Can't find instrument post - help!

[David Reilly]

Recently I saw an exellent post on cleaning Smiths intruments/guages ... now I cannot find it.
Can anyone help?
Thanks
David

[Jose]

in this forum? or somewhere else?

if this forum, Glyn wrote something related to gauges. Look in Interior.

[Glyn Ruck]

I did a brief post on my car thread.

http://www.jagstyperegister.com/forum_n ... 1300#p1300

[David Reilly]

Thank you both.
That's it. Don't know why I couldnt find it.
I'm going to do the instruments in P1B79909DN in the new year. After intalling LEDs, can se how dusty they are inside after 52 years!
Cheers
Davcid

[Jose]

David, removing the black frame over the glass is very delicate and can cause the glass to crack.

this is because the glass has a seal between it and the frame which melts and becomes hardened, gluing itself.

then there are three Tabs that are bent over the gauge behind the frame, bending those to release the frame requires dentist's tools like different picks and small pliers. A thin knife also.

if you succeed bending those tabs out, then you need a strap tool around the frame to turn it and unstick it from the glass and gauge body.

I have done two gauges like above and it is a total pain. if you accidentally bend the indicator needle, the gauge becomes useless.

[Glyn Ruck]

You will be shocked at how dirty the interior of the glass actually is when you clean them (also suspect previous owner of my car was a smoker). The original seals were pipe seals & the seal tubing I had made is perfect in dimension to achieve the desired result. The trouble is that these gauges are not sealed at the back.

I did no bending of tabs ~ non is required. Just bayoneted off. (i.e. turn rings until tabs line up with slots & withdraw). I had plenty of spare instruments but did zero damage. Slight warming with a hairdryer helps & maybe a slight nudge with a small flat tipped screwdriver. (tip covered with masking tape)

BTW ~ Isopropyl Alcohol & Acetone are your friend cleaning up black residue. Just be careful working with them. They are not friendly to all surfaces.

I suppose something like WD40 could be used to aid the turning of a stubborn ring to line up the tabs with the slots but then you are going to have to clean off the oily residue afterwards.