Author	Message
BigAl	Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:02 pm    Post subject: Hey bobbber, I think they would be good for a final polish, I decided to leave it a bit opaque to disperse the light
bobbber	Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 7:55 pm    Post subject: Guys.. just to back up the products previously mentioned... I've had great success with both toothpaste and Brasso on plastics, things like CDs and headlamp lenses. B
BigAl	Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:27 pm    Post subject: I forgot to post up final results, although these aren't the ones I got made, they were the ones online but you get the idea. Forgot to put the middle rings on lol I will take a pic in the dark I also took the needle rest off, so I can actually see what speed I am doing under 20. The needle jumps when under 20 randomly
BigAl	Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:43 pm    Post subject: I came across this, what do you think? http://forum.4tuning.ro/attachment.php?attachmentid=196085&d=1167817023 http://forum.4tuning.ro/attachment.php?attachmentid=196083&d=1167817023 http://forum.4tuning.ro/attachment.php?attachmentid=196084&d=1167817023 Or putting a circle between the plastic and the square mechanism, not that im bothered but it would look neater
BigAl	Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:05 pm    Post subject: Does anyone have any ideas about how to get rid of the dark shadow square in the middle caused by the mechanism? Perhaps washers between the dials and mechanism??
BigAl	Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:10 pm    Post subject: Now that I have sold my ser 2 console, with white dials, I decided to crack on with my ser 3 as I can’t stand the standard setup. I tried using toothpaste but it was going to take too long, so I just used wet and dry 180, I could have gone to 320 but thought the opaqueness would be better. I think I made a better job compared to the speedo lol I also redid the speedo from my other console This is only for show before sticking my spare set onto the plastic BTW The buld holders in the ser 3 console are smaller and i had to sand down every LED to fit. Why did alfa change them
BigAl	Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:58 am    Post subject: I got a reply form the suppliers of the chrome rings Quote: These rings supposed to be 1.3 mm heigh. I ordered them to be 1.3 mm and I expected that guys at the factory will do them this way. I don't know what caused the problem and they failed to do the proper height of these rings. Unfortunately we are unable to do increase depth of the rings. Main reason is that the rings will be extremely fragile and more than likely they will be damaged during transit. We used to tried to do that but most of the rings were bended by post office and we had lots of problems. We don't do them any more. I can't offer you any replacement then. Please return thes rings to me. I will refund you money for the rings and I will cover these two costs for stamps as well. Please use 1st class recorded service instead of special delivery. Delivery time is similar but it is much cheaper this way. Apologies for all these problems. Cheers, Greg" I am very impressed by their customer support and response and because of this I will keep them and fit with my old cracked plastic, I might sand down the bottom of the rings and polish them if the crack gets larger and then fit my replacement plastic cover. Knowing that he asked them to be made at 1.3mm high, makes me feel better, not sure if there was a mistake at the manufacturers. It is a shame they can’t make them deeper but at least know I now. I now need to get a ser 3 set of dials printed and will post a picture as soon as I can.
BigAl	Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:23 am    Post subject: Be warned if you have a ser 3 console, all your ser 3 consoles are the same as mine. I think white dials look way better than black on any car, you can see them in the dark for a start
33bits	Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:25 pm    Post subject: I saw those chrome dial rings on ebay too, look good. not too sure about the white dial faces on a 33 though, they look good Al but unsure they suit our cars. I'm considering the chrome rings though.
BigAl	Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:21 pm    Post subject: I sent off the rings last Wednesday and got them back on Saturday. I asked for them to be no more than 1.3mm high, as that’s all the space there is. The ones I have sent back are 1.6mm high FFS! They still touch the cover and cause cracks to form. I am a bit peeved if they couldn’t make them 1.3mm high why not say, instead of sending 1.6mm. There is still a 6.2mm gap from the bottom of the rings to the bottom of the instrument panel, would look much better if this was completely covered. I will have ended up paying more in postage that the actual rings!! This is no problem if you have a ser 2 BTW.
Admin	Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 3:43 pm    Post subject: Hi Toothpaste was serious! It was a trick when making model planes to polish the clear canopies. All the best Keith
BigAl	Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:44 pm    Post subject: I was hoping to try something that wouldn’t scratch the plastic and if it then has hot spots could rough it up to make it a bit opaque.
