Cleaning Gauges

[neophyteguy]

My temperature, fuel, charging instrument cluster (and my speedometer to come to think of it) are both dirty inside the gauges. The combo cluster actually has a rubber ring has moved inside.

I would like to take these apart and clean them. Can anyone tell me how to do this?

Cheers,
Ronnie

[d@rk51d3]

I was contemplating the same thing for my 2a.

If you do get them open, be carefull with the gauge faces.

I remember pulling one gauge apart (cant remember for which vehicle) years ago, to give it a wipe over............... the face wiped right off.:eek:

[Sleepy]

As d@rk51d3 has said, be careful. I took the glass off my Speedo (just rotate the ring and it lifts off) I cleaned the face gently with a clean, dry, soft paint brush - no need for any solvent or cleaner. Came up really well.
P.S. I'd love to know where to get a replacement rubber gasket - it was very perished - just put it back best I could!

[neophyteguy]

Thanks guys!

The main issue with both of mine is they have dirt inside.........So really just want to give the glass a clean and see how they come up.

The combination gauge looks like it is held in with some type of putty. I started trying to get it off, but wasnt sure if I really needed to scrape that off in order to get inside?

I'll try to simply twist the glass and trim ring off tomorrow.......Good luck to me!

Ronnie

[strangy]

Hi, use a soft bristle brush (modellers type) do not use cleaning solutions, as these can leave marks and damage or alter the finnish.

A soft fine cloth, such as old cotton undies (dont grab SWMBO's nickers)
be careful not to catch these on the needles.

Some compressed air at low pressure is also good. If you dont have a compressor you can buy a can of compressed air at some computer / office supply stores. (used for cleaning computer equipment etc.

cheers

Mark








h

[JDNSW]

The rim is, as stated, removed by turning the bezel until the turned over tabs on the bezel line up with the notches in the rim of the speedo body. The problem is that there is a rubber ring between the speedo and the dash, and another between the bezel and the speedo. Both of these may have changed to goo. Carefully scrape off as much as you can, and then try various solvents such as thinners or turps on the the scrapings. Use whatever softens them to help get it off, but be careful not to get any on the face of the speedo, as it will probably take the paint off. Doesn't matter if you take the paint off the bezel or the speedo body, as both are easily repainted while it is apart.

If necessary the speedo works are easily removed from the case after the bezel is off. The needle can be carefully pulled straight off, but carefully mark the fragile aluminium disc (fine ink marker, no pressure) so it can be replaced in the right position. The face can then be removed if necessary, don't lose the very small screws.

The gauge cluster is assembled similarly.

You should be able to find suitable rubber rings in the form of O-rings from your local bearing suppliers.

John

[foz.in.oz]

I've just removed the bezel on my combo gauge. It was all gummed up with the remnants of the o-ring and I couldn't turn the bezel, so I carefully prized the tabs open a little bit to free things up. Now it's apart and clean and looking good but I need new o-rings. Where can I get these?

[dandlandyman]

Normal o'rings from someone like SKF or CBC or their ilk will work. When I did mine years ago, I stripped the copper out of insulated wire and used that plastic. It's still there... One upside (if you were so easily amused) is that it's available in a range of attractive colours...

Dan.
69 2A 88" pet4, 74 3 109" pet4, 68 2B FC pet6.

[Enigma]

I took my guages out to replace a broken glass and the rubber ring disintegrated. However it seem similar in size to o rings used on my wifes 94 318 BMW oil filter housing. It was a little fatter but worked fine. You get these o rings for every filter change. My BMW dealer supplied several used rings for free as they only ended up in the garbage.

Cheers John

[JDNSW]

I took my guages out to replace a broken glass and the rubber ring disintegrated. However it seem similar in size to o rings used on my wifes 94 318 BMW oil filter housing. It was a little fatter but worked fine. You get these o rings for every filter change. My BMW dealer supplied several used rings for free as they only ended up in the garbage.

Cheers John

Yes, I did not mention it - the ones in my 2a are actually the second hand O-rings from the oil filter on the 110! But new ones should cost no more than a couple of dollars.

John