refreshing gauge needles

[71 LONG BED]

Anyone have any good ideas or experience refreshing, or restoring, the orange needles in the F600 gauges? The ones I just got are in overall good shape, but the orange needles are pretty faded. Any help would be much appreciated.

[spartman]

The only thing I have come across is this.

Cover up the gauge face with paper etc to protect the face.

Then take some flourescent orange spray paint and very lightly and quickly spray the needle.

Supposedly if you get to much paint on the needle you will throw off the readings because the needle is to heavy then.

[jhannahokla]

i would go to a place that sells model cars and get a little paint and one of the little brushes and brush it on very carefully

[71 LONG BED]

I might try that jhannahokla. That's the second time someone suggested that. I'm going to try that, thanks.

[jhannahokla]

i figured that would be better then getting over spray on the gage

[71 LONG BED]

Yeah, I agree. I just don't want to put it on too thick, it will add some weight. I don't want it to affect the accuracy any. I'll definitely take pics when I attempt to do it.

[ratfink]

I have used "testors" amber and red taillight paint on a couple of gauge needles and been happy with the results.
Ratfink

[460 crew]

Thats what I did when I installed my white face gauges. Testors florescent orange and a small brush and in about 10 min they are revived.

[71 LONG BED]

Nice! Thanks guys. No problems with inaccurate readings I guess?
I started taking the gauges apart last night, and he needles are almost white!

[460 crew]

is an empty fuel gauge normal?

[71 LONG BED]

It is pretty hard to keep it up to the top!

[ratfink]

I noticed absolutely no difference in the sweep of the needle. I cant see that little bit of weight making a difference.
Ratfink

[71 LONG BED]

It's been busy trying to get ready for Christmas.
I need to clean the individual gauges before I can touch up the needles. I was thinking about using the ultrsonic cleaner at work. I'm just afraid it will take off the white numbers. They started to smear with just water on the first set of gauges I did. I'll post what I do and the results, but it will probably be after the new year.