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Author Topic: Gauges - Gas and water temperature  (Read 4103 times)

Offline AtLarge

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Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« on: April 24, 2022, 09:29:50 PM »
Are the OEM supposed to have a backlight?  Mine are not obviously.   :laughing1:  They work but, are pretty rough looking so, I am thinking about replacement.  Also, I searched the site and do not see where anyone has replaced the original units with aftermarket digital.  Anyone tried it and / or suggestions?  TIA.
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  • IA
  • 1994 K1100RS
1973 Honda CL70-K3, 1975 Kawasaki 350 F9-C, 1994 BMW K1100RS, 2023 Honda CRF300L Rally ABS

Offline frankenduck

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2022, 10:21:10 PM »
I run these in all of my Ks:

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Offline Laitch

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2022, 11:22:44 PM »
Quote from: AtLarge on April 24, 2022, 09:29:50 PM
I . . . do not see where anyone has replaced the original units with aftermarket digital.
That's likely because the BMW fuel level sender is not compatible with modern digital gauges without some modification. rbm explains the modification in the later part of this thread . The matched VDO set seems like the way to go.
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Offline frankenduck

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2022, 11:34:54 PM »
Quote from: Laitch on April 24, 2022, 11:22:44 PM
That's likely because the BMW fuel level sender is not compatible with modern digital gauges without some modification. rbm explains the modification in the later part of this thread . The matched VDO set seems like the way to go.

Yeah, the BMW fuel lever sender is "backwards" compared to most. (Low ohms when full, high ohms when empty.) The VDO above is also "backwards" so it is plug-n-play on K bikes.

I've looked for 2" digital ohmmeters but never found one. (When you get near 110 ohms you know you're running on fumes.)
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Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
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Offline AtLarge

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2022, 07:55:27 AM »
 112350 Thanks Guys. This helps a lot.
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  • IA
  • 1994 K1100RS
1973 Honda CL70-K3, 1975 Kawasaki 350 F9-C, 1994 BMW K1100RS, 2023 Honda CRF300L Rally ABS

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2022, 12:51:54 PM »
I can't say about the temperature, but I checked a few sites and it appears VDO has discontinued the fuel gauge.  There was one place that didn't mention not having any.

These guys were the only ones who didn't say the gauge was not in stock.  Judging from the price it might be an old listing.

https://vehiclecontrols.com/shopping/shop700/products1/948-301-107-vdo-vision-black-fuel-gauge-for-tube-type-sender-90-0-ohm/#.YmbRMNPMLVI

It seems the Vision series has been discontinued.  I did see one that had a similar resistance characteristic with a different VDO part number.  Here it is:

https://www.etbinstruments.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=194
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  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline frankenduck

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2022, 01:51:33 PM »
Summit says "Ship today" on the fuel gauge

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vdo-301107?seid=srese1

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Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
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Offline AtLarge

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #7 on: April 26, 2022, 10:02:08 AM »
Unfortunately, it's really my temperature gauge that is the worse for wear.

It does still work and appears to be fairly accurate but, the lens is getting to the point of almost unreadable.
Anyone know if there anything special about that one or will any aftermarket 2 1/16'' digital water temperature gauge work?
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  • IA
  • 1994 K1100RS
1973 Honda CL70-K3, 1975 Kawasaki 350 F9-C, 1994 BMW K1100RS, 2023 Honda CRF300L Rally ABS

Offline AtLarge

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2022, 10:17:42 AM »
Ok, found this so, not without changing the sender too.   177381

https://www.k100-forum.com/t9487-coolant-temp-gauge
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  • IA
  • 1994 K1100RS
1973 Honda CL70-K3, 1975 Kawasaki 350 F9-C, 1994 BMW K1100RS, 2023 Honda CRF300L Rally ABS

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2022, 01:24:53 PM »
If you watch eBay, you will see that OEM gauges do come up fairly regularly although they do seem to be getting a bit pricey these days.
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  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Laitch

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2022, 02:35:51 PM »
Looks like backwards could be the way to go despite its cost, AtLarge, if you're after that certain je nais se quois.  :laughing4-giggles:
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  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline frankenduck

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2022, 04:00:19 PM »
Max BMW shows the prior part number gauges available for $75.20 and $82.25.

https://shop.maxbmw.com/fiche/PartsSearch.aspx?&searchtype=undefined&parts=62131459255%0A62131459256
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Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
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Buy parts here.

Offline foliver

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2022, 04:36:45 PM »
I would like to see a way to mount them in a K75C, I mean with the little fairing.
Someone has an idea how to mount them in an “elegant?” way?…..
The 7liters light makes me nervous….jajaj
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Offline daveson

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2022, 07:22:50 PM »
Possibly a not too good seal. Cleaning the inside of the glass might be a big help.
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Offline frankenduck

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2022, 08:05:11 PM »
Quote from: daveson on April 26, 2022, 07:22:50 PM
Possibly a not too good seal. Cleaning the inside of the glass might be a big help.

Won't help. The lenses on the factory gauges delaminate over time.
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Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.

Offline foliver

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2022, 10:24:40 PM »
you cannot replace the lens?, glass?
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Offline daveson

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #16 on: April 26, 2022, 11:18:32 PM »
It might be better to disable the 7 litre light. Some gauges are enclosed and mounted separately. The trip meter is another good way to track your fuel.
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  • Victoria, Australia
  • Current; '85 K100RT~100,000km; four other bricks. Past; Vulcan 1500, V Star 650, KLX 250(dirt bike) TT250(dirt bike)
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Offline frankenduck

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #17 on: April 29, 2022, 12:04:49 PM »
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Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.

Offline Laitch

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #18 on: April 29, 2022, 05:05:37 PM »
Hesitate thou not, AtLarge, unless thou hast foresworn and moved on.  Pray
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  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
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Offline rbm

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #19 on: April 30, 2022, 06:18:43 AM »
Quote from: foliver on April 26, 2022, 04:36:45 PM
I would like to see a way to mount them in a K75C, I mean with the little fairing.
Someone has an idea how to mount them in an “elegant?” way?…..
The 7liters light makes me nervous….jajaj
I wrote up a DIY posting on the other K-bike forum on how to make a gauge housing from readily available PVC piping.  Once you get it into a housing, you can mount the housing anywhere convenient.

https://www.k100-forum.com/t1400-build-a-diy-single-instrument-cup
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Toronto, Ontario

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Offline triplek

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Re: Gauges - Gas and water temperature
« Reply #20 on: May 09, 2022, 01:50:42 PM »
You can replace the lens. The delamination everyone sees is from a flexible piece of rubber like material that is on the inside of the plastic. 

To replace the lens - very carefully and with a fine pick remove the metal cover holding the lens to the instrument face.

Work the pick with small prys to gently and evenly bend the metal away.  Go around in a circle many, many times until it just gives space to pop off the cover. 

Replace lens and reseal. And although I haven't tried it yet, I'd consider looking for a thin O ring to help restore the seal when replaced. Either way, I haven't had a problem with the less than the factory seal when re-lensed.
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"Every time you criticize my grammar, I like you a little bit fewer."

1995 K75 RTP, 1995 K75 RT, 1993 K75, two K75 frames, 1 fully assembled engine from airbox to exhaust tip and enough fairings and  parts to build another K. Soon.  ;)
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