lee16v	Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:36 pm    Post subject: Brasso is a fine abrasive. Ps I think Keith was being serious about the toothpaste.....it's a fine abrasive, needs to be to get all the shite off yer teeth
BigAl	Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:21 pm    Post subject: toothpaste
Admin	Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:17 pm    Post subject: Hi Think I would be tempted to try a mild abrasive. Possibly start with rubbing compound and then work down to toothpaste. All the best Keith
BigAl	Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:17 pm    Post subject: I got a reply Please let me know if the rings will fit on new console. If there will be still a problem please send these rings back on address below. I'll manage to order set of thiner rings anyway to be able to send them to you if needed. We are expecting the machine to be fixed just after this weekend. My order will be processed asap. I should have the rings in stock within next two weeks from now. I'm very sorry for the broken glass but it's a brand new experience for us and I'm supprised with that completely. The rings were designed for specified instrument cluster from Alfa Romeo 33 and nobody had any problems ever since. I prefer contact via email if possible. It will be much easier to me to give you full and accurate answers this way. I'm looking forward to hear from you soon. Cheers, Greg"
BigAl	Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:55 pm    Post subject: I had a thought on the blackness of the original dials blocking the light when the white dials are stuck on, so I removed the painted on dials with nail polish remover. DOH! I got a bit carried away and the nail polish remover has eaten at the plastic. I have also caused cracks because there are uneven bits and I pushed too hard. What can I use to remove the painted on dial with out too much pressure and not damaging the plastic? http://www.essortment.com/all/modelstrainsre_rwky.htm suggests brake fluid or oven cleaner http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/136 CHAMELEON, pine sol and not to use acetone or brake fluid
BigAl	Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:40 pm    Post subject: update on chrome rings, here is the damage caused I have had a responce from the manufactures. Quote: We have checked the instrument cluster that we have in stock and there is still approx. 1 mm space between the rings and the glass. My factory is doing these rings since 2004 and tehy used to sell a lot of these rings. They never had any problem with the rings touching the glass so far. The only explanation can be that you have a slightly different type of the cluster face. It happens that factories do a small batch with the different parts. I double checked the rings I have in stock. They were made at the same time like the rings I sent you and they're exactly the same like they should be. I can either offer you full refund upon receipt of the rings or I can order the lower rings to fit your Alfa properly. Unfortunately it will take some time to have them ready due to machine breakdown. Please let me know which way we should do it. I'm looking forward to hear from you soon. Cheers, Greg" I am buying another ser 3 console and will see if they fit in that one, if not i will send back for a refund and wait until they make ones that fit. Or i could keep hold of mine, wait until they make some ones that fit and then swap. here is what they look like on a ser 2 console, THEY ARE ONLY RESTING ON
BigAl	Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:29 pm    Post subject: Here we go again I scanned my original ser 3 dials, after cleaning them with nail polish remover and will get some new ones made up as the ones I had don’t read correctly and aren't exactly the same. Due to this you can see what’s underneath. I am still using my ser 2 console. you need to put the speed on 20 kph
BigAl	Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:53 pm    Post subject: I have stuck my ser 3 white dials that i bodged to fit my ser 2 console onto my ser 3 console. I can confirm that when stuck onto the original dials it is too dark, i removed the light covers as well. I think for best effect you should use LED's or don’t stick onto the originals as it will be too dark. Also on the rpm you need to put the needle on 500rpm and on the speedo you need to put the needle on just over 5 mph.
BigAl	Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:00 am    Post subject: Well i finally figured out how to put the odometer forward to match mine. I had to remove the trip counter and remove 2 screws holding the motor on, then remove a geared spindle and turn the gear by hand, it took a while but all the numbers are in line and turn over the next number.
BigAl	Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:39 pm    Post subject: that was me above. info@tuning-shop.co.uk http://tuning-shop.co.uk/alfa-romeo-chrome-dial-surrounds-speedo-rings-p-15.html Dont you have a ser 2 console?
Guest	Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:37 pm    Post subject: Hey Iain, i did have a play around with doing just that, and tried rubber o rings between the plastic cover and facia. Another problem then arises, being that the screws aren’t long enough. A paying customer shouldn’t have to source screws and go through all this. I am annoyed as it is, as it has damaged my clear plastic. From a design point, a customer shouldn’t have to do all this and they should know that there product design could be better. They said that no one else has complained. Could you point out that you had the same issue please, the more voices the merrier. They gave me a link to other instructions and I don’t think bonding will be necessary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxEStkJgSYM I haven’t done this yet in case they redesign with a flat edge at the bottom or make the protruding amount no more than 1.3mm. Even in their picture you can see that the clear plastic cover bows outwards.
Oggie	Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:43 pm    Post subject: Al, could you space the plastic cover off by 3 mm to resolve the issue?. I fitted these several months back and had no problems apart from having to bond the rings in place.
BigAl	Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:34 pm    Post subject: update Theres only a 1.3 mm gap between the fascia and the clear plastic cover, the dials are 3mm. I emailed the distrubitor and am waiting for a responce, they said that they have never had any problems, i dont know anyone else that has bought any. Even the pic advertising them bowes out.