Gauge Cluster LED install - XB12Ss

[kajer]

Parts

Remove the nut holding the flasher relay, and only that nut. Lift that side out of the rubber grommet and the other side should slide right out. Unplug the connector.

Enjoy!



The stock light bulbs turn about an 1/8th of a turn counter clockwise, and lift out... LED polarity matters, so pay attention to which end is the anode and cathode. or just make frequent trips back to the bike to make sure they are the right direction.



Unscrew ALL for the screws.

Put it back in the way you took it out.

 

[JOEL9]

what does this mod. do? make the gauges brighter[confused]

 

[LVsleeper]

great write up, could we get some shots of the cluster with the lights installed and on so we get an idea of how the LEDs splash light from the backside

 

[kajer]

Not as impressive as I was hoping for. And as a side note, the Neutral light never goes out anymore. It's either bright, or really bright. I havn't figured out what I need to to to prevent this. And yes, I tried replacing the neutral light with an orig. bulb, and it's the same behavior. So, It's all LED or nothing. Well, it was $12 worth of parts from ASB. I'm not too impressed.

 

[LVsleeper]

Thanks for the shots, I'm still considering other options.

 

[JOEL9]

thanks for all 3 of your posts kajer[up]. great write up and pics.

 

[Buellysses]

Odd for the neutral light to stay on all the time... You may want to pull the gauges apart again, there should be shrouds around all the indicator lights to prevent them from glowing from other light sources. Maybe the one for the neutral fell off or moved somehow?

The problem with LED's is that they have a very low projection angle, usually around 60-90 degrees, as compared to an incandescent that has a much more dispersed light. When I did LED's in my car I took a 400 grit sandpaper and roughed up the lenses on the LEDs. That really helped cut down on the light and dark spots in the gauge cluster, like the spots you have under the "1" and "7" on the tach.

 

[sk8ace]

Good tip Buellysses! I will have to remember that if I decide to work with LED's.

Those really bright circles would start to bug me eventually.. At least you can easily see when you are getting close to the redline! haha

 

[Miss_Buell]

The leds sold buy ABS are a little too high compared to the stock lights and it creates spots because the led lights touch the dashboard.

Use wet sanding, let's say 400-600 grain and take off a little material off the led bulbs.

The sanding is also recommended by ABS.

 

[XBtwelveR]

I know this is an old thread but has any body considered using these?

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=/instrument.html

I am thinking about the SMD ones that are really low profile. They also have a wide angle of light.

 

[ervin067]

Here is a pic of mine. The picture is kinda crappy, but it was takin in my garage in the pitch black (other than the headlight that was on). It is defiantly darker than stock, but still visable.

 

[XBtwelveR]

Ervin, what type of LEDs did you use?

 

[ervin067]

I used the Type A Neo Wedge LED's - Price 1.49 each. Part Number 79609-S5A-003

I actually switched it from red to blue last night.. and the blue is more of a teal. So I am still considering other options. They have a few different types of bulbs on that site, so I may pick up a different kind to try out.

http://autolumination.com/74.htm