Datel Voltmeter in Mirror Farkle

So I have taken so much from this forum over the last year :cownoy: that its time to give something back. I originally saw this idea on the VFR forum when I was searching for voltmeters. I was so impressed I had to give it a try so this weekend I modified my right side mirror to house the very slick Datel Voltmeter. Here are some details and piccies:

The Finished Product:







Here's how I did it:

Step 1: Remove mirror and put in oven at 220 F for 30 minutes. This is to soften the housing to allow you to pop out the mirror. Remove from oven and using a paint scraper, carefully pop out mirror. The housing is quite soft and you should not have to force the mirror to pop it out.



Step 2: Select where you want to mount the voltmeter and trace a template on the paper attached on the back of the mirror.



Step 3: The most tedious/time consuming part of this job is removing the backing from the mirror. The stock mirror has four layers starting with glass, silver finish, backing paint, and paper. Once I had outlined where I wanted to mount the voltmeter, I taped some razor blades along the edge of the outline (to form a secure straight edge for the Dremel) using Aluminum tape. I used aluminum tape because 1) it sticks very well and 2) the dremel won't grind it away like other tapes would.



Step 4: Okay, now dremel away. I used the dremel polishing kit (available from Home Depot for about $10). I started first with the steel wire brush included in the kit to scrub off the paper down to the green backing paint. Use light pressure on the lowest speed. Then I used the felt polishing pads with the included polishing compund to scrub off the rest of the backing paint and silver finish. Be patient and take your time and you will have excellent results. Now you won't be able to get all the way into the corners and edges, but a razor blade by hand takes care of the fine finishing.

Despite this being tedious I found this was the way to get the best results. I had an old mirror I practiced on first with a number of other methods, including using muriatic acid. The acid worked best but was the most difficult to control and I really didn't want to take the chance of ruining my good mirror.



Step 5: Once you have the mirror prepped, its time to mount the voltmeter. I used polyurethane glue by Elmer. I tried two mounts - one direct on the glass and the other with the bezel mounted to the glass first. Both worked well but I preferred the look of the bezel mount and went with that. I fashioned a plastic retaining clip to hold the voltmeter and is screwed into the bezel with the supplied screws. Here is the bezel mount:



Step 6: Everything is mounted so its time to wire and reassemble the mirror. I grounded the voltmeter to the stem nut inside the mirror housing and ran the +ve wire down the mirror arm under a strip of elctrical tape and behind the boot. Put the unassembled mirror back in the oven for 10 minutes at 190F and you can press the mirror right back in.



Enjoy! B)

Rich

Very trick!! :fan:

Good job. I put a Powerlet in the normal place (D panel) for a Datel. I'll certainly consider your mount when I finally decide to get a Datel.

Thanx for the pics and instructions.

Very slick!

Excellent! I think I might have to copy your idea. Have you ridden at night with the meter mounted there? I was wondering about the light bothering or catching your eye all the time...

Hasn't bothered me yet but it would be easy enough to wire in an on/off switch.

Rich

Now you need to mod up an electronic tempature guage for the other side to balance things off!

Awesome, super trick farkle!

You are a jedi master! :akido:

Very timely!

I had to replace my D panel and was thinking about what to do with my Datel there....and am seriously considering this farkle.

Thanks much.

Very trick Rich looks like a factory job, nahh better. Nice cake too :dribble:

:jester:

I've done some pretty wild pfarkle installs, but this is really tops. Outstanding job!!!! Wanna do mine?

:clap: :clap: :clap:

The art of modification knows no bounds, Well thought out and executed. Bravo!

Sweet! New territory explored - the inside of the mirror! What else can we stuff in there?

Hey - how about PID's shining forward??

-BD

Nice, clean install. Excellent results. Thanks for sharing it!

Have you thought of sending it to FJRInfo for permanent archiving?

What else can we stuff in there?
Hey - how about PID's shining forward?? 

-BD

Click to expand...

Naaaah, how about the LED turn signals like the ones on the new Suzukis?

That is real cool looking for sure. I do have a couple questions though...

Where did you run the Datel wires? Outside the stalk and through the rubber boot? The only thing that held me back from doing something like this was the problem of completely concealing the wiring. It seemed there was no way to run it inside the stalk.

Also, how'd you get the glass back in? Heat it again?

I thought mine was cool in the top hump of the black plastic panel on the right, I still like it, but yours is really nice, high five to you.

Nice job

Outstanding creativity and farklemanship!

Very Nice...

I didn't really feel a need for a voltmeter....until this little bomb got dropped :dribble: now I see where this would enhance the performance of my fjr :agent: Nice craftmanship!