Second Generation Ascots > Tech Section

Temperature gauge on cluster no longer works - 84 VT500

<< < (3/3)

RobertP:
There were so many little details I would do without even thinking in this sort of process, Yes I did remove the entire cluster and take it out of its black case, as the wire terminals on the back have small nuts & washers on them. That means removing the trip meter knob off the left side, using a small (Jewellers phillips screw driver). I just had a look to confirm this as I currently have it off again (for good) as I am retro fitting  a complete new assembly Off a 2007 VTR250, all gauges and dash including lights, currently in the process of replacing all the black square plastic stuff with nice shiny rounded chrome including headlight, indicators and brackets. If you are just replacing with an original OEM gauge movement then it should be simple, just take your time, remember or even write down each step you do, keep things in order. There are lots of little nuts, bolts washers and screws so good to keep them in little separate boxes. There are 8 little Allen head screws holding the front on the box, these need to come out and as they are old bikes if they have not been removed recently they may be a little tight, so just grit your teeth and give some force they will free up, when they are out you can clean up the threads and apply any sort of lube/grease to ensure they do not bind up. There is a white rubber gasket between the front and the box /Gauges, this sometimes deteriorates and start to fall apart and sticks to one or the other so just be careful, maybe use a small screwdriver to ply it away from gauges as it is removed. Cheers and good luck.
Feel free to ask more questions, mine is out at the moment and I can have a look. I check my messages every morning here, you may even want to email Robert_piper@bigpond.com might be quicker if it suits. I have attached a pic of what I am installing.

JACoH:
Hey RobertP, where did you find the cluster assembly in the attached pic? It says Honda on it, so the cables should hook up OK, I see it is KPH, tho. My cluster looks like it went over a cliff, and the needle is missing off the tach side, although I am thinking of using one off of a humidity gauge.

RobertP:
I know what you mean about the gauges deterioration, both my pointers fell apart (I made new ones out of a can of Canadian Club) and the temp gauge broke in half amongst other things.
I got the gauge off either ebay or Aliexpress ( I could go back and check) just search for "Honda 2004 VTR250 gauges" there are many sellers in China, I bought the cheapest ($91.00 AUD) and the only reason I got this one is because it has the look/style I want.
WARNING ! it maybe for a honda but a completely different animal than our Ascot. It is NOT "Plug & Play".
The only thing that plugs straight in is the speedo cable. I am still installing so it has not been road tested, I am confident it will all work once I have completed the job.
It is in KPH because that is what we use here in Australia (and is required by Law) so it suits me.
The tacho does not work. As the Ascot is mech driven tach, that has to be done away with. This new tach turns out (after extensive testing) to be a simple 0-12VDC meter (which do not read a tach/sig frequency), I can only conclude the VTR250 sig is connected to a CPU which inturn sends a DC 0-12V to the meter. So I purchased another cheap ($14) retro Café 2" tacho off ebay ( these work of the ign/spark signal), pulled everything apart and transplanted the movement from one to the other.
This is just the start, then there is the temp gauge and all the wiring/lights issues, a lot of re-wiring had to be done to get every thing to work. Then all the mods and bracket fabrication to the triple clamp to make it fit in the right position, all that will have to be another post.
So unfortunately, this gauge set is wack it in and connect a plug, there is a lot of work if you are prepared to.
Maybe the instruments from a VT500C as they are the same bike but the old retro style might be for you.
I hope this helps, cheers, I will post more when it is up and running.

osharke:
Quick follow-up, the replacement temperature sensor 37450-MF8-0080 worked like a charm. It wasn't all that bad to replace, just as Robert indicated take your time and mark everything --- especially as I was in unknown territory.  I was very luck to find a brand new part in North Carolina of all places. On that note, don't (if you can't help it) buy a used one from a junk yard. I tried that and it just didn't work. If you need a new one, I believe CMSNL (Europe) still has them.

Yes my "little red" is fully operation again. Life is good!

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page