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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: xtopher on April 17, 2007, 02:59:20 PM

Title: Will a 2004 GS500F instrument cluster work on a 1996 GS500E
Post by: xtopher on April 17, 2007, 02:59:20 PM
I'm looking to buy a 1996 GS500E. The previous owner decorated the right side of the motorcycle by crashing it and smashing the right side cover pretty good and the instrument cluster got smacked a bit (it still works but its kinda banged up).

Anyway, will a 2004 GS500F instrument cluster work on a 1996 GS500E? I might just give it a try since it's a cheap gamble but I'd feel better knowing for sure first.

Thanks,
Chris


(P.S. Any aftermarket cluster recommendations (digital?) are welcome...although I know more $$$?)
Title: Re: Will a 2004 GS500F instrument cluster work on a 1996 GS500E
Post by: Alphamazing on April 17, 2007, 03:15:50 PM
The speedometer will work, the tachometer will not work without doing some electrical work.
Title: Re: Will a 2004 GS500F instrument cluster work on a 1996 GS500E
Post by: xtopher on April 17, 2007, 03:45:21 PM
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on April 17, 2007, 03:15:50 PM
The speedometer will work, the tachometer will not work without doing some electrical work.

Thanks for the quick reply!

How extensive/minor electrical work?
Title: Re: Will a 2004 GS500F instrument cluster work on a 1996 GS500E
Post by: Alphamazing on April 17, 2007, 03:51:23 PM
Quote from: xtopher on April 17, 2007, 03:45:21 PM
How extensive/minor electrical work?

If I remember correctly you need to tap into the wiring harness so that the '04's electric tach has something to run and work off of. I don't know exactly. Pre-'04 bikes used mechanical tachometers.
Title: Re: Will a 2004 GS500F instrument cluster work on a 1996 GS500E
Post by: ducati_nolan on April 17, 2007, 04:56:04 PM
JC Whitney has mechanical speedos and tachs for $40 each that should work on the GS. It may be easer to get a cheap mechanical tach than to try and wire up an electrical one. They look prety good too

here is a link

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2008924/c-10111/Nty-1/p-2008924/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-10111/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=tachometer

It only lists Kawasaki and Yamaha models but it'd be worth a call. I think most of the Jap bikes can interchange mecanical tachs anyways, but I'm not 100% sure