Quick Fix for 308 Foggy Clock Lens Face | FerrariChat
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Quick Fix for 308 Foggy Clock Lens Face

Discussion in '308/328' started by Mike C, Mar 20, 2007.

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  1. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 3, 2002
    6,081
    Southeast USA
    Full Name:
    Mike Charness
    #1 Mike C, Mar 20, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Most of us know that the lens on the clock in our 308 is plastic, which makes it get scratched and foggy looking compared to all the gauges which have glass faces. Though it's easy to remove the clock, it's major surgery to try to take the chrome bezel/ring off without special tools, and that's the only way to remove the plastic so you can replace it. Or you can send it to Palo Alto Speedometer or other such place to get it replaced for almost $100 (more labor than parts!), even if you don't need the entire clock cleaned/repaired at the same time, which would bring the cost up to nearer to $150.

    I've got a quick and cheap fix that's going into an upcoming FCA Newsbulletin Concours & Detailing Tips column, that I thought I'd share here first, especially since I can include color photos here.

    What you need is a $10-$15 "kit" from Lens DRX or Lens CPR (both as seen on TV) which are supposed to hide scratches in plastic eyeglass lenses. I wouldn't use them on something in front of my eyes, but they do work quite well on the plastic lens of your clock.

    If you want to know if it's likely to help your particular case, clean the dust off your clock lens, and then lightly wet your finger (just water) and wipe it across the lens. If the wet area looks better (clearer) than the dry area, this stuff will help you. It leaves a permanent "wet look" on the plastic. It's somewhat imperfect if you're looking at it from 6 inches away, but we normally see the clock from 2 to 3 feet away, and it looks GREAT.

    I bought some on eBay for less than $15 including shipping. Or do a GOOGLE search for "lens drx", "lens doctor" and/or "lens cpr".

    Try it! Below are my 'before' and 'after' pictures.
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  2. mambodave

    mambodave Formula Junior

    Jun 3, 2005
    531
    Charlotte NC
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #2 mambodave, Mar 20, 2007
    well that sucks for me. I had a new lens cut.

    Nice find :)
     
  3. WaltP

    WaltP Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
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    Walt P
    #3 WaltP, Mar 20, 2007
    Nice Mike, I like the results. Thanks
     
  4. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    11,835
    Wayne, NJ
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    Clyde E. McMurdy
    #4 ClydeM, Mar 21, 2007
    Mine is foggy and I've been meaning to get a bunch of glass lenses cut to share with fellow 308 owners. I've had my lens off the clock before. It isn't too terribly difficult. I'll try this first

    BTW: THis is the ebay search I used: copy/paste +lens ("drx","doctor","cpr")
     
  5. davebuchner

    davebuchner Formula 3

    Jun 1, 2005
    2,487
    London UK
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    Dave Buchner
    #5 davebuchner, Mar 22, 2007
    Will this work on the other dials - are they also plastic?
     
  6. spiderseeker

    spiderseeker Formula 3

    Jul 22, 2005
    1,718
    Colorado
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    Steve
    #6 spiderseeker, Mar 22, 2007
    The other gauge faces are glass- Plastic was used on the clock because it had to be drilled for the stem.
    I had my lense replaced by a local clock repairman for $50.( I never tried the scratch remover stuff)
     
  7. 78-308gt4

    78-308gt4 Formula Junior

    May 22, 2005
    735
    Memphis, TN
    #7 78-308gt4, Mar 22, 2007
    Great application for that product! I'll give it a try.
     
  8. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 3, 2002
    6,081
    Southeast USA
    Full Name:
    Mike Charness
    #8 Mike C, Mar 25, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Somebody asked me offline whether the clock really needs to be pulled out. No it doesn't, but I do recommend that you at least take out the two screws holding the assembly so you can turn the clock's face horizontal like in this picture of another one I just did -- it will make for a better/smoother coating of the polymer wet-look scratch filler, and only takes a few seconds for the extra step.
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