Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Chilly178 · 04-06-2021, 08:45 PM

Hello, I recently bought a cluster from brothers. Everything is working good, I swapped all the bulbs out for LEDs. I made sure they are all the right polarity but for some reason the text for the speedo and fuel guage is not lit up very well. I swapped all the pins from a post here from 3 hole to 7 hole pin setup. I don't have the wires ran yet for the ammeter, coolant temp or line ran for the oil pressure. Anyone have any ideas?

**Rich72C10** · 04-06-2021, 11:07 PM

Take a look at this Thread, there are ~4 pages (Reproduction Tach Dash Bezel Lens Text Not Lighting Up). In the end there were two issues with these things - likely these dash parts come from the same place. You could have two issues, one with the lens and the other with the tin.

I had both of these problems. GMCPauls resent me a lens but I had to buy a (OEM) Tin from a board member. Now I can see everything light up, even when it is daylight time.

Edit Photo added: Though I still need to take it out again to fix the bleed through on the left blinker (damnit LOL).

Chilly178 · 04-07-2021, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich72C10

Take a look at this Thread, there are ~4 pages (Reproduction Tach Dash Bezel Lens Text Not Lighting Up). In the end there were two issues with these things - likely these dash parts come from the same place. You could have two issues, one with the lens and the other with the tin.

I had both of these problems. GMCPauls resent me a lens but I had to buy a (OEM) Tin from a board member. Now I can see everything light up, even when it is daylight time.

Edit Photo added: Though I still need to take it out again to fix the bleed through on the left blinker (damnit LOL).

Damn that sucks. Thanks for the thread. I sent a email to brothers to see what they think. So if they don't help me i'm gonna take the lens apart and see what side the paint is on. If that's what it is I guess i'm gonna have to buy a lens from GMCPauls and keep an eye out for a tin.

**Rich72C10** · 04-07-2021, 11:18 AM

Sucks doesn't even start to cover this problem that I had - I am so very thankful for that thread, as I am sure I would have never figured it out on my own! GMCPauls did say they reported the tin problem to the source but that means the source would have to re-tool. Which could take a long time, if it ever happens.

At least for the lens, that was just a problem where the source did it wrong. I had to buy a replacement and then got refunded back from GMCPauls once confirmed my lens was painted incorrectly (so they could then send it to the source for their refund).

firedemon · 04-07-2021, 08:10 PM

just a question could you use the old tin to mark where the holes should be then maybe drill out the new one then deal with the lens

**Rich72C10** · 04-08-2021, 12:07 AM

i don't think it was holes ...

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 04-08-2021, 01:32 AM

If you wind up sourcing an OEM lens out of a junkyard or parts truck, be Very Careful cleaning the backside with the lettering [+numbers]. I wiped out the white stuff with a simple warm damp rag, trying to clean a JY lens. I don't think I even had green soap on it.
A dry camel's hair brush and gently-applied canned air may have worked, but hindsight is 20/20.

**Getter-Done** · 04-25-2021, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

If you wind up sourcing an OEM lens out of a junkyard or parts truck, be Very Careful cleaning the backside with the lettering [+numbers]. I wiped out the white stuff with a simple warm damp rag, trying to clean a JY lens. I don't think I even had green soap on it.
A dry camel's hair brush and gently-applied canned air may have worked, but hindsight is 20/20.

Thanks for this valuable Info.

.

Warrens69GMC · 04-08-2021, 01:35 AM

I don't have any pictures, but I sprayed the tin gloss white instead of the seafoam green and it was bright with leds.

ChevyGuyNC · 04-08-2021, 07:55 AM

So.... if I just keep my original lens/tin which are in great shape, and just swap to the LED's, will I run into similar issues?

**pjmoreland** · 04-08-2021, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChevyGuyNC

So.... if I just keep my original lens/tin which are in great shape, and just swap to the LED's, will I run into similar issues?

If you use LEDs with your OEM lens and tin, then the text and gauges will be extra bright. The issue the OP is having is likely not caused by LEDs. It is likely the result of a defective reproduction lens and poorly made reproduction tin.

