Author Topic: Instrument lights  (Read 179 times)

Offline Lbxpdx

  • ^ Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 81
Instrument lights
« on: March 30, 2024, 02:13:52 PM »
Is this bulb acceptable for the instrument cluster?

It looks different from all of the other ones I’ve read people using, but it look like the original bulb.



* IMG_5306.jpeg (22.81 kB . 455x576 - viewed 63 times)

https://www.superbrightleds.com/vehicle-lights/car-boat-light-bulbs/instrument-cluster-gauge/194-led-bulb-cob-led-t3-25-miniature-wedge-base-135-lumens+color-Green+packamt-10-Pack
  • Portland
  • 1992 K75Rt 1972 R60/5 1977 R100S

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 10175
Re: Instrument lights
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2024, 04:42:59 PM »
Maybe your original isn't original.  :laughing4-giggles:

  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline Past-my-Prime

  • ^ SuperNatural Motobricker
  • Posts: 501
  • All of us are better when we're loved.
Re: Instrument lights
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2024, 12:26:56 PM »
Maybe your original isn't original.  :laughing4-giggles:


The bulb has the bright end at the wrong end. As are the electrical connectors. Crazy stuff!

I had a similar problem late one night when I realized my entire motorbike was backwards: the handlebars were behind me and the gear shift was on the wrong side and I had no forward gears but five reverse gears. Also I only had a dim red light in front of me with a very bright back light.

I no longer recall what I might have been smoking.

I decided to get a ride home and the next day it had fixed itself.
  • North Shore of Lake Superior (in my garage)
  • BRICK: 1989 K75 RT - Rocinante; NON-BRICK: 2007 F650 GS Dakar - Betty Blue

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 10175
Re: Instrument lights
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2024, 12:38:42 PM »
 :laughing1:
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline Scott_

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 2194
Re: Instrument lights
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2024, 01:19:36 PM »
Back on topic to the OP, best I can say is to try them. As with any LED it will be polarity sensitive. If it doesn't light when you 1st install it, rotate it 180 and re-install to see if it works.
When Drake sets up his light kits he identifies the + connector.
AND the bulbs +/- orientation is not identical for each lamp location of the cluster.
Unless you can read/understand the electrical schematics and follow the board tracings, you will be basically flipping a coin when installing them.
  • My Garage
1995 K1100LT 0302044
1997 R1100RT ZC62149
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
1997 K1100LT 0302488 (R.I.P.)
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 6650
Re: Instrument lights
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2024, 02:33:13 PM »
I have been using these LED's in my instrument clusters for 10 years and they work great.  They come in different colors so can match to the color of the bike or just go with the green.  They are also non-polarized so you don't have to worry about getting them reversed.  With 120 degree angle dispersion, they work well for speedo and tach backlighting. 

https://www.superbrightleds.com/led-light-bulbs-universal-finder/miniature-and-subminiature-bulbs/194-led-bulb-1-led-miniature-wedge-base+color-Green+beam-120%C2%B0+packamt-Single

These photos give an ides of what they look like. (The camera makes them look a lot brighter than they really are)


* DSCN3329.JPG (39.71 kB . 768x439 - viewed 47 times)

* DSCN3336.JPG (28.87 kB . 768x422 - viewed 47 times)

If you want to use them for the idiot lights, use the 90 degree version.  They can be a bit too bright and annoying at night in the low fuel and high beam indicator.  For those I put an electrical tape mask with a small hole on the back side of the colored lens in the panel.  I have found that cool white works the best behind the clock.
  • 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"

Tags: