Speedo and Tach Guage LED lights

[Torstein]

post pics when you get them installed!

[ShowBizWolf]

Ordered mine from superbrightleds.com too 

[Torstein]

Here is my new dash. The tach is washed out a bit, seems like the overlay is wearing out or something. The speedo looks better, but they both look nice at night. I also threw new bulbs in the oil and neutral slots. I wanted to do a turn signal bulb, but it would only flash for one direction, if I flipped the bulb, it flashed for the other direction. How do I fix that?

[jdoorn14]

Here is my new dash. The tach is washed out a bit, seems like the overlay is wearing out or something. The speedo looks better, but they both look nice at night. I also threw new bulbs in the oil and neutral slots. I wanted to do a turn signal bulb, but it would only flash for one direction, if I flipped the bulb, it flashed for the other direction. How do I fix that?

Search for LED turn signal indicator diode fix.

[ShowBizWolf]

That's how my tach is too Torstein... guess they just fade!! 


There was a thread I'm remembering from years(ish) ago... where a person who was making custom gauge faces but it turned into a bit of a runaround if I recall correctly.

The turn signal issue... yeah jdoorn is correct, if you search on here you'll find lots of info and threads about how LED bulbs can't just be swapped as easily for the signals. I just left mine alone, they are still regular bulbs cuz I didn't want to get into all that.

[jdoorn14]

The turn signal issue... yeah jdoorn is correct, if you search on here you'll find lots of info and threads about how LED bulbs can't just be swapped as easily for the signals. I just left mine alone, they are still regular bulbs cuz I didn't want to get into all that.

More specific to the dash indicator, the way the turn signals work is that if the flow is positive to negative, one direction flashes. If the flow is negative to positive, the other direction flashes. The incandescent bulb will flash as long as the current is applied in either direction. The LED you bought to replace the indicator is polarized, meaning it will only flash when current is flowing in one direction and one side is flashing. That's why when you turn it around the other direction will cause it to flash.

You have two possible solutions. 1) Find a direct replacement LED that is a non-polarized LED. This will allow it to flash when either direction signals are flashing. This not available for 2004+. You'd have to file down an LED to fit the socket. 2) Splice into the indicator wire harness and install diodes such that you funnel current to the turn signal indicator in the proper current flow direction regardless which side your turn signal is flashing. This is what's known as the 'LED indicator diode fix'.

[Torstein]

mehh, i'll just leave the turn signal one alone then. no sense in screwing around with a work-around. too bad about the fading overlays. seems like it wouldn't be too difficult to make my own but i probably wont.

[Torstein]

The turn signal issue... yeah jdoorn is correct, if you search on here you'll find lots of info and threads about how LED bulbs can't just be swapped as easily for the signals. I just left mine alone, they are still regular bulbs cuz I didn't want to get into all that.

More specific to the dash indicator, the way the turn signals work is that if the flow is positive to negative, one direction flashes. If the flow is negative to positive, the other direction flashes. The incandescent bulb will flash as long as the current is applied in either direction. The LED you bought to replace the indicator is polarized, meaning it will only flash when current is flowing in one direction and one side is flashing. That's why when you turn it around the other direction will cause it to flash.

You have two possible solutions. 1) Find a direct replacement LED that is a non-polarized LED. This will allow it to flash when either direction signals are flashing. This not available for 2004+. You'd have to file down an LED to fit the socket. 2) Splice into the indicator wire harness and install diodes such that you funnel current to the turn signal indicator in the proper current flow direction regardless which side your turn signal is flashing. This is what's known as the 'LED indicator diode fix'.

very cool, thanks for the good information!!

[Mr. BIGGZ]

Thanks for sharing pics Torstein and Showbiz. I have tons of goodies to install, but no time. 

Hope to get some wrenching done this weekend.

[CarlM]

Ok, thanks to all the great advice on this board (some links at the bottom) and the GSTwins wiki, I was able to convert my speedo & tach and my dash indicator lights (oil/neutral/brights) to LEDs and got great results.  I did NOT convert the turn signal dash indicator light to LED because i was not ready to do the LED Diode Modification (you can search it) required to convert that one.  So as a thank you and to repay the favor, here is my step-by-step with photos, including superbrightleds.com part numbers and even the invoice/packing list with up-to-date parts.

My bike is a 2002 GS500.   Here's the bike and the before picture.  My speedometer light was burnt, and a replacement lens on my brights indicator looked a little purple (a blue LED fixed that)


Ok, first for the Speedo/Tach Gauges LED upgrade:  I tried both blue and white LEDs, and decided I liked the blue. Here are shots of the LEDS (blue and white) and original bulb for the gauges.



I took off the chrome cap nuts (2 bolts per gauge) holding the gauges in the housing. And later I did take out the two bolts holding the dash indicators in place. (I watched a you-tube video of how to change the bulbs).  I did NOT need to disconnect the speedo cable or anything else.  There is enough room to get to the gauge bulbs just by moving the gauges within the housing.


5-LED replacing incandescent bulb (194-NWHP5 = white, 194-BHP5 = blue).
I turned on the bulb to be sure it was working, confirming correct polarity. First white, then blue.


Picture of white LED in speedo and blue LED in tach.  I decided to go with blue in both.


