Reverse polarity LCD Display

aitormartin

aitormartin

expert rider
Joined
Oct 16, 2020
Messages
105
Location
Spain
Today I opened the instrument cluster to remove the humidity spots that were forming inside and I took this opportunity to reverse the polarity of the LCD display. It wasn't a 100% smooth process, but eventually I got there haha. Here's a before and after:

IMG_20210221_133509.jpgIMG_20210221_180619.jpg

This is a very cheap mod but the process can be a bit nerve wracking. Specially while removing the old polarized filter.

IMG_20210221_141138.jpg

To remove the polarizing filter I started to peel it with an exacto knife while heating it slightly with a hairdrier (This is how I saw other people do it), but I found out that there's a much better way of doing this. I did it by spraying isopropyl alcohol on the glue with one hand while peeling the filter with the other. This way the filter comes off effortlessly.

IMG_20210221_145705.jpg

Then I had to remove the glue residue. I first tried with a rag and isopropyl alcohol but I was having little to no success... I saw someone online who used isopropyl alcohol + a credit card and this worked out great.

IMG_20210221_153545.jpgIMG_20210221_155008.jpg

Next step is to connect the screen to the bike, turn it on, put the new filter over it and rotate it until you get the color you want. Then you just cut the filter to shape, stick it to the screen and put everything back together.

IMG_20210221_155949.jpgIMG_20210221_155959.jpg

Tip: Don't clean the inside of the clear plastic cover with anyting other than water. I found out the hard way... Apparently there's a clear protecting layer on the inside, and I cleaned mine with the same product I wash my bike (muc-off bike cleaner). So this protective layer came off.

Here's how it looked when I found out.
IMG_20210221_143211.jpg

I was able to completly remove this layer and thankfully you can't tell it was there.
 
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Vintage Veloce said:
Great writeup. I'm really tempted to do this...
I almost never ride after dark, how does it look in the bright sun?
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I wasn't able to try it outside due to rain. But I will report back once I try it (Probably Tuesday or Wednesday).

Inside the garage looks much better than before in my opinion. But There's something I don't like:

IMG_20210221_180604.jpgIMG_20210221_180609.jpg

There's a square that shows up a bit brighter. It's the part where the "Service Reset", "SideStand Down" messages show up. You can't really see it from all angles, and it may only be visible in the dark... As I said, I will report later this week 😁
 
Vintage Veloce said:
What polarized film did you use?
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This is the one I bought:

Película polarizante autoadhesiva, 100 x 100 x 0,2 mm, Lineal 90 Grados, Tipo ST-38-20S : Amazon.es: Electrónica

Compra online Película polarizante autoadhesiva, 100 x 100 x 0,2 mm, Lineal 90 Grados, Tipo ST-38-20S. Envío en 1 día GRATIS con Amazon Prime.
www.amazon.es

As far as I know any polarized film will work. But it's important to buy one with adhesive like this one.

With the one I linked, you get enough film for 1 try.
 
I'm also curious if you can still read the display with polarized sunglasses on? With the stock display it its very hard to read with polarized sunglasses.... but at some angles it is OK. So I imaging rotating the poloarizer could actually make the display more legible when read using polarized sunglasses...
 
Vintage Veloce said:
Could you do it without the adhesive, to make it easier to change it in the future?
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Now that you say this... Maybe it's possible.

You could stick it somehow to the sides of the display. Only the round part is visible once everything is assembled, so I guess you could stick the filter to the outside part.

IMG_20210221_155008.jpg

Vintage Veloce said:
I'm also curious if you can still read the display with polarized sunglasses on? With the stock display it its very hard to read with polarized sunglasses.... but at some angles it is OK. So I imaging rotating the poloarizer could actually make the display more legible when read using polarized sunglasses...
Click to expand...
I think the visible angle would change, because to achieve this look you have to rotate the filter by 90º from it's original position. So you wouldn't be able to see anything now that I think about it...

What I mean by this is that I would Imagine that the display is designed to be viewed from the ridin position. If you look at the display from the side you shouldn't be able to see anything with the stock filter (At least this is the experience I have with phone screens). So if you rotate the filter by 90º I think the display would be unreadable with glasses.

Thankfully I use a tinted visor, so this won't be a problem for me.
 
aitormartin said:
Now that you say this... Maybe it's possible.

You could stick it somehow to the sides of the display. Only the round part is visible once everything is assembled, so I guess you could stick the filter to the outside part.

View attachment 868


I think the visible angle would change, because to achieve this look you have to rotate the filter by 90º from it's original position. So you wouldn't be able to see anything now that I think about it...

What I mean by this is that I would Imagine that the display is designed to be viewed from the ridin position. If you look at the display from the side you shouldn't be able to see anything with the stock filter (At least this is the experience I have with phone screens). So if you rotate the filter by 90º I think the display would be unreadable with glasses.
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Actually, the stock display is better visible from off to the side with my polarized sunglasses, so there is a real chance rotating the internal polarizer 90 degrees makes it better! I'll have to check it out.
 
Vintage Veloce said:
Actually, the stock display is better visible from off to the side with my polarized sunglasses, so there is a real chance rotating the internal polarizer 90 degrees makes it better! I'll have to check it out.
Click to expand...
Oh, then that could actually work
 
Found some good videos on doing this too:

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Vintage Veloce said:
Found some good videos on doing this too:

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Click to expand...
Yes! I used these for reference. They make it look easier though haha

SvePil said:
Nice👍. Is there any rubber seal between the lid and the housing?
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Yes, I forgot to mention it. There's a thin rubber seal and I think mine was broken. That's probably why some water made it through.

I think the seal should be a closed circle but mine was split. It's the grey thing on the right side.

IMG_20210221_141138 (1).jpg
 
Hmm... I don't see that seal available as a separate part. I wonder if there is a standard size o-ring that might fit. Where exactly does that install... it must be about 125mm ID (inside diameter)?

Does it fit in this groove:
IMG_20210221_141138 (1).jpg

I know you have it back together, but would you care to estimate the width of the seal? From the picture I'm estimating 2mm. I could order a 125mm ID o-ring with 2mm thickness (129mm OD).
 
Yes, it fits in that groove. Don't know about the diameter, but 2mm width sounds about right.
 
I went for a short ride today and here are my thoughts:

PROS
-The dashboard looks way better now. It has a more aggressive look in my opinion.
aitormartin said:
There's a square that shows up a bit brighter. It's the part where the "Service Reset", "SideStand Down" messages show up. You can't really see it from all angles, and it may only be visible in the dark...
Click to expand...
-The square I mentioned last time is not visible with day light.

CONS
-Visibility is reduced due to two factors:
  • The screen seems to be less bright (Which makes sense haha), and therefore harder to read.
  • The reflections on the clear plastic cover are more prominent.

Here's a pic in the shade:
IMG_20210223_165219.jpg
Different angles in direct sun light so you can see the reflections:
IMG_20210223_170737.jpgIMG_20210223_170748.jpg

So... Overall, I really like the look, but the visibility is reduced.
 
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