Lucille and I went for a short ride the other day and on the way home I noted that the neutral light wasn’t working. I figured it was the switch as I had swapped out all of the incandescent bulbs for LEDs which are a direct replacement (thanks for the recommendation Daniel Black).
Anyhow, the neutral switch looked OK so I took the tach apart (she’s a 1976 C-model) and sure enough, I had left one or two incandescents in there (prolly too cheap to stop using what were perfectly good bulbs) so I finished the switchover to LEDs and she is now back on top-line. Here is a photo of the burnt out incandescent and the replacement LED - along with the package from SuperBrite LEDs.
They are not expensive and should last forever. If you want a set, they are readily available online and are cheaper by the 10 pack. An XS650 requires either 9 or 10 LEDs for a full replacement of all instrument illumination and warning lights.
NOTE: I think that later models take a different bulb so be sure to check which type of socket your bike has. Both the ‘76C and the ‘78E have the push & turn type socket.
...and here is the finished product (as befits the name, these puppies are bright).
After getting Lucille sorted out, I put Betty back on the lift to straighten her badly bent headlight ears and remove the voltmeter that was installed on the instrument binnacle. It worked well, but in my view it is a bit too intrusive and with the snazzy new paint job, I’d like to go back to a more “original” look. Sooo, I am now deep into the dreaded headlight bucket
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QUESTION: Does anybody know how to get the trip-odometer reset knob off the speedometer on a ‘78E?
Pete