Now for the dash indicator lights:  Here are photos and part numbers for the LEDs.


And here is the great final result.


and a copy of the purchase info from superbrightleds


Notes:

• I did not upgrade the turn signal indicator light in the dash (see LED Diode Mod).
• The four LED blue light is a little too bright for the "brights" indicator.  I don't use my brights much in the city so its not a big deal, but if I was to do it again, I would use a 1-LED (194-B-90) blue light for the brights.
• The wiki says my 2002 bike should have needed #74 base LEDs, but the #194 base LEDS worked great in both the gauges and the dash indicator lights.  I recall a reference that it is 2004 and newer bikes that need the smaller base, but can't confirm
• The blue LED fixed my "purplish" brights replacement lens issue

and for reference and a big THANK YOU, here are some direct links to a few threads, besides this one, that helped me.  Including a couple from addidasguy (RIP).
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=62474.msg729921#msg729921
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57144.msg647306#msg647306
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=67072.msg807287#msg807287

___________________________________________________________________

5/5/2019 UPDATE:
GREAT NEWS. The 194-G4-90 LED Bulb from SuperBrightLEDs  is "NON_POLARIZED"!! This means it works in the turn signal indicator without the need to do LED Diode Mod.  Just plug the bulb in and it works - for left and right signal!  I noticed in the catalog that it was listed as non-polarized, but the label on the bulb I bought for the neutral light said polarized.  I contacted tech support, they confirmed the bulb is indeed non-polarized, the package is incorrect, and they submitted a change request to correct the package label.  I installed it today, and it worked! 

I also switched out the 4 led bulb for a 1 led bulb for the blue BRIGHTs indicator, so its not as bright.

So here is the current list of bulbs from SuperBrightLEDs to change the whole set of gauges and indicators to LED:

Gauge Lights:
Speedometer: 194-BHP5- Led Bulb – 5 SMD LED Tower - Miniature Wedge Base – Blue
Tachometer: 194-BHP5- Led Bulb – 5 SMD LED Tower - Miniature Wedge Base – Blue
(Alternate color option 194-NWHP5 – Natural White, or other colors available)

LED Indicator Lights:
Oil Pressure: 194-R4-90 Led Bulb – 4 LED Miniature Wedge Base – Red Wide
Neutral: 194-G4-90 Led Bulb – 4 LED Miniature Wedge Base – Green Wide
Turn Indicator: 194-G4-90 Led Bulb – 4 LED Miniature Wedge Base – Green Wide (same bulb as Neutral)
Bright Lights: 194-B-90 Led Bulb – 1 LED Miniature Wedge Base – Blue 90 Degree

[ShowBizWolf]

That is interesting about your 2002 being able to use the 194's (in the indicator sockets). I've just been over a few parts diagrams for 2000 and earlier models and compared them to a few 2001 and newer diagrams... and the bulb part numbers change then (from 2000 to 2001)... except for the high beam bulb.

BUT, the change shows that you should be able to use them (because they are the same as the bulbs in the gauges) which is information contrary to the wiki. I'm wondering if it's time to edit that info....

https://www.motosport.com/motorcycle/oem-parts/suzuki/2000/gs500e/speedometer-_-tachometer

https://www.motosport.com/motorcycle/oem-parts/suzuki/2001/gs500/speedometer-_-tachometer

I remember years ago when I swapped out my dash bulbs in my 1998 (all but the turn signal one) I thought I needed the 74 base bulbs for the indicators... but when I got them, the 74s were much too small and wouldn't work at all in the sockets. I had to order 194s... which would make my 1998 similar to what you encountered with your 2002 (194 bulbs working for all sockets).

I love your post CarlM and am really glad you got it all sorted! I can't see the pictures on the computers here at work but I look forward to checking them out later when I get home.

[CarlM]

5/5/2019 UPDATE:
GREAT NEWS. The 194-G4-90 LED Bulb from SuperBrightLEDs  is "NON_POLARIZED"!! This means it works in the turn signal indicator without the need to do LED Diode Mod.  Just plug the bulb in and it works - for left and right signal!  I noticed in the catalog that it was listed as non-polarized, but the label on the bulb I bought for the neutral light said polarized.  I contacted tech support, they confirmed the bulb is indeed non-polarized, the package is incorrect, and they submitted a change request to correct the package label.  I installed it today, and it worked! 

So here is the current list of bulbs from SuperBrightLEDs to change the whole set of gauges and indicators to LED:
About $25 for the whole set.

LED Gauge Lights:
Speedometer: 194-BHP5- Led Bulb – 5 SMD LED Tower - Miniature Wedge Base – Blue
Tachometer: 194-BHP5- Led Bulb – 5 SMD LED Tower - Miniature Wedge Base – Blue
(Alternate color option 194-NWHP5 – Natural White, or other colors available)

LED Indicator Lights:
Oil Pressure: 194-R4-90 Led Bulb – 4 LED Miniature Wedge Base – Red Wide
Neutral: 194-G4-90 Led Bulb – 4 LED Miniature Wedge Base – Green Wide
Turn Indicator: 194-G4-90 Led Bulb – 4 LED Miniature Wedge Base – Green Wide (same bulb as Neutral)
Bright Lights: 194-B-90 Led Bulb – 1 LED Miniature Wedge Base – Blue 90 Degree