BMW K bikes (Bricks)


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1Back to top Go down   Condensation in instrument glass Empty Condensation in instrument glass Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:52 am

willelee

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Just went for a ride this evening on my new-to-me 91' k100rs and realized there was condensation
on the inside of the glass on the speedo and tach. Are'nt these supposed to be sealed and if it was broken is there a proper way to reseal it?
Thanks, Will

    

2Back to top Go down   Condensation in instrument glass Empty Re: Condensation in instrument glass Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:18 am

Crazy Frog

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Yes it is supposed to be sealed but the reality is different.
This is a common problem when the outside temperature starts to be a bit cool and the heat from the engine warms up the instrument cluster.
On the latest K, BMW had tried to fix this problem by installing 2 Gortex vents on the bottom of the cluster.
Theoretically, the Gortex should let the air circulate but block the humidity entering the cluster. It doesn't really work!


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Condensation in instrument glass Frog15Condensation in instrument glass Logo2101986 k75, 1985 K100rt, 1985 K100rt/EML GT2 sidecar, 1999 K1200lt/Hannigan Astro Sport sidecar.
    

3Back to top Go down   Condensation in instrument glass Empty Re: Condensation in instrument glass Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:36 am

blaKey

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Mine does the same thing...so I think you're pretty well stuck with the problem.


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Neil
K100RS 1986 RED!

Dress for the ride and the potential slide.
    

4Back to top Go down   Condensation in instrument glass Empty Re: Condensation in instrument glass Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:18 pm

ReneZ

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I think the heat doesn't come from the engine but from the instrument lights. A lot have changed them for LED's and have prevented a lot of fogging/condens on the inside with the lower heat from the LED's.


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Greetings from Florida Australia! Having a 'new' K     Surprised-o: 

Rene


BMW K100 - 1985 (0030029) Scotland Condensation in instrument glass Rain
BMW K1200GT - 2003 (ZK01223) Florida
BMW K1200GT - 2004 (ZK27240) Australia
    

5Back to top Go down   Condensation in instrument glass Empty Re: Condensation in instrument glass Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:23 pm

Crazy Frog

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What can I say?

I think that you are right cheers. I forgot that I read this somewhere else


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Condensation in instrument glass Frog15Condensation in instrument glass Logo2101986 k75, 1985 K100rt, 1985 K100rt/EML GT2 sidecar, 1999 K1200lt/Hannigan Astro Sport sidecar.
    

6Back to top Go down   Condensation in instrument glass Empty Re: Condensation in instrument glass Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:36 pm

otto59

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Some of you may have a fit if you read this, but....I drilled 2 tiny (emphasize tiny) holes in the back cover at the lowest point near the center when the speedo is mounted. Do it with the cover off so you don't get shavings inside and don't accidently drill thru the circuit board. I don't get condensation anymore.

    

7Back to top Go down   Condensation in instrument glass Empty Re: Condensation in instrument glass Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:04 pm

Crazy Frog

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I also drilled holes on my K75 cluster, but did not see a great improvement.
I drilled them toward the top and at a 30 degrees angle (slanted toward the bottom). I was thinking that air circulation would prevent the fog.
Because I didn't find this solution working, I didn't do it on the K100.
Maybe the holes are to small (1mm diameter) and I would gain improvement by drilling them bigger.

Another solution that I am thinking is to place a little bag of silica gel (silicon dioxide-SiO2) inside the instrument cluster. Silica gel packets are found in anything that would be affected by excess moisture or condensation like pills container or packaging of electronic equipment.
Silica gel can adsorb about 40 percent of its weight in moisture and can take the relative humidity in a closed container down to about 40 percent. Once saturated, you can drive the moisture off and reuse silica gel by heating it above 300 degrees F (150 C).

Condensation in instrument glass Cluster


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Condensation in instrument glass Frog15Condensation in instrument glass Logo2101986 k75, 1985 K100rt, 1985 K100rt/EML GT2 sidecar, 1999 K1200lt/Hannigan Astro Sport sidecar.
    

8Back to top Go down   Condensation in instrument glass Empty Re: Condensation in instrument glass Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:31 am

K-BIKE

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Hi Guys,
If you read the stuff I put on the forum about changing to LED's it talks about sealing. So here we go, first off remove the cluster you will need a good set or Allen keys ball ended ones make it easier and remove the instrument cluster. Now Will's bike like mine will have the goretex membranes so take the screws out and separate the two halves of the cluster and thoroughly dry out the cluster say overnight in the air blast from a de-humidifier or on top of something warm like in the airing cupboard. Take the reinforcing pieces out the back of the case and seal them thoroughly so they cannot let moisture in there and use NEUTRAL CURE silicone if that is what you want to use do not use acid cure or you will destroy your instrument cluster. Treat all the plugs and sockets and connections with DeOxit, whilst you are in there fit LED's if you have them (well worthwhile by the way) and then replace the gasket with a new one and screw the two halves together and then tape over the whole joint between the two casings with 1" wide 3M black electricians tape . Due to the way the cluster mounts the tape is invisible. That should be the end of all condensation unless you have a crack in the housing I definitely would NOT drill any holes in the case.
Regards,
K-BIKE

    

9Back to top Go down   Condensation in instrument glass Empty Re: Condensation in instrument glass Sun Oct 04, 2009 1:22 pm

ReneZ

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I'm with you there. The fogging is a result of the humidity in the speedo (contained in the air when it was assembled or later opened) that condensates on the inside of the speedo glass when the temperature outside the speedo is higher than on the inside. Inside the contained air warms up (relatively) because of the lightbulbs fitted. As LED's produce far less heat when working, it reduces the temperature difference and thus the condensation. They tried to solve the problem by fitting goretex in the later speedos, but that was not completely successful. Be careful with applying heat, as I tried to dry out my unit in the oven at about 80/90 degrees C and ruined the gearindicator display in the proces. Them the brakes................


__________________________________________________
Greetings from Florida Australia! Having a 'new' K     Surprised-o: 

Rene


BMW K100 - 1985 (0030029) Scotland Condensation in instrument glass Rain
BMW K1200GT - 2003 (ZK01223) Florida
BMW K1200GT - 2004 (ZK27240) Australia
    

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