BREAKING NEWS
- >>19-Apr-2010: XJ650 Hardtail Chopper
- >>07-Apr-2010: The New Everything Yamaha XJ650 Site
- >>06-Apr-2010: Hacked
- >>23-Jul-2009: XJ650 Adventure
- >>26-May-2009: Green with Envy
- >>06-Apr-2009: HOW TO: Bench Synch your Carbs
- >>30-Mar-2009: HOW TO: Install a Headlight Modulator
- >>27-Mar-2009: Red Beast
- >>12-Jan-2009: HOW TO: Test a Relay
- >>11-Jan-2009: Silver Special Maxim
XJ650 Hardtail Chopper
I came across this chopper on my countless hours spent looking at pictures of Yamaha Maxim and Seca motorcycles. I really loved the clean look of this hardtail chopper. I had the misfortune of losing my muffler on a midnight ride into Istanbul, Turkey and I remember how loud it was. Looking at the missing muffler on this motorcycle makes me cringe thinking about the noise this bad boy must unleash. The owner of this Yamaha XJ650 hardtail is a g...
Readmore...The New Everything Yamaha XJ650 Site
Well after many hours in front of the computer I have given the Everything Yamaha XJ650 site a complete face lift. I hope you like the new look. T...
Readmore...Hacked
Over the weekend this site was hacked. I'm not sure why, it's not as if we have a huge following. I'm pretty sure it's the Honda CBR crowd jealous...
Readmore...XJ650 Adventure
I know alot of people just come to this site for the great 'How-To's" and to get ideas for their XJ650 restoration projects but I wanted to direct...
Readmore...
Howto
HOW TO: Bench Synch your...
This is a "How-To" on bench-synching carburetors. I've noticed quite a people (me being one of them) searching for clear instructions on how to do this. At some point recently I came upon them, but I can't seem to find them anymore. So, I decided to
More...Fuel
HOW TO: Bench Synch your...
This is a "How-To" on bench-synching carburetors. I've noticed quite a people (me being one of them) searching for clear instructions on how to do this. At some point recently I came upon them, but I can't seem to find them anymore. So, I decided to
More...Electrical
HOW TO: Install a Headli...
Have you ever seen those motorcycles coming at you with those headlight modulators? The pulsating headlight makes them very noticeable to other motorists. Unfortunately, these units can be rather expensive. After doing some research, I've come up wi
More...Engine
Readersrides
XJ650 Hardtail Chopper...
I came across this chopper on my countless hours spent looking at pictures of Yamaha Maxim and Seca motorcycles. I really loved the clean look of this hardtail chopper. I had the misfortune of losing my muffler on a midnight ride into Istanbul, Turk
More...Chasis
HOW TO: Change your fork...
You noticed it sometime back, but ignored it hoping it would go away. But, it hasn't. In your embarrassment, you quickly wipe off your fork tubes when meeting friends for fear that they might say something. Worse yet, it's gotten so bad that your fr
More...Travel
XJ650 Adventure...
I know alot of people just come to this site for the great 'How-To's" and to get ideas for their XJ650 restoration projects but I wanted to direct you to another side of owning a Yamaha XJ650... riding! As the administrator of this blog you can gues
More...Ads
HOW TO: Replace instrument cluster light bulbs
Posted on January 9, 2009 and filed under breakingnews , Electrical , Howto . You can follow any responses to this entry through theRSS 2.0 . You can leave a response or trackback to this entry from your site
You see it every time you climb on your bike. It sits there providing you with a mountain of information for your riding pleasure. It does its job without complaint. But every once in awhile, something goes wrong and you're forced to open her up.
Well, that's the case for this latest installment in my "How-To" series. When I bought my bike, I noticed that the tachometer light wasn't working. It was mid April heading into summer. I was a new rider and had no plans on riding at night, so I didn't bother fixing it.
Well, times have changed. Here it is the beginning of October and I'm fighting tooth and nail for every riding day I can get. I've embraced—with open arms—the idea of riding at night. But, that burned out tachometer light has got to be fixed. I've just got to know what's going on in the engine room.
Enough of that. Let's get started with our project.
Here are the steps...
1. Remove tachometer cable (if so equipped).
2. Remove speedometer cable.
3. Remove instrument cluster mounting bolts.
4. Remove headlight from headlight bucket.
5. Unplug and fish through the wiring harnesses for the speedometer lights, the tachometer lights, (the tachometer head, if so equipped), and idiot light tree.
6. Remove the instrument cluster.
7. Remove the screws from the rear of the instrument cluster.
8. Remove the chrome housing.
9. Remove and replace the light bulbs.
10. Perform any other work that needs to be done (cleaning, lubing, etc.)
11. Reinstallation is the reverse process.
That's about it. This one's pretty easy to take care of.
Bonus Tip: if you scroll back up and look at the instrument cluster you'll see a small digital clock affixed to the tachometer. That's held there by a piece of Velcro. This allows me to remove it when I wash the bike or find myself in a heavy down pour. Underneath the head cover (that plastic piece surrounding the ignition switch) you'll find another piece of Velcro. I can stick the clock there until the wet condition passes.
(Written by Don Bangert Author of several How-To's and the blog, The Path Less Traveled