1985 Gold Wing Limited Altimeter

[adadkins]

My Wing has an Altimeter above my Temp and Volt Meter. How exactly does it work? I am also looking for the plastic piece that fits over them. Mine is cracked. Am afraid if I remove and glue it, it might not fit back on properly.

Thanks

Alan

[AZgl1800]

All Altimeters work on Barometric Pressure

That is one of the basic flight instruments in an airplane, any airplane including the latest Boeing 787

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altimeter

[redbug]

How it works is that it senses barometric pressures and as the pressure changes it moves the needle mounted in a bourdon tube behind the meter. It operates 24-7 and requires no power.

To set the altimeter locate a know location as the air port which in Peru is 682ft . Or down load app to your phone for alt.Then turn the black knob to align the known feet to the needle. So as you ride towards say hoosier hill (1257ft) needle should rise.

Do you mean a plastic cover for the altimeter (lens). Look under the black knob and see if there is a nut,if so Gently pull the black knob off remove nut and lens should come out, unless the meter assembly was installed into the case and the leading edge was rolled over onto the lens to seal it. Now if you meant a plastic cover to cover all the gauges, got me on that one. Hope this helps lets us know ....

[adadkins]

Thanks for your reply. It helps a lot.

Alan

[redial]

As it works on air pressure, you should know your altitude and the air pressure at that time of setting. Be aware of a high pressure (usually still air), and low pressure (when storms or rain). You should be able to follow the weather maps for your area to find a fairly neutral day.

[WingAdmin]

As a reference, the Wing altimeter uses a sealed metal tube behind the instrument, and this, compared to ambient barometric pressure, is used to derive the altitude. However...after 30 years, many of these tubes have been bent, damaged, developed pinholes, etc. and therefore have lost their seal and the unit no longer works. Before you go restoring the thing, you might want to make sure it actually works.

Look at the "altitude" it shows on a bright sunny day. Then leave it sitting - the next rainy day you have, go look at it again. If it shows that the altitude has gone up (because barometric pressure has gone down) then you can be reasonably sure it is still working. If it hasn't changed at all, then it is most likely not working, and has lost that seal.