Improving stock gauge lighting

[M.B Co]

Let's face it, the single 194 bulb is not very bright let alone being in an old vintage gauge. Will be switching to a high powered multi LED 194 Base Bulb. has anyone modified the stock gauge face to let more light come through? I've done it to faces on cars. Pretty sure it will work on these.

I'll update this thread as my progress continues.


Untitled by MBCo, on Flickr

 

[Sonreir]

I've done the modifications. I swapped over to an LED bulb like you planned, but I also sprayed the inside of the gauge housing in gloss white. The extra reflection really helped.

 

[Sonreir]

Here's the gauge with the LED bulb and before the white interior paint:

 

[M.B Co]

That's a great idea, didn't think of painting it white. Did you use a simple white spray paint?

From the picture looks like a White LED, correct?

 

[Sonreir]

Yup. Just clean the inside really well, mask it off, and spray with Rustoleum.

The LED is white, yes.

 

[SONICJK]

Someone enlighten me as to why more light is a good thing?

No offense meant sonreir, its way cool, but why the hell would anyone want that on their bike?
I want my gauges as dim as humanly possible to be readable.

The brighter the gauge (especially with white light ) the worse your night vision is going to be.
I wire resistors into my gauges so that when I'm riding they are barely noticeable.
My DCC gauges that came with LED's were unbearably bright to the tune of I used to ride with my helmet pulled up far enough to block them from my eyes.

The only thing that bothered me about the stock gauges was the bulb placement made the lighting uneven, which pieed off my OCD side.

 

[M.B Co]

Someone enlighten me as to why more light is a good thing?

No offense meant sonreir, its way cool, but why the hell would anyone want that on their bike?
I want my gauges as dim as humanly possible to be readable.

The brighter the gauge (especially with white light ) the worse your night vision is going to be.
I wire resistors into my gauges so that when I'm riding they are barely noticeable.
My DCC gauges that came with LED's were unbearably bright to the tune of I used to ride with my helmet pulled up far enough to block them from my eyes.

The only thing that bothered me about the stock gauges was the bulb placement made the lighting uneven, which pieed off my OCD side.

I get where you are coming from. But from the angle where I sit and how my gauge is it's hard to read. With an improvement in brightness all I have to do is glance quickly to see the mph. Before I would have to "guess" where the needle lies because it was so dim. For me, anything to do with LED's is cool and it will be a subtle modification that I'll feel good about that unless it's turned on and if you knew about...would get noticed.

Details, all the little details count IMO

 

[Sonreir]

All of my night riding is done in and around cities. I need the gauges brighter in order to be able to see them at all. Night vision doesn't apply too much in my case.

I suspect taking off my tinted visor might help though, too. Gotta try that one of these days.

 

[M.B Co]

All of my night riding is done in and around cities. I need the gauges brighter in order to be able to see them at all. Night vision doesn't apply too much in my case.

I suspect taking off my tinted visor might help though, too. Gotta try that one of these days.

Ha, ya my tinted visor didn't help much either.

Off topic, I'll send you a PM about a harness. I'm 1/2 way done with mine but I have ZERO time to sit and complete it.