Dash backlight mod for kawasakis

Joker · 02-07-2008, 10:36 PM

if you have a dash thats an 03/04/05/06 636 or same year Z750/1000 you can do this mod....... not sure on other years, but if you have a similar dash with LEDs for tacho/speedo you will be able to do it

basically i am sick of the glare from the orange light in my dash when riding at night. so i read on a US kwaka forum a "how-to" on changing the colour of your dash.

pull the dash apart, remove the leds circled and replace with whatever colour you want...... its that easy.

excuse the shitty camera phone pics, but its late and i cant be fucked finding the proper camera... and before anyone says you cant read the speedo as well, its crap.... its the pics. you can read it as easily as before.... its just late and i cbf taking a decent pic

original yellowy/orange dash

my dash now, in red

i chose red cause its easier on my eyes for the night riding..... however you can do it in kwaka green, white, or bright yellow (LED colours to choose from at RS components) i wanted a blue, but they dont stock them and cant order them in (cunts)

enjoy

Joker

Dubs · 02-07-2008, 10:50 PM

nice write up

thanks

Dubs

Joker · 02-07-2008, 10:54 PM

by the way..... if you a complete retard at soldering, dont even bother...... its surface mount stuff (small as fuck)

the LEDs are 3.5mm x 2.8mm....... a tweezer job to hold em in there

Joker

edit:- all up it took less than 20 mins, but i am a electronics tech

Bunyack · 02-07-2008, 10:54 PM

Nice one!!

barfridge · 02-07-2008, 10:58 PM

I was about to ask how trickey are those surface mount LEDs?

Definitely sounds like a case of paying your local electronic tech a carton/bottle to do it for you. I hate to think how much a new circuit board costs (if you can get one, might have to but the whole cluster)

Joker · 02-07-2008, 11:01 PM

fuck fridgy, gimme your dash, the LEDs and a carton i will do it

barfridge · 02-07-2008, 11:12 PM

my dash has light globes in it (got an RGV now).

But cheers for the offer

Crootie · 02-07-2008, 11:52 PM

sounds like joker could be drunk for a long time

with all the work he will end up getting

Pobbler · 03-07-2008, 04:15 AM

VERY nice...

i'm picturing blue!!!

TORQ · 03-07-2008, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joker

i wanted a blue, but they dont stock them and cant order them in

Try Farnell ? They have 'em. I fall back to Farnell if RS don't stock.

TORQ · 03-07-2008, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barfridge

my dash has light globes in it (got an RGV now).

But cheers for the offer

Doesn't really matter, can retrofit/mod it up for LEDs. Ooooh, bling.

arwon · 03-07-2008, 06:26 AM

Nice work mate... I do like the blue also..

Joker · 03-07-2008, 07:53 AM

heres a blue one that one of the US blokes did

Scoundrel · 03-07-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joker

heres a blue one that one of the US blokes did

That's it, I'm gettin' it done. Thanks Joker

DaveR6 · 03-07-2008, 08:54 AM

red is soooo much better. dunno what drugs ppl are on when decide on any colour other than red. so much easier on the eyes at night.

my new car has red for the tacho/speedo etc. if they ever wanted a useful ADR, it would be to enforce red!

vbroom · 03-07-2008, 09:01 AM

PM sent

i'm sick of the ugly orange light already.

Joker · 03-07-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbroom

PM sent

i'm sick of the ugly orange light already.

PM replied

Desmogod · 03-07-2008, 11:09 AM

Might have to do this on the 748.
Mmmmm, blue lighting!

Scoundrel · 03-07-2008, 11:11 AM

Joker - one of the Seppos on Kawiforums claimed that doing light mods to the gauge cluster did something to the odometer reading. Is this true or is it hot air?

Joker · 03-07-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoundrel

Joker - one of the Seppos on Kawiforums claimed that doing light mods to the gauge cluster did something to the odometer reading. Is this true or is it hot air?

load of crap mate.... my bet is he didnt line the dash's front plate up properly when he re-assembled it. if its not lined up right, the LED readout is dodgy. i did the same thing, till i realised i had mis-aligned one tab. its a simple mistake and an even simpler fix.

just checked my odo readout, hasnt changed and its fine

edit:- also, unless you fucked up the LEDs behind where the odo readout is, there is no chance changing a light source will screw up a readout. if you have the colour change working, the LED readout will work... i checked mine as i went, about every 3 LEDs i soldered in, i plugged it back in the make sure it was all working.... just take your time and it will be fine

