Author Topic: dash needle melting on 08 C14 (Read 6346 times)

spotcw · « **on:** June 27, 2012, 10:50:27 AM »

My bike sat in the sun yesterday for about 4 hours and when I came back the needles for the speedo and tach melted from heat??? Looks really bad but the guages seem to work fine. Is this normal for the 2008 C14? I called the kawy dealer and they told me they haven't heard anything about this and the manufacturer won't do anything about it. Its a motorcycle for gods sake it should be able to sit in sun for a couple hours right?

stevewfl · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2012, 10:55:04 AM »

if you have extended warranty and the if the windshield is not stock put the Kawi windshield on they will fix it.

Unless something has changed anyway, many have had this repaired under warranty

Conrad · « **Reply #2 on:** June 27, 2012, 10:55:44 AM »

I wouldn't call it 'normal' but we have had it happen to some folks in the past. It was covered under warranty, if your bike still has a warranty in effect it should be covered. The fix it to replace the gauge cluster.

rush2112 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2012, 11:25:19 AM »

105 degrees here in Houston yesterday! Surprised everything on my Connie didn't melt!!!!!

MrPepsi · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2012, 11:55:56 AM »

In the past I have heard it was blamed on an aftermarket shield so if you have one on, change it out for a stock shield before taking it to the dealer.

556ALPHA · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2012, 12:16:14 PM »

I had not only melted needles but a hole in the plastic. It is well known by Kawa. I ALWAYS place a white towel over my dash now regardless of the temperature. I made sure stock screen was on and it was replaced under warranty. I may be wrong but if electronics/needles replaced then mileage may be reset. I kept the slightly melted needle to keep it all original, but they did replace the plastic component of the dash. Temp was 77 and sun was rising mid am at the time. Exposure was less than 30 min. Did I mention that now I ALWAYS cover the dash.

sherob · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2012, 12:19:17 PM »

I always slide an el-cheapo tshirt over my shield now when I park in the sun... being over a mile high (physically anyway) it has helped.

stevewfl · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2012, 04:21:59 PM »

Quote from: 556ALPHA on June 27, 2012, 12:16:14 PM

I had not only melted needles but a hole in the plastic. It is well known by Kawa. I ALWAYS place a white towel over my dash now regardless of the temperature. I made sure stock screen was on and it was replaced under warranty. I may be wrong but if electronics/needles replaced then mileage may be reset. I kept slightly melted needle to keep all original but the did replace the plastic component of the dash. Temp was 77 and sun was rising mid am at the time. Exposure was less than 30 min. Did I mention that ai now ALWAYS cover the dash.

Me too, but i don NOT pin my bags

Jay · « **Reply #8 on:** June 28, 2012, 01:05:14 AM »

Or you could use something like this: http://www.cycleshade.com/
Ostensibly for Harley's but the How to Attach the Cycle Shade video states, "it will fit anything on the market."
Pretty much looks like it's a portable tarp.

(No affiliation)

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #9 on:** June 28, 2012, 04:31:58 AM »

You guys do know that issues can happen with the dash while the bike is moving depending on the sun angle, don't you? We've had some reports in the past of that. I've got a shade over the cluster I bought through here while forum 1 was active. Don't remember who made them and I've been doubting it's protectiveness here lately. Supposedly wards of elephants and Tasmanian Devils as well. I guess it works as I haven't seen either of the two or have melted needles. I do have the slight branding that can come from the shield and at extreme temps the LCD will get some internal shading but it's not enough for me to go to the dealer to get it replaced, but that happened pre-shade.

Conrad · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2012, 04:41:05 AM »

Get you one of these.

Nelson Rigg UV-2000 in XL.

Great light weight reflective cover for keeping the sun off the bike in the summer and as a 'dust' cover for the winter months inside the garage.

~$35, comes with a storage 'fanny pack' and the whole thing packs down pretty small.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2012, 05:07:31 AM »

Somewhat awkward to ride with one of those installed, I would think.

Conrad · « **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2012, 05:09:39 AM »

It takes a bit of getting used to. Keeps the bug guts to a minimum too. The flapping above highway speeds is a bit of a distraction though.

gPink · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2012, 05:57:32 AM »

If you had that in black you wouldn't have to worry about 'above highway speeds'.

stevewfl · « **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2012, 06:06:32 AM »

I would think we'd start seeing items such as the gauge cluster on ebay. But although there are some parts on ebay, not a decent selection.

I hope i can run mine to 200K them sell it as a parts bike or use it as a spare after i by one of you all's pretty, farkled up, clean garage queens with low miles

r2t2 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 28, 2012, 03:06:51 PM »

Quote from: VirginiaJim on June 28, 2012, 05:07:31 AM

Somewhat awkward to ride with one of those installed, I would think.

Just cut out two eye holes...

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #16 on:** June 28, 2012, 03:52:21 PM »

Excellent idea!

Conrad · « **Reply #17 on:** June 28, 2012, 04:03:54 PM »

Quote from: r2t2 on June 28, 2012, 03:06:51 PM

Just cut out two eye holes...

Quote from: VirginiaJim on June 28, 2012, 03:52:21 PM

Excellent idea!

Maybe I'll see if my wife will cut the holes for me, I'm not very good with scissors...

maxtog · « **Reply #18 on:** June 28, 2012, 04:50:13 PM »

Quote from: spotcw on June 27, 2012, 10:50:27 AM

My bike sat in the sun yesterday for about 4 hours and when I came back the needles for the speedo and tach melted from heat??? Looks really bad but the guages seem to work fine.

We want PICTURES!!!!

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #19 on:** June 28, 2012, 04:51:07 PM »

We had pictures of that before the crash....

News:

Author Topic: dash needle melting on 08 C14 (Read 6346 times)