order so may have been cheaper cos of that).
Step 1)
Take apart dial, pry round and round the folded over seam and the cover glass will just pop off. Flick needle onto the other side of its pin stop at 0 and mark where it rests (you need to put it back to the same place to set the spring preload correctly), Pry needle off (a fork works well). Unscrew and remove current faceplate.
Step 2)
Measure plate and draw up new version, did mine in vector format as thats what the signage places like. New format is just a black overlay to mask the light. Remember to mark holes for the screws and needle as the signage place can cut these out.
Step 3)
Sand faceplate back to clear plastic, I went down to a 2000grit but it doesnt have to be too great as it just has to allow light through it.
Step 4)
Stick new overlay onto the now blank dial (get it right cos you only get one shot :P) to get the colors for different digits or whatever, find some transparent vinyl and stick it on the back of the faceplate, don't have to worry about cutting them too accurately as the masking layer takes care of that.
Step 5)
Reassemble!
I'm kinda at step 6 with mine as the blue transparent vinyl I got wasn't transparent enough with the standard lighting so I've ditched the blue transparency and will just replace the standard lights with blue LEDs (I don't need no stinking redline btw :D)