wtb tach needle

Looking for a tach needle for a 650 maxim.

 

You can fix it ... you just need to put your Precision Hat on.
Mask the face of the Speedo of Tach with some Tissue under Aluminum Foil followed by some Paper towel.
Protect the Gauge Face from being contaminated in any way!

Get some 5-Minute Epoxy.
Epoxy a Tooth Pick to the underside of the fragment.
Just under the butt-end and hold it perfectly straight until the Epoxy cures and the Tooth Pick becomes part of the former indicator that broke-off.

Next.
Mix a SMALL amount of Epoxy and use another Tooth Pick to "Coat" the glued-on Toothpick.
Build-up a nice "Bead" of Epoxy from the break to the tip of the glued-on Tooth Pick.
Cover the repair with a coat that will built-up and form the new Speedo Needle.

While the repair bead is ALMOST cured and still a little bit flexible ... nip-off the end with a pair of fingernail clippers to the correct length.
Leave it alone after using a Razor Blade to remove any Epoxy that starts to drip-off and fall on to the paper towel.

In other words ... clean-up and "Shape" the underside ... flat.

When it's done getting fully cured ... do a final shaping and "Roughing-up" of the surface with a brand new Emery Board. Your wife should have plenty.

Once you have finally shaped and lightly sanded the surface ... paint it.

Get the paint from a Hobby Shop in the "Testors" (Trademark Brand) Paint Rack.

The matching Red is: "Italian Red"
An alternative Needle indicator color is: Florescent Yellow.

While you are at the Hobby Shop; pick-up a tiny paint brush (Artist type) to use putting-on the paint over the repair job.

Don't try to get the repaired Needle painted all in one sitting.
Apply a first coat.
Let completely dry.
Emery board out any "Pulls or wrinkles"
Apply second coat.
The second coat might do the trick.

If it needs a third coat ... wait for the second coat to dry.

New Speedo of Tach Needle Indicator.
Cost: 10 Bucks or so!

Change the Bulb colors to anything that is available with pre-colored bulbs.
Red, Blue and Orange are nice.

Take your time and do a nice job.
Wipe the Bulb Holders with a Q-Tip soaked in Armoral.

PS: A two-tone Indicator with the tip painted a different color than the needle body is trick.

Additionally:
Use some 3M Vinyl Masking of Vinyl Electrical Tape to mash-off the Red Line area of the tach and add a real Red Line to the tach.
(Testors #1231 Enamel ~ Bright Red)

http://scalemodeldb.com/paintcharts/testors

 

Rick...
The video game youth is sure missing out. Seems like we were raised the same, to improvise and figure out a way. I would rather spend the ten dollars on epoxy and paint...

 

BTW...not directed at you Jeishen. Just random thought...

 

Thanks Rick. I will give that a shot. Sounds like an interesting project. Johnstone no offense taken. I knew it wasnt meant as a dig.

 

See also:

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... eedle.html

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15303.html