I've read on here about the poor speedometer lighting on the 1100, and mine is no different.
I did get the LED, but my bulb isn't the 194 like others have said they have, but mine is the tiny 37.
The LED did give a little more lighting, but still not enough to see very well.
Also, my speedometer only has one bulb.
My question is, has anyone taken their speedometer apart? If i was to drill a hole to install another bulb, would I be ruining anything?
I had thought about buying a speedometer off of ebay, but after looking at the prices, I decided to ask here first.
Thanks a ton for your help.
It's stock as far as I know.
It's a 97 Spirit, and I only have to take the chrome cover off to
get to the light bulb.
I'm getting ready to go out to my shop and work on it, so I'll take
a couple of photos and post them tomorrow.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
Ok, I took the speedometer off last night and attached a few photos. It appears, to me, to be the original speedometer and I see no cut and spliced wires for the light.
Picture #3 shows the backside of the unit and only one hole for a light.
That's why I was asking if anyone knew if I was to drill a hole for another #37 bulb if there is room on the inside.
Thanks again for your help.
Think I might try one of those LED bulbs they mention in that valk post. I've been noticing when riding into work that I can really only see the top half of the speedo and that everything below might as well be off. I was wondering if there was a second bulb in there or not.
Well, reading the Valkryie post over, they're talking about the #194 bulbs, which my Shadow doesn't have.
I don't understand the need for a photo of the #37 bulb, but here's a photo of it, and of the #37 LED that I had mentioned, in my first post, that I had replaced it with.
Was hoping someone here would be able to answer my original question.
Got my SuperBright LED's today and just got done installing tonight after work. Definite improvement over a standard 194 bulb. They were a little tight going into the plastic housing. Very pleased. I used the 5 emitter 220 degree cool white. Got a pair of red ones but they washed out the whole face. Oh well.
Hi tongy66086 I just re-read the question. I don't have the same bike but looking at the back of the speedo unit, can you take out the square black piece and peak inside to see if you can drill another hole for a bulb?
One thing that may not work right is that there is a mask or deflector in the original bulb hole, and if you drill a new one, it may make an uneven light pattern that you will hate. Too bright on one side.
For what its worth, Walmart has a pair of 5 emitter194 LED's for $9. Damn they were extremely bright. The 1157/1156 were $15 a pair. 50,000 hr. guarantee.
Ok. So I ordered a bulb from the LED site mentioned above. Naturally I got the wrong one. No big deal. I'll just get a socket for it and mount it inside that black plastic square that comes out of the back for whatever reason or make a small metal plate to mount there to put the bulb in. Either way, I'm using that bigger brighter bulb I got! I'm thinking that little thing in the original bulb housing is part of the problem for how the lower half of the light isn't illuminated well. I bet if one where to cut that thing out the light would reach all over much better. I can't get over how small that original light is though! If you order one just don't do what I did and get the wrong one. Anything has to be an improvement though but I'd put money on removing that blastic thing in there making the lighting much much better. Just shining the LED Flashlight from my phone into the housing made it look great!
Ok. So I drilled a 3/8" hole in the back of the black plastic piece, put the 194 bulb in from the inside and put a zip tie around the back...not that I think it would come out but better safe than sorry. I then cut the wires to the OE bulb socket and soldered them to the bulb and put the OE socket back into the housing to seal the hole. Before soldering...make sure you have the right wires going to the right legs on the bulb. Only problem I have is one of the screws broke off that holds the speedo housing to the bucket...not too happy about that but otherwise it took me all of about 10 minutes. I'll post pics tomorrow when I can get to a computer if anyone wants to see. Very, VERY much brighter!!!