Re: Back light for Turbo Meter

CX500 & CX650 Turbo Forum

Back light for Turbo Meter


shavron 05-04-2008, 10:37 AM
My Turbo Meter on the dash works, but there is no back light. I went the change the bulb and didn’t see one for the Turbo Meter. I’m I missing something?
Also my reserve light doesn’t come on at start up. The bulb is ok, the fuel gauge works. Any suggestions?

Ron
1975 Honda GL1000
1975 Suzuki RE5M
1976 Suzuki RE5A
1981 Honda CBX
1982 Honda CX500 TC
2000 Honda Goldwing A

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


Don in Oz 05-04-2008, 4:32 PM

Ron, As far as I can remember, the low-fuel light doesn't get a "switch-on" test, but you can check it by temporarily placing a "jumper" from the its lead from the fuel sender to frame to see if the wiring may be at fault.  

I also remember looking for a back-light for the turbometer - and the clock - and thinking Honda didn't ride the bike much at night. 

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


Anonymous 05-05-2008, 6:44 AM
Well, I guess I agree with Honda...... who the heck would do any significant boosting at night?? One would already be overdriving the lights at 60+. Besides, it doesn't take too much riding to get a feel for the engine's response and have a pretty good idea how hard you are pushing it........ pretty rare around here anyhow, if one tries to push it,  since the bike very quickly exceeds either safe or legal speeds... usually before you can can get a chance to look at the boost indicator. The primary indicator to be watched is actually the tach. Even in daylight I don't keep my eyes glued to the mickey mouse boost indicator since it doesn't mean anything anyhow. How many PSI is 1/8 or 1/4 or 1/2 of an inch wider anyhow??

J.T.j

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


Don in Oz 05-05-2008, 4:33 PM

Jim, Only too true.   I don't know what the turbometer reads, 'cos I don't have time to watch more than the tacho, either.

Some guys here in Oz - and Chicago - want to know what the boost is for various "bars" on that meter, so I'm setting up to measure it soon - maybe after I see you next, in August.   Time is running out for peripheral things, now.

The clock could certainly do with more backlight, though.

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


shavron 05-06-2008, 4:06 AM
I guess this means that the Turbo gauge isn’t back lit. Now I can stop staring into the blackness on the instrument cluster when screaming down the street. OK I just thought they would have back lit all the instruments and I had a bulb out.
Ron
1975 Honda GL1000
1975 Suzuki RE5M
1976 Suzuki RE5A
1981 Honda CBX
1982 Honda CX500 TC
2000 Honda Goldwing A

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


George in Indiana 05-06-2008, 5:14 AM
It IS backlit. Something is wrong with yours.
Also the shop manual tells what the boost reading is for the amount of segments lit up. Never checked it for accuracy though.
CX500 TURBO
CX650 TURBO
'86 Honda Elite 150 Deluxe
'04 GSX1300R Hayabusa

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


CXTURBOBOOST 05-06-2008, 3:21 PM
George is right as usual.

Pete

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


Don in Oz 05-06-2008, 8:25 PM

OK, Pete and George.  The back-lights aren't "dedicated" ones, but there are six back-lights in all, in the CX500Turbo instrument cluster.

Looking at the "back" of the instruments (that which gets covered by the bonnet), start at the LH side (normally referred to as the RHS of the bike when you are sitting on it).  There is one in the lower lefthand corner (behind the fuel gauge), then another light behind the red-line of the tacho, then another behind the "0" of the tacho.   There are NO back-lights up near the top of the LHS of the instruments.   All these three lights are along the LOWER edge of the instrument cluster body.

The next back-light is about two inches to the right of the instrument regulator, one about two inches to its right, and another (awkward to find) behind the loom clamped to the rear of the instrument cluster body, about 2 inches above the clock cancel/set knob.  This last light is probably for the clock illumination.   The first-mentioned one in this para. is probably meant to be the illumination for the turbometer, but, being covered up by the fairing mounting frame, it probably gets overlooked, or it's too difficult to get at.

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


CXTURBOBOOST 05-07-2008, 6:07 PM
Dear "Turbo Doctor"

I'm no doctor of the Turbo's but have been around one since 1982 when it was brand new. The turbo gauge has a built in back-lighting. Of course it lights up at night. How else would you see it? You can see ALL of my turbo bar gauges better at night than during the day on ALL of my bikes. It's a cool greenish color.


Pete

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


CXTURBOBOOST 05-07-2008, 6:10 PM
How do I post pictures on here? I have a good one I would like to share with everyone.

Pete

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


Don in Oz 05-08-2008, 4:39 PM
Pete, You're right again, BUT on the three sets of instruments I own, I would call it VERY DIM backlighting.   Without opening up the turbo meter, I would say its source could be one of the very first LEDs - it's that weak - and yes, it's powered by the wires which actually go to the turbometer, not from the other instrument illumination wires.

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


CXTURBOBOOST 05-08-2008, 5:55 PM
Don,

You are right in the fact that it is a little dimmer than the rest of the gauges, but it is still very easily seen at night on all of the CXT's I've ever been on. George is right in the fact that if this individual can't see his meter at night, something is wrong with the meter itself.

Pete

Re: Back light for Turbo Meter


kingbobdole 05-13-2008, 11:13 PM
<img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/kingbobdole/Motorcycle/000_0030.jpg" border="0" />

or
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/kingbobdole/Motorcycle/000_0030.jpg

if that didn't work. Right between my other gauges you can see the turbo one... not the brightest thing for sure, but readable.
1979 Honda CX500
1982 Honda CX500 TTTTUUURRRBBBOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Copyright 1978-2006 Charles E. Smith

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