Instrument cluster help

PaulK · Post by **PaulK** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:52 pm

Hi Guys,

I am in the process of cleaning the faces of the gauges. The faces are scratched and yellowed besides being painted. How in the heck can you clean up the faces? Are they glass or plastic , has anyone ever tried to use some kind of graduated polisher? Thanks.

Regards,

Paul

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:37 pm

In the few gauges I have taken apart the faces are plastic and easily scratched...

I can not remember what I used to clean the paint off mine... I think it was Xylene, Let soak over night and then wash in soap and water...

Use a spare to test first... If you have one....

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:39 pm

If they are not cracked or scratched to deeply, you can sand with fine sand paper, then finer sand paper, then finer sand paper (2000 grit) and then polish with some 3M plastic lens polishing compounds. That is if the yellow does not go all the way through.

Or you could take the lens out and insert a peice of clear plastic.

PaulK · Post by **PaulK** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:06 pm

How do the gauges come apart?

Paul

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:24 pm

Paul,

The bezel is crimped around the back side edge.

Be careful.

I would recomend taking them to a restoration specialty that restores gauges.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:31 am

Paul;

In the restoration of our M38 our gauges too were scratched and had paint on them. I used a combination of hand scraping/chipping the paint off with a series of x-acto knives, then hand polished the faces with a 3M microfinishing compound liquid and a soft cotton cloth. I bought the polishing compound at NAPA. It is used in the car painting process.

The small grid feature of this material cleans and polished rather than scratching the plastic surfaces. I also used in on the faces and the lens for our blackout lights and tail lights to clean and polish them. Also, the make up of this material does not effect the plastic material.

It is a lot of hard work and takes time, but the gauge faces can come out looking new. It is worth it.

Thomas
Charlotte, NC

weasel · Post by **weasel** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:29 pm

talk about being on the same page I just pulled my gauges out and was waundering what to do. Thanks I will give this a try

Scott21 · Post by **Scott21** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:05 pm

Use FLITS with the polish ball any your drill. Set it to a low RPM and take your time. Also takes scratches out of plastic windows, just mask the area so the polish does not get on the top, It will discolor the top.

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:26 pm

I used a product called Never Dull, is cotton imbedded with a polish that takes the paint off and cleans the faces. Must be done by hand though...

Hope this helps...