Cleaning Gauges - '78 GL1000

[KenoshaGoldwing]

Is there a way to clean the gauges on this bike? Where the actual information is conveyed is clear, but the words have turned a dark brown/red. I pulled the cluster out, but they seem to be completely sealed. Any thoughts?

[Placerville]

Is there a way to clean the gauges on this bike? Where the actual information is conveyed is clear, but the words have turned a dark brown/red. I pulled the cluster out, but they seem to be completely sealed. Any thoughts?

I'm not sure what you mean by, "Where the actual information conveyed is clear, but the words have turned a dark brown/red." If you're saying that the gauge faces i.e. the speedo and tach faces, are in poor condition and you want to clean them, the answer is, that's not the problem. Cleaning the gauge faces won't work. They don't get dirty, they get old and distorted and they need to be replaced. To do that, the top and bottom sections of the gauges have to be separated and that's not easy to do. You first have to remove the ring by either cutting it or prying it up from the bottom all the way around. After the gauges are apart, you have to install new faces. If you think you want to attempt this, re-post and I'll direct you to some sources. But, if you want to leave it up to someone who's an expert at it, I'd go here.

[KenoshaGoldwing]

Sorry about that - I meant the lower gauge cluster - fuel, temp and voltage. 1000 pardons.

[Placerville]

OK, gotcha. I'm going to defer to a '78 owner on this one as I have no experience with the fuel, temp and voltage gauges on that year GL. If no one comes back with something definitive, I'd still contact Pistol Pete at the link above.

[KenoshaGoldwing]

Thanks much. I am going to let it ride, as I have never ceased to be amazed at the knowledge on this forum. Guaranteed someone out there has perfected this, or knows of someone who has.

[KenoshaGoldwing]

Any other thoughts? I pulled the gauges and it seems that they are sealed tight. Might not be a solution to this.

[WingAdmin]

What I will sometimes do in a situation like that, where I have something that needs to be fixed, but I'm not sure I can fix it is, first buy another set online. Then I will do what I think will work to fix my original set. If it all goes wrong, I've still got an additional set to install and use - if it works great, I'll re-sell the back up set that I purchased.

In your case, I might try a dremel or other type of cutting tool to try to break up whatever adhesive bond is holding the things together, then after repairing/refinishing the interiors, try to glue/bond it back together.

Or...just get another set online and swap them outright.