**Richard** · 04-09-2021, 03:01 AM

First post said it was working good. When you say you swapped bulbs for led. Did you try it with the standard bulbs? If not I suspect the lens is one of the ones painted on wrong side.

Chilly178 · 04-25-2021, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

First post said it was working good. When you say you swapped bulbs for led. Did you try it with the standard bulbs? If not I suspect the lens is one of the ones painted on wrong side.

Yes, it is even worse with standard bulbs. I think what I'm going to take it apart and see what side the paint is on. If its on the correct side I'll leave it, if not I will have to source a oem or repro lens with the correct side paint. I will also spray the inside of the tin either gloss white or chrome paint. Hopefully it will be enough.

**Getter-Done** · 04-25-2021, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chilly178

Yes, it is even worse with standard bulbs. I think what I'm going to take it apart and see what side the paint is on. If its on the correct side I'll leave it, if not I will have to source a oem or repro lens with the correct side paint. I will also spray the inside of the tin either gloss white or chrome paint. Hopefully it will be enough.

The Gloss white or silver or chrome will work.IMO
Keep us posted.

.

firedemon · 04-26-2021, 09:53 PM

i did the chrome paint on only one side and left the green on the other so it still has the green tint but it is much brighter

**Getter-Done** · 04-26-2021, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firedemon

i did the chrome paint on only one side and left the green on the other so it still has the green tint but it is much brighter

That sounds like a Great Plan

Do you have pictures that you would share?

.

Chilly178 · 04-29-2021, 10:45 PM

Okay everyone the new lens fixed the issue. I bought a new lens from GMC Pauls. I was going to spray the tin with some paint but I realized I wanted the same green hue instead of white so I left it alone. When I got the new and the old lens side by side I could immediately notice they are different. I put the new lens in and the text is noticeably brighter.

**Getter-Done** · 04-29-2021, 10:49 PM

Nice

.

**Rich72C10** · 05-01-2021, 12:23 PM

Yep, good job, once you get them side by side you can surely see the difference! Heck, yours even looks brighter than mine, so jealous! LOL

04-06-2021, 08:45 PM	#1
Chilly178 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 129	Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night Hello, I recently bought a cluster from brothers. Everything is working good, I swapped all the bulbs out for LEDs. I made sure they are all the right polarity but for some reason the text for the speedo and fuel guage is not lit up very well. I swapped all the pins from a post here from 3 hole to 7 hole pin setup. I don't have the wires ran yet for the ammeter, coolant temp or line ran for the oil pressure. Anyone have any ideas? Attached Images

04-06-2021, 11:07 PM	#2
Rich72C10 Mr. Cheyenne Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Kyle, Texas Posts: 1,643	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night Take a look at this Thread, there are ~4 pages (Reproduction Tach Dash Bezel Lens Text Not Lighting Up). In the end there were two issues with these things - likely these dash parts come from the same place. You could have two issues, one with the lens and the other with the tin. I had both of these problems. GMCPauls resent me a lens but I had to buy a (OEM) Tin from a board member. Now I can see everything light up, even when it is daylight time. Edit Photo added: Though I still need to take it out again to fix the bleed through on the left blinker (damnit LOL). Attached Images __________________ Richard *'72 Chevy C10 Cheyenne Super WHT/MED BRONZE/WHT SBC 350 \| TH350 \| LWB \| AC \| Buddy Seats Upgrades:** Tilt \| Front Sway Bar \| Radio \| Sliding Window \| Bed Spare w/Lock Bed Rails \| Full LEDs \| Courtesy Lights \| Tachometer \| Glovebox Lock & Light \| Head Light Relays \| Upgraded Fully Super Trim Last edited by Rich72C10; 04-06-2021 at 11:23 PM.*

