Did you guys see the thread about changing the LEDs in our speedo to different colors? I like the change to blue. What do you guys think? I've been practicing on an old CD-ROM drive that I've been tearing apart. I've taken the eject button and the LED on the front a couple of times and managed to remount them with success a couple of times. I'm thinking about attempting this. Any thoughts?

Here's the links

Thread


Write up on a tech forum.

 

i've seriously thought about doing this myself....although i have little soldering exprierence (i do have some) but by no means skillful. if you do decide to do this, could you please document it?

i think this mod would be great b/c i hate the stock orange the gauges come in.[:@]

 

If I talk myself into it, I will have good pictures and list the steps I do. My only concern is not buying or finding the right LEDs. That and frying my meter.

Update... hell no.

I took everything apart and noticed the LEDs mount in a different way than what I'm use to seeing. On the bottom of the pcb (printed circuit board) there are small copper circles where the prongs from the LED should be at. I assume you heat that up and the solder on the LED will soften so you can remove and add the new one. But I'm not melting my meter with this assumption. Not worth the risk. Here are a few pics of how it looks apart.

 

The blue looks sweet but I don't think they made those boards to plug-n-play. I'll be on the lookout for a crapped out board to see if it's possible to do (well, at my level anyways) but I'm like you -- ain't gonna try it on mine unless I know I won't fry it.

 

just remember that if you think it's worth $75 to have it professionally done and guaranteed, i've heard good things about www.bluegauges.com
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Ipad Guides

 

tripage will do them for whatever color you want for 90...
here: http://www.600rr.net/vb/showthread.php?t=40509

how to on doing it yourself here:

http://www.600rr.net/vb/showthread.php?t=35336

 

well guys, today I decided to jump head first into doing this mod myself. It took about two hours and turned out really well. It was actually much easier to do than i thought. You just have to make sure to completely de-solder the connections, and then re-solder very sparingly (a little goes a long way). The only problem was that the led's i bought from radio shack were crap and weren't nearly bright enough. Luckily they only cost me about three bucks. I ordered some better ones and am going to go with a green fuel and speedo with white on the tach. I'll post some pics when i get the new led's.

 

well i finally got it done. I must say the green and white combination looks nice. and it actually wasn't too hard. I followed the thread and they were pretty much dead on. The only advice i can give if you try it is to make sure to completely desolder the connections, and when putting in the replacement led's under the tach the plastic has to be modified so they fit. If you don't modify it the lights don't shine right and there's all sorts of hot spots and dark spots. I'll post some pics soon.