Boxerworks.com

At long last the rain has relented, so this morning I pulled the cover off the RS, re-installed the battery, and checked her over. It must be more than two months since my last ride, and for a lot of that time, the bike's been under a layer of snow.
The engine started easily, and I had a pleasant ride, marred only by a bit of roughness in the engine at low revs -- I make up my own cables, and the throttle cables are not lined, so I think a bit of lubrication is needed before I try to re-balance the carbs .

The bike lives against a five foot high wall, under a plastic cover which is anchored behind the wall, and pulled over the bike, so there is some movement of air, albeit the damp Yorkshire variety.

I used to see a bit of condensation in the tacho, but now it's worse, and has spread to the clock and the speedo -- so I'm wondering what can be done to rectify this, hopefully before the rot sets in. I want to get it out, and keep it out ...
Any ideas?

Sunbeem.

Getting it out is easier than keeping it out.
A couple of sunny days will get it out. To do get it out quickly; you need to
remove the cluster. 2 screws facing the gas tank pass through the bracket to
a plate with threaded holes. Loosen and the cluster will move up and forward.
Unscrew the speedo cable and a phillips head screw that holds the wiring harness
connector and it's free.

There is an O ring seal between the font and back halves of the housing. There are several
screws to be removed to separate the parts.If you actually want to wipe the inside,
there are more screws to remove the instruments. Study it a little as I remember that not all
have to come out. Be very careful with the "circuit board" ( plastic and foil laminate) which
makes the connections to the lamps as It is easy to damage

Thanks for that moore84rs, I reckon I could get old waiting for two consecutive sunny days, so I may have to operate.
If there's a seal in there, it sounds like the rest of the unit should be watertight, or the seal would be pointless?
If that's the case, maybe I could use silicone bath sealant? Or would that preclude future dismantling?
Perhaps a small cotton bag of rice would absorb any moisture which subsequently got in ?

First off, I'll try a hair dryer, and wrapping a cloth over when it's parked ... I'm pretty sure it's atmospheric moisture.
We're ankle deep in atmosphere.

Sunbeem.

moore84rs wrote:To do get it out quickly; you need to
remove the cluster. 2 screws facing the gas tank pass through the bracket to
a plate with threaded holes.

I thought there were three screws.

I would recommend a garage. Having a fine airhead sit out in the elements ought to be against the law!

If you don't have a garage, then do what I did when I was facing a long cold, garageless winter: park it in the living room. Your significant other will understand, right?

Here is a great tutorial on Randy's website: http://www.pbase.com/dwerbil/1978_r1007_odometer_repair

It might help in what you are trying to do. Or not.

The ol' instrument cluster doesn't like being screwed with or unscrewed, without good reason.
The plastics have become brittle over the years and it is very easy to break the captive nuts in the instrument housing.........making them 'uncaptive'
Proceed with caution.

I have this piece of golfing equipment that I think the concept might transfer to be usable here.

In my seldom used golf bag, the irons are lined up in a row via a plastic bracket. The clubs are free to fall all over the place when the bag is moved around.

I have a stretchy cover that fits over the top. The same thing, with a waterproof backing might be a useful barrier?

Failing that, maybe a small silica bag in your next appliance purchase, placed in the case might manage the moisture?

Fixing the seal of course will do it better maybe? They're cheap, and available from M'bins.

SteveD wrote:Failing that, maybe a small silica bag in your next appliance purchase, placed in the case might manage the moisture?

http://www.autoanything.com/car-covers/69A4263A0A0.aspx

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Quick fix: Running the bike with the lights on, instruments illuminated, will dry them out in short order. Take some silicone grease (dialectric) and wiped it around any areas of the instrument housing that could let moisture in. For instance: where the circular glass meets the housing. After, just lightly wipe off the instruments with a clean lint free cloth, and re-apply occasionally. Your plastic cover does not breath so, I would make sure it does not touch the bike. Cover the bike under the plastic tarp with a very light cotton tarp. Don't forget to think grateful thoughts for the USA, having saved your scrawny ass from National Socialism.

Zombie Master wrote:Don't forget to think grateful thoughts for the USA, having saved your scrawny ass from National Socialism.

ZM - quickly joining the ranks of Beemrmax and FH.