Gauge cluster sun damage ?

[MGB]

Re: Melted Tenere

Crap, I just noticed two small spots on the top of the dash, above the tach, that melted. Not even sure when it happened - I park outside at work all the time for the last 1.5 years and now this. Think I'll take the shield to a tint shop. can't be too costly.

 

[echo_four_romeo]

Re: Melted Tenere

I haven't had any issue with this...however the short shield (stock) I had painted the inside of it flat black. And the Yamaha tall windshield I had painted the lower portion of it. Maybe I'm just getting lucky in the angle of the sun in regards to the windshields.

Also, I have the Madstad bracket.

 

[MGB]

Re: Melted Tenere

Did you simply spray paint the inside yourself? Probably the simplest solution. I think the combination of the parabellum and wasp bracket caused mine. Only two small spots of "melt" I can live with since the part is $112. I just want to make sure I have a permanent solution in place so I don't have to keep remembering to place a rag over the dash.....

I haven't had any issue with this...however the short shield (stock) I had painted the inside of it flat black. And the Yamaha tall windshield I had painted the lower portion of it. Maybe I'm just getting lucky in the angle of the sun in regards to the windshields.

Also, I have the Madstad bracket.

 

[EricV]

Re: Melted Tenere

As readers of this thread have discovered, this is not all that uncommon. However, the root of the problem is washing your bike. Stop doing that, you'll never encounter this issue. 2012 bike picked up in July of 2011, still haven't washed it once. Cleaned some parts, but never washed it. It's only the obsessively clean bikes that melt.

 

[echo_four_romeo]

Re: Melted Tenere

Did you simply spray paint the inside yourself? Probably the simplest solution. I think the combination of the parabellum and wasp bracket caused mine. Only two small spots of "melt" I can live with since the part is $112. I just want to make sure I have a permanent solution in place so I don't have to keep remembering to place a rag over the dash.....

Yeah, I just laid out some old newspapers to protect the garage floor (my apt is kinda picky about that stuff) and just laid the windshield down on that. Did maybe 3 or 4 coats of flat black krylon on the inside of the windshield. Came out pretty good for such a cheap solution. On the bit touring screen I just taped off a section and painted the lower portion the same way.

 

[wtwill]

Melted Dash

After doing some searching, I now know that this actually happens. A couple weeks ago I noticed that my tachometer needle had almost melted off!! I figured there must have been a short in the bulb that lights it. Then I go to pick up my bike from the shop today and they say that my aftermarket windshield caused it. I told them that was BS. I have never heard of such. I guess I was wrong...first time that has ever happened!

So if anyone out there has an extra dash laying around that you would let go for a reasonable price...Im in the market! LOL

Then to top it all off they couldn't get my bike to start at the dealership! Apparently the dumba$$ grabbed a fist full of throttle as he tried to crank the bike and flooded it. ::010:: I will continue to do my own maintenance from now on like I have done on all my other bikes.

 

[HHH]

Re: Melted Dash

Yes some aftermarket windscreens do that, the Puig for Yamaha R1 is notorious for magnifying the sun rays and melting clusters.

They include a warning on some windscreens as well as on their website.

 

[markjenn]

Re: Melted Dash

Apparently the dumba$$ grabbed a fist full of throttle as he tried to crank the bike and flooded it.

Well, there are tens of "dumba$$" in this forum who haven't been able to get the bike to start normally, me five times. So I wouldn't be too quick to judge.

And I'm not sure the windshield problem is strictly an aftermarket one.... I think we've had a couple reports that the Yamaha ones will, under very unusual and specific circumstances, do the same. If you park the bike in the bright sun and notice it concentrating light in the cockpit, it pays to throw something sacrificial across the dash.

- Mark

 

[spam16v]

Re: Melted Dash

stroms do it too

 

[cb0802]

Re: Melted Dash

It happened on mine with the stock windshield. And I don't consider sitting in the parking lot unusual but now I put my gloves over my speedo every time I park.

 

[yz454]

Re: Melted Dash

It,s simple live in the NW, you don,t see the sun that much to hurt anything .

 

[klunsford]

Re: Melted Dash

I carry a towel that I throw up on the gauges when I park... it kept my 2012 melt free.

 

[offcamber]

Re: Melted Dash

I have a tinted MRA screen no issues....but if you just keep the bike dirty its a non-issue ;D

 

[BarkSlayer]

Re: Melted Dash

What brand of shield did you have on the bike when your dash melted?

 

[Dmcleane]

Re: Melted Dash

I had some damage on the dash of a previous bike. I make a point now of draping my jacket over the windshield when I'm parked out in the sun.

 

[wtwill]

Re: Melted Dash

What brand of shield did you have on the bike when your dash melted?

Parabellum

 

[Boondocker]

Re: Melted Dash

Blaming dash melt on an aftermarket screen is BS. I have melt lines on my dash with the stock low and OEM touring screens. THe sun melts the dash, not the screen. I found that a helmet bag, those that come with most new helmets, fit nicely over the stock screen. Most of those helmet bags have a cinch cord, so you can tighten it on and it won't blow off. They don't completely cover the OEM touring screen though, but close enough. Anything bigger, get your own solution. I have a bike cover that I use in the summer time because the UV Index is pretty high in my town.

 

[BarkSlayer]

Re: Melted Dash

If it's the sun that melts dashes, why cover the shield? Wouldn't covering the dash make more sense?

We all played with magnifying glasses as kids to focus sunlight. Under the right conditions, it's conceivable that curved plex or polycarbonate could focus enough sunlight on the dash to raise the surface temp to the melting point. Why is that crazy?

 

[Dogdaze]

Re: Melted Dash

A cheapo auto windshield solar screen works wonders, and when fully open covers part of the seat too ::008::
Yes, it looks chav, but then better than a burnt arse.

 

[elmo_4_vt]

Re: Melted Dash

Hard to believe that actually happens... For what it's worth, I used one of these half covers on my old bike and plan to move it's use over the Super T. Great for sun and rain/dew and packs up very small. Started off as a good piece to cover my riding gear when camping (put pants, jacket and helmet on the seat then cover). I got the Large version to cover my KLR with luggage. It's a little tighter on the Super T, but still covers the stock windshield and around the bars and back over my 25L top box. If anyone is interested, I can take and post a pic.

http://www.amazon.com/Nelson-Rigg-UV-2000-04-XL-Silver-X-Large-Cover/dp/B000GTV7JI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420219124&sr=8-1&keywords=motorcycle+half+cover

Don

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