Gauge restore.

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dartfreak75

dartfreak75

Restore it, Dont part it!
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Hey I was cleaning and prepping my gauge bezel and noticed one of my gauge hands is broke off. How hard is it to disassemble and replace a single gauge? I hadn't planned on taking it apart but I would like to fix it. While it's open I may as well repaint all the hands they are really faded. What the best way to refresh the gauge faces? I looked up new gauges the oer ones are extremely expensive I may be better off trying to find a parts cluster. I have a extra bezel none of the gauges are any good they are all missing hands.
 
dartfreak75 said:
Hey I was cleaning and prepping my gauge bezel and noticed one of my gauge hands is broke off. How hard is it to disassemble and replace a single gauge? I hadn't planned on taking it apart but I would like to fix it. While it's open I may as well repaint all the hands they are really faded. What the best way to refresh the gauge faces? I looked up new gauges the oer ones are extremely expensive I may be better off trying to find a parts cluster. I have a extra bezel none of the gauges are any good they are all missing hands.
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Drop the steering wheel down a little bit so you don't break the bottom of the instrument cluster plastic and pull that puppy ate out and do some investigatin.
 
j par said:
Drop the steering wheel down a little bit so you don't break the bottom of the instrument cluster plastic and pull that puppy ate out and do some investigatin.
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Sorry I was unclear the instrument cluster is already removed from the dash. I mean the actual disassembly of the cluster itself. How hard is it to take apart and put back together.
 
dartfreak75 said:
Sorry I was unclear the instrument cluster is already removed from the dash. I mean the actual disassembly of the cluster itself. How hard is it to take apart and put back together.
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Take apart your Legos and put them back the same way. The same way you always have.
 
j par said:
Take apart your Legos and put them back the same way. The same way you always have.
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10-4 thanks buddy. I found a parts cluster on Ebay I may try to get it and try to take it apart first Haha. What's the best way to repaint the face and hands?
 
dartfreak75 said:
10-4 thanks buddy. I found a parts cluster on Ebay I may try to get it and try to take it apart first Haha. What's the best way to repaint the face and hands?
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I don't remember that's kind of what I did I've have like a few of them and I've taken them all apart and kind of try to put all the best parts in my good one. I know none of it seems to work LOL and then again I'm just now trying to make some of it work. Back then I was just trying to get this text nice also and I can't remember any painting that I did but I did remember replacing some old rusty gages with some nicer ones.
 
Do you happen to know the size of the twist lock holders that the bulbs go into? I looked them up there is three sizes showing 3/8 1/2 & 5/8 I'm pretty sure its not 5/8s
 
dartfreak75 said:
Do you happen to know the size of the twist lock holders that the bulbs go into? I looked them up there is three sizes showing 3/8 1/2 & 5/8 I'm pretty sure its not 5/8s
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really not a clue but I might be in there this morning myself I'm currently digging into a blinker issue I have had for the entire time I've had the car like they never worked lol
 
Have never seen the bulb holders come in "sizes". Your options- for most gauges a decal can be bought to go over your gauge face to freshen up the look. I have used a red fluorescent paint to brush on the hands.
 
Murray said:
Have never seen the bulb holders come in "sizes". Your options- for most gauges a decal can be bought to go over your gauge face to freshen up the look. I have used a red fluorescent paint to brush on the hands.
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Thanks I will look into it.
 
Like these!! I'm still a little concerned about opening up my cluster. I know how fragile those little hands are how do you get them off without bending them to put the decal down?

Screenshot_20180929-203559_eBay.jpg
 
I'm in the middle of doing this now. I removed the clear lens by taking a solder iron and de nibbing the little plastic tabs that are holding it on. I also painted the needles with Testors florescent orange model paint. My white face overlay will be here later this week. First photo is before the painted needles
20181001_194839.jpg
20181001_205445.jpg
 
Nice paint on those hands. Do not try to paint the surface or numbers, decal is the way to go if needed. I use a pencil eraser (slow and careful) on the numbers of the gauges to freshen them up. You have to be careful not to rub the black with the rubber, just use the edge of the eraser. you will have to replace the gauge with the broken hand. Hope this helps
 
^^ I like the eraser trick. I'll need to try it before the overlay to see how it works.
 
I think the needles pull straight off the end of the shaft?
 
I just take the kleenex and poke a small hole in it with a pen, then slide it over the needle all the way down, spray it with your bright orange spray paint, let it dry 15 minutes and pull the tissue off. Comes out beautiful.
 
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