Is the water guage on the 996/998 perspects or similar material. Mine has cracked in a number of places.. I think due to heat/cold as its not taken a knock that Im aware of. Can you fit another replacement glass/screen to them or is it a case of a new clock. It hasnt bothered me but getting further cracks in it and saw a 996 up in the lake district yesterday which had similar issues.. so figure is could be a common problem?
Sadly it's a common problem more-so in hotter climates. It's possible to buy alloy bezels and fit glass or perspex in them and that stops the problem. I have had a set for years but have never fitted them. It is also possible to change the bezel with the plastic lens in place but it is not for the faint hearted and there is a technique to it, which i have seen being done but I wouldn't want to attempt it myself. I have had my temperature gauge bezel changed twice but it has still started to show the first signs of cracking again. Which is more worrying as I have custom gauges. The easiest solution is another gauge but that will quite probably go again in time as well. Sometimes the speed and the rev counter can also start to show signs of cracking. Strangely I have a a 748SPS with all the original instruments and that is absolutely fine whilst my newer 998 seem to suffer from problems.
Thanks for the info.. Good to know! Yes a replacement may also go so I might have a crack at it with a glass or Perspex replacement. I'm guessing you would silicone it into the bezel.. then this back onto the clock body?
FAB, that would be this problem If you find a way of doing a good quality repair, let us know. White gauges are rare as hens teeth for the 748, not sure how mine ended up that way and I want to keep them white rather than using the easily obtainable black faced spare. Probably affects 1/3rd of the 748/9xxs I have seen.
My gauges were originally done by Superdials who are now defunct and the business was sold to Lockwood who specialise more in car dials. I watched as Rob Driver the owner of Superdials at the time showed me how to remove the bezel on the water gauge. He pierced the side of the gauge with a small soldering iron and then used a blunt knife similar to a paper opening knife and then worked his way around the bezel until the bezel came off with the lens intact. If you see the bezel off the gauge then you can see why the lens cannot be replaced on its own as it is set into the bezel with glue. It's the reason why either the bezel or the lens will crack as the rates of expansion of the glue are not commensurate with the different rates of expansion of the lens or bezel and the weak one goes first, hence why sometimes it's the lens and sometimes it's the bezel that cracks. After one has gone first then you sometimes get both starting to crack. To replace the bezel you use "soft" epoxy resin which then allows the bezel to be removed if and when they go again. In my case the water gauge did and it was easier the second time round. As mentioned it's not a job for the faint hearted and it does take skill and technique.
Ive picked up a replacement 998 temp guage, and going to take the original off and have a crack (not sure thats the right term to use) at replacing the glass and silicone/flexible glue it into a new bezel. Ill report back if any success.
Coincidentally that was the mileage showing when I had them swapped over, it does seem to be a nice touch though(!).