02-07-2008, 10:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Joker white 2004 ZX636 Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 834	Dash backlight mod for kawasakis if you have a dash thats an 03/04/05/06 636 or same year Z750/1000 you can do this mod....... not sure on other years, but if you have a similar dash with LEDs for tacho/speedo you will be able to do it basically i am sick of the glare from the orange light in my dash when riding at night. so i read on a US kwaka forum a "how-to" on changing the colour of your dash. pull the dash apart, remove the leds circled and replace with whatever colour you want...... its that easy. excuse the shitty camera phone pics, but its late and i cant be fucked finding the proper camera... and before anyone says you cant read the speedo as well, its crap.... its the pics. you can read it as easily as before.... its just late and i cbf taking a decent pic original yellowy/orange dash my dash now, in red i chose red cause its easier on my eyes for the night riding..... however you can do it in kwaka green, white, or bright yellow (LED colours to choose from at RS components) i wanted a blue, but they dont stock them and cant order them in (cunts) enjoy Joker __________________ all my avatar pics are taken by Mags Williams www.checkeredflag.com.au

02-07-2008, 10:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dubs zooky 13hundy Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: on tha blok - with jenny Posts: 6,149	nice write up thanks Dubs __________________ "Dubs....He's bringin sexy back." With Dubs, the juice is DEFINATELY worth the squeeze.

02-07-2008, 10:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Joker white 2004 ZX636 Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 834	by the way..... if you a complete retard at soldering, dont even bother...... its surface mount stuff (small as fuck) the LEDs are 3.5mm x 2.8mm....... a tweezer job to hold em in there Joker edit:- all up it took less than 20 mins, but i am a electronics tech __________________ all my avatar pics are taken by Mags Williams www.checkeredflag.com.au

02-07-2008, 10:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
barfridge 1998 RGV250 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Morley Posts: 12,970	I was about to ask how trickey are those surface mount LEDs? Definitely sounds like a case of paying your local electronic tech a carton/bottle to do it for you. I hate to think how much a new circuit board costs (if you can get one, might have to but the whole cluster) __________________ "Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all." - Douglas Adams

02-07-2008, 11:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Joker white 2004 ZX636 Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 834	fuck fridgy, gimme your dash, the LEDs and a carton i will do it __________________ all my avatar pics are taken by Mags Williams www.checkeredflag.com.au

02-07-2008, 11:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
barfridge 1998 RGV250 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Morley Posts: 12,970	my dash has light globes in it (got an RGV now). But cheers for the offer __________________ "Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all." - Douglas Adams

02-07-2008, 11:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
Crootie Suzuki Bandit GSF1200S K6 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Baldivis Posts: 124	sounds like joker could be drunk for a long time with all the work he will end up getting

03-07-2008, 04:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
Pobbler ZX10R Join Date: May 2008 Location: Como Posts: 203	VERY nice... i'm picturing blue!!! __________________ the grass is greener on MY side

03-07-2008, 06:26 AM	#12 (permalink)
arwon R1's a pair of them Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Huntingdale Posts: 3,709	Nice work mate... I do like the blue also.. __________________ "live by the sword, Die by the sword"

03-07-2008, 07:53 AM	#13 (permalink)
Joker white 2004 ZX636 Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 834	heres a blue one that one of the US blokes did __________________ all my avatar pics are taken by Mags Williams www.checkeredflag.com.au

03-07-2008, 08:54 AM	#15 (permalink)
DaveR6 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: perth Posts: 949	red is soooo much better. dunno what drugs ppl are on when decide on any colour other than red. so much easier on the eyes at night. my new car has red for the tacho/speedo etc. if they ever wanted a useful ADR, it would be to enforce red!

03-07-2008, 09:01 AM	#16 (permalink)
vbroom 636 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dianella Posts: 1,460	PM sent i'm sick of the ugly orange light already. __________________ / / / m y. p h o t o s \ \ \ http://www.flickr.com/photos/27261356@N03/

03-07-2008, 11:09 AM	#18 (permalink)
Desmogod 2001 Ducati 748R Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mexico Posts: 16,254	Might have to do this on the 748. Mmmmm, blue lighting! __________________ - 2001 748R - Ohlins suspension - Ohlins steering damper - 996 barrels and heads - Vee Two cams - Ported head by Vee Two to corse specs - Vee Two pistons - Vee Two enlarged valves - Titanium I beam conrods - Lightened crank - CF air box and tubes -60mm throttle bodies - 52mm termi system - Corse 4 post slipper clutch -

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