Blackcat Custom Gauge faces (Installed)
10/29/12, 12:41 PM
#21
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I received the same gauge faces last week. I have a few questions if you don't mind...
The instructions that come with the gauge faces are different from the ones posted on their site or the method you used. They make a big point about how easy it is to damage the gauges and they recommend twisting the needles off but that concerns me. Did you have any trouble removing or replacing the needles?
I used an old trick I learned while working on my Gold Wing - stuff a cloth around the opening where you remove the screws so that when they inevitably drop, they land in the cloth and don't fall into the bowels of the dash. When I removed the screws, the top of the gauge package came loose but I wasn't quite sure how to wiggle the entire module loose. It seemed to be fastened at the bottom somehow. How did you get it out of the dash?
I'm giving serious thought to leaving the four center gauges with their stock backing because I prefer the less bold font and the range markings. Do you think it would be any problem to cut the OEM face panel between the gauges so that I could just install the speedometer and tachometer faces?
Finally, did you have much trouble with the adhesive? Did you have to use heat to remove the factory face? Did you have to add any more adhesive to attach the new face panels?
Thx.
The instructions that come with the gauge faces are different from the ones posted on their site or the method you used. They make a big point about how easy it is to damage the gauges and they recommend twisting the needles off but that concerns me. Did you have any trouble removing or replacing the needles?
I used an old trick I learned while working on my Gold Wing - stuff a cloth around the opening where you remove the screws so that when they inevitably drop, they land in the cloth and don't fall into the bowels of the dash. When I removed the screws, the top of the gauge package came loose but I wasn't quite sure how to wiggle the entire module loose. It seemed to be fastened at the bottom somehow. How did you get it out of the dash?
I'm giving serious thought to leaving the four center gauges with their stock backing because I prefer the less bold font and the range markings. Do you think it would be any problem to cut the OEM face panel between the gauges so that I could just install the speedometer and tachometer faces?
Finally, did you have much trouble with the adhesive? Did you have to use heat to remove the factory face? Did you have to add any more adhesive to attach the new face panels?
Thx.
There are two clips at the bottem that you really cant get to, just kinda wiggle it for a while and it should come off, i felt like i was going to break something, but it didnt happen.
You shouild be able to pretty easily use the stock middle gauges, they use the same holes. just cut the vinyal holding them to the two main gauges. Thankfully there is no adhesive, there is a tiny little notch at the top of some of the the needle holes (once you pull of the needles you'll see them)
10/29/12, 12:44 PM
#22
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Thanks for that information.
The adhesive I was asking about wasn't for the needles but for the faces themselves. Their instructions say that it may be necessary to heat up the gauges to loosen the adhesive to remove the factory faces and that you might need additional adhesive to stick on the new faces. Did you have any problems like that?
The adhesive I was asking about wasn't for the needles but for the faces themselves. Their instructions say that it may be necessary to heat up the gauges to loosen the adhesive to remove the factory faces and that you might need additional adhesive to stick on the new faces. Did you have any problems like that?
10/29/12, 01:59 PM
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I just noticed something else - your tach face doesn't have any redline indication. Mine has the tick marks from 6750 through 8000 in red. Did you special order without?
Last edited by WhiteBird00; 10/29/12 at 02:07 PM.
10/29/12, 04:19 PM
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Haha, I didnt even notice, put up a picture of yours, I wanna see what i'm missing out on. But no i didnt special order them like that. And yes, adhesive is not on either the needles or faceplates. just a couple itty bitty **** and such
10/29/12, 06:21 PM
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Haven't tried yet, I'll try tonight, had kinda a crazy weekend, my WHEC (ship) had to get underway because of a tsunami warning from this weekend. Ill post something if i get around to it, still got about 6 hours before the sun goes down here, so hopefully i'll have them up for you'all in the morning
10/30/12, 12:47 PM
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I still might, who knows, I do need to open it up again and fix my speedo. Who knows, I might wait until someone else does it to see the results and determine if its worth the effort to do again, lol
10/30/12, 12:59 PM
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10/30/12, 01:06 PM
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I don't think you can. You could use a tuner to fake it by changing the rear end ratio or tire size. You could probably get the speedometer fairly close but then your odometer would be off.
The vendor does custom work... maybe you could ask them if they can do a 140mph version for you.
The vendor does custom work... maybe you could ask them if they can do a 140mph version for you.
10/30/12, 02:25 PM
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I doubt it although I suppose you could use one of those speedometer adjustment boxes that adjust for gear ratio or tire size changes on cars that don't have tuners available. But I suspect that it would still cause odometer problems. I would certainly contact Black Cat Custom about getting a 140 mph version before I'd go messing with the speedometer. Personally, I would have preferred a 140mph speedometer since it's difficult to distinguish the tightly packed markings on the 160mph factory speedometer.
11/1/12, 04:21 PM
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Alright, so upon some further driving, I've come to the conclusion that my speedo is actaully about 4 mph fast, even with the needle resting below Zer0. I'm going to verify, but looking at my pictures i posted, i think the stock spacing dash angles are slightly off.
Like i said i want to check, but i figured i'd post about it
Like i said i want to check, but i figured i'd post about it
