Slow but steady speedo success!

The rebuilt instrument cluster with its new bracket, polished hardware, and painted gauges.

We finally managed to find the tools to remove the strange plastic "nuts" holding the vacuum-formed shell underneath the instrument cluster. Using a forked tack lifter, we turned each of the four nuts until they clicked and released. What a relief! We were on day two of trying to access the speedo and tach cables from underneath to free the bracket from the bike. (NB. This drilled spanner bit also fits perfectly into the tabs.) 

Pesky plastic nuts!

There was nothing wrong with the old bracket, per se, in fact we could have just spray painted the old one, but who could resist a $7 steal on Ebay for a NOS part. Part of the satisfaction comes from scavenging old parts online!

A "before" shot of the instrument cluster.

Rusty metal cable guides.

After removing all the original fittings from the bracket, we went to town, polishing the knurled chrome rings framing the colored lenses, the dial on the trip meter, and all the visible mounting hardware. The 47 year old rubber gaskets need to be replaced at a later date since they're losing their pliability, but we're anxious to put this component back on the bike. 

Spray painting… it's all in the set-up!

The following day, we sanded the gauge bodies and readied them for painting. (Good weather and low winds were on our side in NYC that day!) We chose to use Rust-oleum® Black Semi-Gloss Protective Enamel, after a good prime coat. 

​Overall, the new bracket with its polished fittings looks great. While it's off the bike, we can drool at it while admiring our handiwork and its fine Italian aesthetics. But before it gets installed again, we change the fork oil…

Lenses have been backlit for the full on-bike effect.