Face of Speedo - are numbers translucent?

[MarkT]

I just installed some bright red LED lights in the instruments, on Jade (tourer)  I note that doesn't help much because the numerals and scale tend to wash out.  I suspect light is coming through them from the back.  Has anyone had the speedo face off, to see if light comes through the numbers?  I'm thinking if it is, and I can get the face off, I'll paint the back side of it to make the numbers opaque.  The problem is more pronounced on the speedo. Less on the tach. Also the latter, has the redline area, transmitting LOTS of light through the scale.  OK with that.  While the numbers remain darker than the speedo. Comments?

[gordonv]

I was wondering if a different color works better, like green?

[MarkT]

One rider did a test of several colors not long ago - blue looked best in that test.  But the numerals are black. So color shouldn't matter as far as the numerals are concerned. So I chose red  because it preserves night vision; is used by the military for that reason.  I'll get it to work one way or the other.  The question is, will that be with help from the community?  So far - no.  I've ordered blue LEDs in.  I can also vary the intensity with resistors or even a rheostat if I get ambitious.

[98valk]

are not the early yrs the color is green and the later yrs they went with orange?

I have a '98, I just put white LEDs in, http://www.ebay.com/itm/330619289961?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT,  lights up green, actually these new ones are brighter than the pic, ODO can be seen easily and most of the time of day washout is gone, but still there.

 I had cool white which gives a bluish white color which I want but can't find ones bright enough at a decent price.

[Blackduck]

Looks like  the light does come through the numerals,
went to check mine as I have a Blue in the speedo and plain in the tach.
Blues not working so I have another item for tomorrows service day.
Will have a good look while I have it apart.

[MarkT]

I ordered some other colors.  White and blacklight.  When I get some time, check to see if light comes through the numerals and if blocking it helps (with a piece of tape first).  What lumens work well - what bulb and resistor if needed. We'll get this figured out.  Too bad we have to do Honda's engineering for them.  

[Tx Bohemian]

I know what you mean!!

Wish I could help you MarkT as I also had concerns about the speedo/tach readability. Especially at twilight, it seems to wash out and pretty much useless.

My faces on my '99 Standard are off white and the numbers/scales are light gray which, IMO, isn't enough contrast. Plus I don't have the best eyesight anymore.

I've contacted a company that said they can make faces pretty much whatever you want, like different colors, pictures, etc...  A few guys from the Volusia site got them and spoke highly of them.

I was thinking about getting black faces with white letters at first but then kicked the idea about putting a couple of cool pictures of Dragons on them.  I couldn't decide and eventually dropped it.
I'm not sure what it takes to replace the faces but, the way I look at it, someone put the speedo/tach together so it can be done.

My life changed a bit to where I don't ride near as much as I'd like to and, with that, very seldom at night so it's not big of a deal anymore.

Unfortunately this past Sunday we did get caught riding into the night for a bit (time change and all) and, sure enough, I couldn't see my speed for about 30 minutes until it got totally dark.

Good luck with your venture. I'll keep an eye on this hoping you'll come across a fix.

[MarkT]

OK have the answers.  The numerals and scale are translucent.  Transmit green if you give it white light.  I bought a bunch of different color wedge 194-type LED "bulbs".  All have 5 emitters - 1 up and 4 out every 90°.  Colors I tried are red, blue, ultraviolet, and white. Didn't try green because the numerals and scale being green, that would eliminate the contrast if the face is also lit up green.  The gauges are definitely set up to favor white.  I got all the bulbs from Super Bright Leds at https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-led-bulb-5-smd-led-tower-miniature-wedge-retrofit-car/206/#/tab/Reviews

The bulbs are rated at 5500-11000mcd depending on color (except the UV, much less).  The white ones I settled on  are 8000mcd or 75lumins.  FAR brighter than the incandescent OEMs, and they will never burn out.  Going with white - I don't see any need to adjust the brightness unless I decide to later after they soak in use awhile.  Makes it easy - just plug n play, no need to wire in a resistor, pot, or experiment to discover the appropriate ohms.  

Here's the best color - white, has slight blue tint.  This is taken with the 300w overhead shop light on - not in the dark and they are well illuminated internally.

[Valkorado]

Looks really good, Mark!   

[indybobm]

I would like to see how bright they are in a dark shop. Looks good.

[MarkT]

I don't have any manual cameras anymore.  These automatics  overexpose the meters in order to raise the average light level in a dark room. So what I will get is long exposures, washed out instruments, the room looking about the same but everything smeared unless I use a tripod or brace the camera - not representative of what your eye sees. I photographed with the lights on here, to show the new illumination is plenty bright, should handle the twilight problem of the OEM lighting.  After I use this for a bit I will decide if further adjustment is needed and if so will likely install a pot as a dimmer.  On Deerslayer I installed a "night switch" that turned off the meter lights until nightime.  That fixed the twilight problem as well, as the numerals and scale appeared black instead of disappearing against the meter face when twilight matched the light from the back coming through the numerals. Then switch it on after the twilight time. I use the same circuit to trigger the relays that light up the 350 LED's positioned all over the bike.

[MarkT]

I had to pull my tank anyway to do some fuel system tweaks, so I went ahead and installed a pot to dial up/down the instrument lights.  Had the right pot on hand; like to do chromatherapy until I get it perfect.  Actually I tend to look for projects as for me, like Tim Allen it's Quality Time in the shop with My Baby.  Put the pot right below the fuel selector so I can reach and turn it easily with gloves on.

[Lyonardo]

I had to pull my tank anyway to do some fuel system tweaks, so I went ahead and installed a pot to dial up/down the instrument lights.  Had the right pot on hand; like to do chromatherapy until I get it perfect.  Actually I tend to look for projects as for me, like Tim Allen it's Quality Time in the shop with My Baby.  Put the pot right below the fuel selector so I can reach and turn it easily with gloves on.

I've got some days off coming up and I think this is my next project. The lights look too bright for night time so a pot is probably a good idea. Thanks for posting. Ordering the parts now.
L