From the Airheads Mailing List


I replaced my tach lens after the glass shattered when the cluster got hit. I used the small blade on my Swiss Army knife to saw a groove through the soft metal retaining ring first on the top in plane with the lens (careful not to go deep enough to touch the lens), then worked the side and then underneath. When it was very close, I used the tip just enough to break the crack without distorting the retainer. I gently worked one end free spiralling it off like a circlip so as to flex it the least. I used the knife to carefully pry off the lens with gasket attached. Then I used nail polish to re-adhere gasket to lens and gasket/lens to pod keeping all centered. I bent the retainers tips where I made the cut inward for a little bite (imagine the cross-section of the cut like a staple and bending the tips in just a little). Gently, I worked the retainer back on and around with the break at the top. I held the retainer together tightly and re-secured it with a piece of good scotch tape (with decent tensile strength) and trimed away any excess. I put on a new rubber eyebrow starting opposite the retainer gap (bottom) for maximum elasitc hold and to avoid working any slack into the retainer.

My replaced lens is drier than the original -- no fog and water tight. Try assembling your speedo in a low humidity, cold environment (warmer air can hold more water vapor). Fit some silica gel packets (like you find in electronics packages) into the cluster in such a way that they don't rattle around. This should help reduce the fogging a bit and is completely reversible if not. You could also try filling the pod with helium to exacuate any water vapor, but your voice may be affected.

Hope it helps.

Joe #3335
'78 R80/7