VDO gauge cleaning?

[Tachin]

Glass on my two left gauges is fogged. I've pulled them out to send out. Can I clean the glass myself, or this best if sent out to PAS or Hollywood Speedo? I think they'll need new bezels once removed and adding a new gasket is easy. Many thanks.

[ClickClickBoom]

Hello,
Remove the foggy victim. Place face down, on a towel folded a few times in a solid work surface. With a very small screwdriver(1/8"),very gently pry up the rear of the bezel crimped flange a little at a time until you have worked it up enough to remove from the instrument. There should be a bezel, gasket and glass clean the glass and set aside. If the inside of your instrument can has corroded and turned dark, remove the rest of the instrument guts and set aside. Clean and paint with a glossy white paint(inside of the can, about the 1/3 of the area closest to the glass. When I got my car I couldn't see the instruments at night, now after painting the insides of all my instruments I drive with my dimmer at the half way bright position. After the paint dries, reassemble the guts into the can and restack the glass, gasket and bezel. I used a pair of smooth jaw pliers to get the bezel recrimped with a paper towel piece to protect the bezel paint. I finished the crimp with a piece of oak and block of wood to tap the crimp down smooth on the back.
One of the better repairs I have done to the interior.
eric
P.S. Check your windshield gasket for leaking, foggy gauges is a telltale give away.

[Tachin]

Hey thanks .. sounds pretty straight forward. What year are the gauges you did? I'm wondering if my '69 VDOs might be different. I probably won't paint the insides white on this car, but sounds like a great tip. thanks.

[80-911SC]

he is talking about the inside behind the face of the CUP to allow the light to bounce and come thru the face brighter ..... like the reflector in you headlight ........

also you can drill a hole in the back of the gauge to allow air in to dry itself out .....

[dicklague]

will a vent hole help? Never thought of that.....tell us more.

[Tachin]

ahhh .. i see .. said the blind man as he picked up his saw. Like a headlight reflector. I will try that. the haze inside of my lens looks pretty stubborn. I think it needs to be wiped off.

[ClickClickBoom]

Hey,
If the inside of the can and its zinc coating is shiny and your internal lighting is bright enough you can delete the painting, I would do it if you are going that far anyway, check for the leaking windshield seal, thats how the water gets into the gauges.My car is a 1975, I will bet most of the gauges are assembled the same way.
eric