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Condensation in Gauge Cluster

Started by ducwrx, May 25, 2008, 06:34:46 PM

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ducwrx

It's been raining on and off this weekend and my bike was outside as I was at a friend's house. In the morning I noticed that my gauges were fogged up on the inside, so moisture is getting in there. Is the seal replaceable? Has anyone done this? I looked up my parts book and saw that the gauge is one unit.  :P
02 620 Dark in the land of the midnight sun.

mstevens

Mine does this, too. It doesn't seem to have harmed anything yet, but I do wonder how long until the whole cluster goes.
2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200S Touring (Rosso Anniversary Ducati)
2009 Ducati Monster 696 (Giallo Ducati) - Sold
2005 Ducati Monster 620 (Rosso Anniversary Ducati) - Sold
2005 Vespa LX-150 (Rosso Dragone) - First Bike Ever

Casa Suzana, vacation rental house in Cozumel, Mexico

Duc L'Smart

Some of the 1098's are doing that, & I know some have been replaced under warranty...
'07 1098s, '06 Paul Smart LE, '99 BMW K1200RS, '73 BMW R75/5, '67 Ducati Monza 250 Bevel Drive, '63 Vespa GS 160

morganf

#3
I had 3 guage clusters replaced on my '05 DS 1000 Monster due to failures that started with fogging. I noticed fogging right away and then eventually other stuff started going bad like the LCD screen, etc.

All three sets failed, all three were replaced under warranty.  DNA told me that they would honor each set one year from the time of replacement regardless of the remaining factory warranty (i didn't buy the extended warranty).

I wrote several letters to DNA and asked them what the long term solution would be and why they continued to use a subpar part. Not suprisingly, I never heard anything back.

Morgan

ducwrx

Hmm. Fortunately my gauges are analog, so maybe it won't be as susceptible to water damage as the LCD/electronic ones. Sucks to hear though. Maybe I'll run some silicon over the seal.
02 620 Dark in the land of the midnight sun.

knightrider

if you take the guages out of the cluster you will see that they have ventilation holes in the back of them, maybe try sealing those up, or seal up the hole around where the speedo cable enters the cluster so wet air cant get in behind the gauges.
1994 M900

He Man

Quote from: knightrider on May 26, 2008, 01:14:52 PM
if you take the guages out of the cluster you will see that they have ventilation holes in the back of them, maybe try sealing those up, or seal up the hole around where the speedo cable enters the cluster so wet air cant get in behind the gauges.

Try throwing in a bag of those silicone peas that absorb moisture?
2006 Ducati S2R1100 Yea.... stunttin like my daddy CHROMED OUT 1100!!!!


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DuciD03

Dont know if is recommended but; take you time and carfully pry things appart as follows ...

On a 2003 M 800 ie I took apart the insturment cluster; remove the 2 allen key bolts that hold the insturments onto the tripple; carefully unplug the wire harness (note the one rubber gasket); there is one screw on the back carefully remove then pry from the screw side and the centre plastic piece should pop off; carefull not to damage the rubber insturment gaskets; then there's another "star" screw in the centre of the insturment cluster; remove and carefully pry around the rubber gasket working your way around the gauges and eventuall it will pop off.  Had the whole thing appart and back together without breaking plastic; when reasembling be sure the rubber gaskets were seated properly and not folded or creased to make a good watertight seal.  You'll see that there are 2 air holes that I'de leave open so moisture can evaopoate ....

Maybe just remove the insturment cluster and leave in a sumnny spot to dry out insed for a day or 2 ... it may be much easier ... dont know if this would affect the immobilizer in any way ...
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RB

Quote from: He Man on May 26, 2008, 01:57:01 PM
Try throwing in a bag of those silicone peas that absorb moisture?

i like that idea.
My cluster only gets the fog after a long ride in the rain.

knightrider

yea mine sometimes will get foggy after a ride in the rain aswell. after i sealed the hole around where the speedo cable enters, no more problem. i just used a little bit of insulation foam we have at work.
1994 M900

Valor

This is exactly what I did this weekend. I had minor fogging on the inside ... took it apart in under 5 minutes. Wiped and cleaned the inside and back together like new.


Quote from: DuciD03 on May 26, 2008, 11:12:30 PM
Dont know if is recommended but; take you time and carfully pry things appart as follows ...

On a 2003 M 800 ie I took apart the insturment cluster; remove the 2 allen key bolts that hold the insturments onto the tripple; carefully unplug the wire harness (note the one rubber gasket); there is one screw on the back carefully remove then pry from the screw side and the centre plastic piece should pop off; carefull not to damage the rubber insturment gaskets; then there's another "star" screw in the centre of the insturment cluster; remove and carefully pry around the rubber gasket working your way around the gauges and eventuall it will pop off.  Had the whole thing appart and back together without breaking plastic; when reasembling be sure the rubber gaskets were seated properly and not folded or creased to make a good watertight seal.  You'll see that there are 2 air holes that I'de leave open so moisture can evaopoate ....

Maybe just remove the insturment cluster and leave in a sumnny spot to dry out insed for a day or 2 ... it may be much easier ... dont know if this would affect the immobilizer in any way ...