winter projects: gauge faces

jvandyke · Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:00 pm Post subject: winter projects: gauge faces

I need to address;
fork seals/boots
brake pads
stiff clutch
petcock seal
needle and seat

BUT
I WANT to redo the gauge faces. I've done this to a few cars and worked well. Hoping to tear gauges down and scan plate, recreate in software, print and apply. Thoughts?

tory · Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:45 pm Post subject:

Just one thought.
If you do them in white,maybe make two sets. Wink

jvandyke · Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:49 pm Post subject:

That is a real possibility, the white. That's what I've done to my cars, made white faces for them. Turned out really good. These should be easy. I was going to go OEM green but I can make you some white ones if you want, any color really.

jvandyke · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:25 am Post subject:

got gauge off, crimp rings pryed open (PITA-I used a miniature pry bar and some weird little tool sitting on my work bench (I think it was meant to pry open paint can lids).) faces removed and scanned. Still not sure if I want to go with OEM green or white.
This article was right on target! Click me! Need to learn how to color hyperlinks

What'dya think? White or keep it "stock"?
Click link above for a view of white.
Here's mine, sun cracked and faded.

I'll get started on the process of recreating this digitally. If anyone wants some I'd happy to send out the finished file or print some off and snail mail em. I plan on photo paper from a color laser printer, UV shouldn't be a problem I think the paper and toner is okay although I have some UV resistant fixative it may be wise to zap it with first.

jvandyke · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 2:08 pm Post subject:

early progress, lots of work to do yet but I think I've got the color pretty good, not knowing how the green looked pre-fade though. Was it brighter?

Rizingson · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 4:45 pm Post subject:

My guess is the original was darker green.

MR.CHocko · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 4:48 pm Post subject:

You got the CB550 green. The 1976 750 and Goldwings had a very bright green, which was made only for that year.

jvandyke · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:16 pm Post subject:

The color get's hosed on the web pages, it actually matches the scan very closely and is darker than it appears here. I will tweak it until it's good. I'll probably just flip the faces over since they're symmetrical and put my faces on the smooth even colored back side, back is same very dark green so it looks like the front didn't change color much in the sun.
What's up with the "over paint" looks and feels like the numbers were gone over twice, maybe luminous paint?

jvandyke · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 12:57 pm Post subject:

getting there, here's an self healing version.
quicktime movie

jvandyke · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:39 am Post subject:

pretty much done, bit jagged on the tach warning zone, does that orange look close? mine are so faded I can't tell
some of the hash marks are a tad skewed yet and the Nippon Seiki is a little crooked yet. I have NO skills at this, just tenacity
PDF file of 3 sets

jayel · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:25 am Post subject:

if you save/post your images as png. files they won't blur/fade out like jpegs do

jvandyke · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:34 am Post subject:

I use a desktop publishing software (Pages on a Mac). No png output, could convert it twice I suppose but I don't know. If anyone else wants the file to make something out of and it's not good enough as pdf, I'm willing to try whatever format, or just print some off and snail mail them too.

jvandyke · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 4:32 pm Post subject:

printed on photo paper via color laser, put together but not "done". Redid needle tips with glow orange.
look a ton better to me. Have touch up the black housings yet. Maybe the warning zone on the tach should have been more pinkish red?

sparkyduc · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 4:57 pm Post subject: gauge faces

On the 350s &450s con you get the gauges apart?

jvandyke · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 8:53 pm Post subject:

They have to come apart somehow. My 500 has a crimp ring that doesn't look like it should come apart and you have to mangle it (at least the backside) to get it apart but they say you can recrimp it satisfactorily with pliers. I hope so!