Looking for a solution to the poor back lighting of the speedo and tach on my 81 R100RT. The stock 1.3 watt(?) bulbs just don't cut it. I read the last issue of Air Mail about LED lights being used for the indicator lights between the tach and speedo. Has anyone been able to adapt LEDs for the back lighting issue? Or are the incandescent bulbs with slightly higher wattage, but still fit in the original housing?
rick
81 R100RT original owner
If I remember correctly, those LEDs (and their load resistors) were made onto the flexible circuit board they had designed, via surface mount technology. That won't do you any good if you're retaining the stock circuit board. Your best bet is to find some modern LED replacement bulbs that use the same socket as the stock bulbs. Look on Amazon or www.superbrightleds.com/
My Hi beam indicator lens faded out and I was able to obtain a blue LED and load resistor. But because of the polarity of the LED, every time it comes out I have to spend time figuring out the polarity issue to plug it back in. You don't want that hassle. I also doubt the instrument "back lights" have the same room to work in as the Hi beam indicator.
Hope this helps !
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
Wobbly,
Thank you fr the response. I'll look into the web site in your response. If something works out i'll post it.
rick
KATDASH
We got the flex in this past week for version 2 of the instrument pods: 1978-80 bikes with a green turn signal at the top of the dash, and the high beam light in the tach face.
Paul and I spent the last few evenings assembling and testing them, and we now have a bunch available and ready to ship on the website.
Just wanted to get the word out for the folks that need ‘em-
Thanks
Kat Connell
KATDASH Airhead Instrument Lighting
www.katdash.com
While riding in cold fog this week, the instruments took on a clouded cast on the inside. I was wondering if the small amount of heat released by the incandescent lamps helped dehumidify the interior of the instruments. If that is TRUE, then how will these new boards be with the LED lamps that have nearly zero heat loss ??
Strange what engineers think of driving down the road !!
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
Looked into the www.superbrightleds.com/ site. They have all the LED style bulbs to replace the stock bulbs on my '81 R100RT. I replaced the bulbs in the tach and speedo as well as the ones in the voltmeter and clock, went with color red. Also replaced the parking light above the headlamp-white. I could see the red light behind the tach and speedo even in the daylight. In the dark the light is much better than the stock lamps, but not over powering or distracting. Clearance was not a problem.
If anyone is interested:
Speedo and tach bulb # 194 RHP5 (R stands for red)
voltmeter and clock bulb # BA7s
parking light # BA 9s 5SMD (need the tower style bulb, the others are only .4 watts-not bright enough)
Kat; Thanks for the work you're doing to retro these NLA parts. I know of folks with '81+ bikes who could use these updates when available.
rick
'81 R100RT
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