R65LS Instrument "condensing"

[jgp1854]

Had my tachometer rebuild by a company on west coast and ever since my glass picks up some condensation, when the temps fluctuate a bit.  It goes away after a while, just wondering is there something I can do to stop it?

Thanks

Jim

[montmil]

Still wintering down in Florida, eh, Jim? Kinda humid down there, ain't it? Park that R65 in the sunshine and the condensate will disappear pretty quickly.

Don't have a suggestion other than venting the case some way that would also prevent water ingress. Probably wouldn't be a problem up in Michigan right now.

Hey... did you post this just to get us all dreaming about sunshine, warm temps, beaches and NASCAR?

[Luca]

Ive thought about putting a small pack of silica (like the ones that come in shoes) in my instruments. Of course, im not sure if theres room. Guess ill find out soon enough. I have a broken trip/odometer to fix

Seals will all need to be in top shape, too, or it will just pull moisture from the air

[georgesgiralt]

Hello !
forgot the silica gel.
It will catch the moisture from the air until it reach an equilibrium and then will try to maintain that level of moisture. As the equilibrium is when it has got as much water as it can, you will permanently have the maximal moisture level in the instrument... Not what you want....
Do not ask how I know that. It is still a sore subject...

[Bob_Roller]

My '81 R65 has done it since I got the bike 32 years ago .

The tachometer is not sealed .

[jgp1854]

Well the weather here in Florida has been very nice (compared to Michigan right now).  The LS trek'd to Camp Blanding (near Jacksonville) for the Winter Rally.  Gotta tell ya, it got a lot of looks.......The new to me canisters really finished it off, with many admirers.

I took the LS to Sargent seat in Jacksonville to have them re-work the seat, putting in new foam, and building the back to take on the appearance of a "cafe" hump, and new cover.  Looks really nice, and makes for a better ride.

Sounds like I'll just have to get used to the "condensation", you're right it dries up quickly in the sun.  I didn't have the issue until I had the unit worked on though.

Take care, oh we are going to be in Spring Hill Fl area until 4.1.13 if you're in the area.

Jim

[Barry]

I've taken my tacho off (never had a problem with the speedo) and really dried it out but it was only a temporary solution as is silica gel which would only work if the tacho housing was fully sealed.  

I assume the flow of cold air over the outside of the glass causes any internal moisture to condense out. Wirespokes is the man who knows about instruments, I recall him saying that the moisture gets drawn in because of the heat from the instrument bulbs and that LEDs might help eliminate the problem. I've been meaning to try that solution but haven't got around to it yet.  What I might do is remove the bulb and see if that makes any difference.

[tvrla]

I thought LEDs would fix the problem - but they haven't. I think it may be better...

Motometer built gauges both ways - all sealed up, and open to atmosphere at the bottom. I don't think either way is any better than the other as I've had condensation in both.  

Sorry I'm not of much help - I'd really love to see the moisture gone Gone GONE!!! Too many times I open up a guage that's got a fine layer of corrosion everywhere. There's gotta be a solution.

[nhmaf]

I would think that actually having enough wattage inside the instrument to make it warmer would dry out any trapped moisture in there.   But, the 3W bulbs don't generate much heat near the instrument face where the moisture condenses.  And, you don't want alot of ehat in there as that could cause distortion and/or weaken various plastic bits.

It is one of the travails of airhead ownership, methinks.

My LED-replacement instruments also seem to fog up a bit.  I think that I notice the fogging a bit less because the LED illumination causes the overal instrument facings to be much BRIGHTER.   It is most aggravating with a dim, half-blackened 3W bulb inside when the condensation seems to render the whole instrument unreadable.

[tvrla]

My thoughts are that hot incandescent bulbs have the same effect as mufflers - get hot in use, cool down afterwards. They cross the dew point and draw moisture. That's why mufflers rust out from the inside.