Clock lighting

[Robster]

Is it just me or is the lighting on the Vara clocks quite dim? I like mine a bit brighter anyway.

I was gonna pull them out and put some brighter LED replacements in there...anyone had the clocks out? Is it an easy job? Any idea on the size/type of OEM bulbs in there already?

Ta :D

[DaveS]

Would be interested in some pics if you do that mod.

[Robster]

Still not got on with this!

Anyone know the type/part number of the bulbs used for lighting the clocks?

It's gonna annoy me now it's getting dark in the afternoons!

[Shep]

Hello Rob, i agree the clocks are very dim

[Robster]

Ahhh glad it's not just me then! :lol:

[Robster]

Right. Finally changed my clock lighting!!

And it sucks! :shock: :cry: :oops:

I went for 4 Headed LED's in the end, described as giving a nice diffuse light and yet still being far brighter than a regular 501 bulb - think they're 3.4w's that are in there as standard.

Unfortunately, there's only one bulb ber dial, ie one for the speedo, one for the rev counter and one for the temp guage. The temp guage is actually ok, I could live with that quite easily, but the 2 big dials have the bulb at a 12 O'clock position so with the new bulbs in I'm ending up with a hotspot at 12 and the rest of it getting progressively dimmer.

You really struggle to read the fuel guage or the clock.

So..........next weekend I shall be removing said LEDs and replacing them with a higher wattage regular 501 bulb, and hope that does the trick!

Took some pics so will write up the process when I get chance...very easy, even for me. :lol:

[Taz]

Fuel guage....What fuel guage?

[Robster]

Urrrm did I say fuel gauge? I meant trip meter thingy! Same difference! :lol:

Why, dont you have a fuel gauge on your NEW Vara?! :wink: :lol:

[Taz]

Why, dont you have a fuel gauge on your NEW Vara?! :wink: :lol:
No, I'm afraid the tw@s didn't think/bother about putting one on. :|

[Robster]

Take # 2

Clock bulbs now changed back to a standard 501 bulb, but put in 5w's instead of the stock 3.4's, and also have gone for some with a slightly bluey tint.

Looks like it might do the trick, I just need to wait for it to get dark and then I'll report back! Off to meet my folks for lunch up by London Bridge so it'll be nice and dark by the time I get home...

[Taz]

I wouldn't mind getting my speedo and rev counter glowing red like on some other bikes, any ideas how I can do this?

[Robster]

Right, cool...it's worked. Not the dazzling effect I was really hoping for, but it's a damn sight better than they originally were. So I'm happy.

These are what I've just put in:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=009&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=190053405487&rd=1&rd=1

Taz, I guess if you want a red glow you'd just do what I've done, but use a Red bulb rather than a blue one like I did. The ones I've put in are 5w (to replace the original 3.4w)but they come in 7.5w and 10w flavours too. A 7.5 would probably give you a redder glow rather than a pink glow (bit gay maybe!) and still not be distractingly bright.

Very easily done. 15 minute job second time round when I knew what I was doing!

[Taz]

Where's the best places to buy them, other than E-bay of course?

[Robster]

Any car or bike shop should have them. Halfrauds definitely do standard ones, not too sure about coloured ones though. Maybe in the Boy Racer department.

[Taz]

I've never done anything like this before so I wouldn't know, but does it make the whole speedo light up, or just the numbers, notches and dial? I've seen things like sports bikes where they have the numbers and notches glowing a nice warm shade of red, but the rest of the speedo's black. That's what I want.

[Robster]

Yup Taz, basically the White bits on your dial are sort of transparent, so the light behind shines through at night. There's also a certain amount of "ambient" light that is given off by the bulb so the whole thing may take on a slight red tone.

As I say, I put Blue bulbs in mine which have given the numbers a bluey-green tone, but the instruments themselves dont glow green if that makes sense!

I'll try and get a pic or two tonight

[Taz]

Ah good, I wasn't sure if the instruments were backlit or lit from the sides. The way you were talking about LEDs, it sounded as if your dials were lit from the sides. So nope, I doubt LEDs would work well from behind the dials. And yes, if you could send a pic that'd be most helpful.