Condensation in Gauge Cluster

[ducwrx]

It's been raining on and off this weekend and my bike was outside as I was at a friend's house. In the morning I noticed that my gauges were fogged up on the inside, so moisture is getting in there. Is the seal replaceable? Has anyone done this? I looked up my parts book and saw that the gauge is one unit. 

[mstevens]

Mine does this, too. It doesn't seem to have harmed anything yet, but I do wonder how long until the whole cluster goes.

[Duc L'Smart]

Some of the 1098's are doing that, & I know some have been replaced under warranty...

[morganf]

I had 3 guage clusters replaced on my '05 DS 1000 Monster due to failures that started with fogging. I noticed fogging right away and then eventually other stuff started going bad like the LCD screen, etc.

All three sets failed, all three were replaced under warranty.  DNA told me that they would honor each set one year from the time of replacement regardless of the remaining factory warranty (i didn't buy the extended warranty).

I wrote several letters to DNA and asked them what the long term solution would be and why they continued to use a subpar part. Not suprisingly, I never heard anything back.

Morgan

[ducwrx]

Hmm. Fortunately my gauges are analog, so maybe it won't be as susceptible to water damage as the LCD/electronic ones. Sucks to hear though. Maybe I'll run some silicon over the seal.

[knightrider]

if you take the guages out of the cluster you will see that they have ventilation holes in the back of them, maybe try sealing those up, or seal up the hole around where the speedo cable enters the cluster so wet air cant get in behind the gauges.

[He Man]

if you take the guages out of the cluster you will see that they have ventilation holes in the back of them, maybe try sealing those up, or seal up the hole around where the speedo cable enters the cluster so wet air cant get in behind the gauges.

Try throwing in a bag of those silicone peas that absorb moisture?

[DuciD03]

Dont know if is recommended but; take you time and carfully pry things appart as follows ...

On a 2003 M 800 ie I took apart the insturment cluster; remove the 2 allen key bolts that hold the insturments onto the tripple; carefully unplug the wire harness (note the one rubber gasket); there is one screw on the back carefully remove then pry from the screw side and the centre plastic piece should pop off; carefull not to damage the rubber insturment gaskets; then there's another "star" screw in the centre of the insturment cluster; remove and carefully pry around the rubber gasket working your way around the gauges and eventuall it will pop off.  Had the whole thing appart and back together without breaking plastic; when reasembling be sure the rubber gaskets were seated properly and not folded or creased to make a good watertight seal.  You'll see that there are 2 air holes that I'de leave open so moisture can evaopoate ....

Maybe just remove the insturment cluster and leave in a sumnny spot to dry out insed for a day or 2 ... it may be much easier ... dont know if this would affect the immobilizer in any way ...

[RB]

Try throwing in a bag of those silicone peas that absorb moisture?

i like that idea.
My cluster only gets the fog after a long ride in the rain.

[knightrider]

yea mine sometimes will get foggy after a ride in the rain aswell. after i sealed the hole around where the speedo cable enters, no more problem. i just used a little bit of insulation foam we have at work.

[Valor]

This is exactly what I did this weekend. I had minor fogging on the inside ... took it apart in under 5 minutes. Wiped and cleaned the inside and back together like new.

Dont know if is recommended but; take you time and carfully pry things appart as follows ...

On a 2003 M 800 ie I took apart the insturment cluster; remove the 2 allen key bolts that hold the insturments onto the tripple; carefully unplug the wire harness (note the one rubber gasket); there is one screw on the back carefully remove then pry from the screw side and the centre plastic piece should pop off; carefull not to damage the rubber insturment gaskets; then there's another "star" screw in the centre of the insturment cluster; remove and carefully pry around the rubber gasket working your way around the gauges and eventuall it will pop off.  Had the whole thing appart and back together without breaking plastic; when reasembling be sure the rubber gaskets were seated properly and not folded or creased to make a good watertight seal.  You'll see that there are 2 air holes that I'de leave open so moisture can evaopoate ....

Maybe just remove the insturment cluster and leave in a sumnny spot to dry out insed for a day or 2 ... it may be much easier ... dont know if this would affect the immobilizer in any way ...