04-07-2021, 11:18 AM	#4
Rich72C10 Mr. Cheyenne Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Kyle, Texas Posts: 1,643	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night Sucks doesn't even start to cover this problem that I had - I am so very thankful for that thread, as I am sure I would have never figured it out on my own! GMCPauls did say they reported the tin problem to the source but that means the source would have to re-tool. Which could take a long time, if it ever happens. At least for the lens, that was just a problem where the source did it wrong. I had to buy a replacement and then got refunded back from GMCPauls once confirmed my lens was painted incorrectly (so they could then send it to the source for their refund). __________________ Richard *'72 Chevy C10 Cheyenne Super WHT/MED BRONZE/WHT SBC 350 \| TH350 \| LWB \| AC \| Buddy Seats Upgrades:** Tilt \| Front Sway Bar \| Radio \| Sliding Window \| Bed Spare w/Lock Bed Rails \| Full LEDs \| Courtesy Lights \| Tachometer \| Glovebox Lock & Light \| Head Light Relays \| *Upgraded Fully Super Trim

04-07-2021, 08:10 PM	#5
firedemon Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: @ Posts: 890	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night just a question could you use the old tin to mark where the holes should be then maybe drill out the new one then deal with the lens

04-08-2021, 12:07 AM	#6
Rich72C10 Mr. Cheyenne Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Kyle, Texas Posts: 1,643	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night i don't think it was holes ... __________________ Richard *'72 Chevy C10 Cheyenne Super WHT/MED BRONZE/WHT SBC 350 \| TH350 \| LWB \| AC \| Buddy Seats Upgrades:** Tilt \| Front Sway Bar \| Radio \| Sliding Window \| Bed Spare w/Lock Bed Rails \| Full LEDs \| Courtesy Lights \| Tachometer \| Glovebox Lock & Light \| Head Light Relays \| *Upgraded Fully Super Trim

04-08-2021, 01:32 AM	#7
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,042	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night If you wind up sourcing an OEM lens out of a junkyard or parts truck, be Very Careful cleaning the backside with the lettering [+numbers]. I wiped out the white stuff with a simple warm damp rag, trying to clean a JY lens. I don't think I even had green soap on it. A dry camel's hair brush and gently-applied canned air may have worked, but hindsight is 20/20. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

04-08-2021, 01:35 AM	#9
Warrens69GMC Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Safford,AZ Posts: 3,613	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night I don't have any pictures, but I sprayed the tin gloss white instead of the seafoam green and it was bright with leds.

04-08-2021, 07:55 AM	#10
ChevyGuyNC Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 143	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night So.... if I just keep my original lens/tin which are in great shape, and just swap to the LED's, will I run into similar issues? __________________ 1972 Cheyenne Super LWB, 350V8, AC, PS, PB, all original 46k survivor

04-09-2021, 03:01 AM	#12
Richard Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,696	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night First post said it was working good. When you say you swapped bulbs for led. Did you try it with the standard bulbs? If not I suspect the lens is one of the ones painted on wrong side. __________________ Richard 1972 K10 Custom Deluxe SWB Fleetside My build https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=800746

04-26-2021, 09:53 PM	#15
firedemon Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: @ Posts: 890	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night i did the chrome paint on only one side and left the green on the other so it still has the green tint but it is much brighter

04-29-2021, 10:45 PM	#17
Chilly178 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 129	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night Okay everyone the new lens fixed the issue. I bought a new lens from GMC Pauls. I was going to spray the tin with some paint but I realized I wanted the same green hue instead of white so I left it alone. When I got the new and the old lens side by side I could immediately notice they are different. I put the new lens in and the text is noticeably brighter. Attached Images

04-29-2021, 10:49 PM	#18
Getter-Done Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: TN. Posts: 7,724	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night Nice . __________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 84 Chevy K-20 63 Impala (my high school car) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...Crew Cab Build

05-01-2021, 12:23 PM	#19
Rich72C10 Mr. Cheyenne Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Kyle, Texas Posts: 1,643	Re: Can't see numbers/text on brothers cluster at night Yep, good job, once you get them side by side you can surely see the difference! Heck, yours even looks brighter than mine, so jealous! LOL __________________ Richard *'72 Chevy C10 Cheyenne Super WHT/MED BRONZE/WHT SBC 350 \| TH350 \| LWB \| AC \| Buddy Seats Upgrades:** Tilt \| Front Sway Bar \| Radio \| Sliding Window \| Bed Spare w/Lock Bed Rails \| Full LEDs \| Courtesy Lights \| Tachometer \| Glovebox Lock & Light \| Head Light Relays \| *Upgraded Fully Super Trim



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