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How to rotate tach glass

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  #1  
Old 07-13-2005 | 01:01 PM
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How to rotate tach glass

I need to rotate the glass on the tach - someone put a little scratch on it, and it's right over the readout. If I can just rotate it a few degrees I wouldn't even notice it.
 
  #2  
Old 07-13-2005 | 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by kaelaria
I need to rotate the glass on the tach - someone put a little scratch on it, and it's right over the readout. If I can just rotate it a few degrees I wouldn't even notice it.
Gimme a break man!
 
  #3  
Old 07-13-2005 | 01:23 PM
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I'd start with suction cups or two-sided tape on opposing sides of the lens. If neither technique is helpful, I guess you could try to remove or loosen the bezel. Best of luck.
 
  #4  
Old 07-13-2005 | 01:25 PM
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Try taking a banked curve at speed to rotate it a few degrees????



 
  #5  
Old 07-13-2005 | 01:28 PM
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Have that "someone" buy you a new tach.
 
  #6  
Old 07-13-2005 | 01:40 PM
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  #7  
Old 07-13-2005 | 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Greatbear
Have that "someone" buy you a new tach.
I would if I knew where it came from. Sometimes I feel like everytime I take it somewhere, I need to do a complete inspection before driving away!!
 
  #8  
Old 07-13-2005 | 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by sandtoast500
Thanks, I did!
 
  #9  
Old 07-13-2005 | 01:48 PM
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Originally Posted by eMINI
I'd start with suction cups or two-sided tape on opposing sides of the lens. If neither technique is helpful, I guess you could try to remove or loosen the bezel. Best of luck.
I actually already tried that - it's sandwiched in pretty good, no go.
 
  #10  
Old 07-13-2005 | 02:27 PM
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Good idea...

Originally Posted by kaelaria
I would if I knew where it came from. Sometimes I feel like everytime I take it somewhere, I need to do a complete inspection before driving away!!
I do.

As for the tach glass (it's plastic btw) you may be able to buff out your scratch...
 
  #11  
Old 07-13-2005 | 02:59 PM
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With my luck lately...that would more than likely give me a severely scuffed tach :(
 
  #12  
Old 07-13-2005 | 05:09 PM
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I am surprised how easily the plastic scratches........I went to wipe some dirt off and DOH! What do you use to buff scratches?
 
  #13  
Old 07-13-2005 | 05:19 PM
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I tvery well *may* have ben me that scratched it, but since I know how soft it is in the first place, I never wiped them with dirt on them - and never noticed a scratch after cleaning. I noticed it after the last round of being in the shop, but I can't say for sure when it appeared. It IS VERY soft plastic though. It should DEFINITELY be harder!
 
  #14  
Old 07-13-2005 | 06:13 PM
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Well, you could probably use that stuff from Moss that you can cover the headlights and foglights with, that thick plastic, and you could even get it in a blue or red tint to give a little trick look. as long as it doesn't obstruct the gauges that much... just an idea...
 
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Old 07-13-2005 | 06:17 PM
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Originally Posted by kaelaria
I actually already tried that - it's sandwiched in pretty good, no go.
It's not sandwiched in - the lens is not a separate round piece of plastic that will rotate. Look at this pic:



Try some Plexus plastic polish.
 
  #16  
Old 07-13-2005 | 07:47 PM
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Crap. Well that explains why it doesn't rotate! LOL


I'll try the polish.
 
  #17  
Old 07-14-2005 | 06:47 AM
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Another good polish is Novus #2. I use it to buff out paint jobs on model cars. If necessary, follow with #1 for any remaining haze.
 
  #18  
Old 07-14-2005 | 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Squirlz
Another good polish is Novus #2. I use it to buff out paint jobs on model cars. If necessary, follow with #1 for any remaining haze.
Try Happich's Simichrome polish. I have used it on many plastic parts over the years that need a scratch buffed out. Make sure you use a clean cotton cloth. Paper will just make more scratches.

Rawhyde
 
  #19  
Old 07-14-2005 | 09:31 PM
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Use Meguiar's #17 Clear Plastic Cleaner to get rid of the scratch.

#10 (Clear Plastic Polish) to clean up the plastic once in a while. Then use Plexus to protect from scratches.

Always use Micro-fiber cloths. Anything else will scratch the plastic.

FYI.... Meguiar's #17 works wonders on CDs and DVDs.
 
  #20  
Old 07-14-2005 | 11:51 PM
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Ok, who's going to be the guinea pig to try the plastic polish on the tach/speedo to see if it makes it better vs. worse?
Mine came (used) looking like Rossii tried to wipe dirt off of it

I've used the plastic polish to good effect on a miata rear window - but I'm afraid of it's effect on the hard, always visible tach.
 
  #21  
Old 07-15-2005 | 12:13 AM
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My gauge lens look like new. I use a swifer on them to dust them.
Keep one in the car all the time.
Why would you touch them otherwise

Ya got both hands on the wheel, unless shifting right
 
  #22  
Old 07-15-2005 | 04:37 AM
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go to walgreen's photo... and ask if you can have a couple of the white cotton gloves...they are made to handle film and not leave prints and they work fine for taking things apart...you can also clean with them too... I will see if I can get a pic tonight at work...

-Josh
 
  #23  
Old 07-15-2005 | 08:43 AM
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I'd worry about the stitching in the cotton gloves, but it's not a bad idea.

I like my Zaino plastic polish (link below) used with a glass microfiber that I got at a local auto-parts store.

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...ory_Code=Zaino
 
  #24  
Old 07-15-2005 | 07:36 PM
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Cotton gloves? I clean my tach lens in a clean room dressed in full surgical garb. Doh!

Okay, plastic is forgiving, try any of the recommended plastic polishes. Mirror Glaze or CD/DVD liquid restoring stuff works great. Start by applying horizontally to the vertical scratch. You're polishing out the scratch by wearing the optically noticed edges. Then apply with it's direction. Do it mounted in the car. Buff between applications - shes gone.

Now, put on the gloves and run about scaring children.
 
  #25  
Old 07-16-2005 | 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by White_Knuckles
Cotton gloves? I clean my tach lens in a clean room dressed in full surgical garb. Doh!
Now, put on the gloves and run about scaring children.
yea yea yea call me **** but it works and they arent cotton... if I would have read the label they are 100% nylon.. and more of a mesh

-Josh
 


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