Hour meter discolored -can't see through it

[bob_deb]

Hi,

I wasn't sure where to post this one, hope someone can help.
All my instruments have glass lenses over them except my
hour meter. Over the years it has turned yellow and I can't see
through it, I think it is plastic. Is there anyway to clean this off
or do I have to install a new hour meter for my engine.
thanks - Bob

[AnchorageGuy]

there are lots of polish and scratch removers but most are not going to work. Time for a new meter.

[Jentine]

Drill a small hole in the face of the meter, insert a screw and pull the face off the meter (assuming it isn't digital) and cover it with some clear plastic tape. The clear face is only to keep contaminants out of the mechanism.
The worst you will do is to destroy the meter you can't read. No good, no damage.

[SilentOption]

I'd get a new meter and then move it out of the weather. Like somewhere in the engine space. Or don't get a new meter, remove the old face and still move it out of the weather.

[Vasco]

I put my hour meter in the locker. At the back of the instrument panel which is in the side of the cockpit. Out of the weather. It's not something you have to look at constantly.

[svHyLyte]

What brand of meter? We were able to obtain a replacement faceplate for one of our (20 year old) VDO instruments from the maker for almost nothing. In a second case, I replaced a fogged/discolored face plate with a disc of clear heavy vinyl snipped out of an 8.5 x 11 sheet and sealed in place with silicon. S'worked for 6+ years!

FWIW...

s/v HyLyte

[S/V Antares]

If the meter is a VDO unit with a twist off Bezel you can remove the plastic double lens assembly by picking out the O ring holding it in. This only works on the VDO units with the twist off bezel (Round or Square) The two lenses have a small gasket between them and you can separate them. You can get lenses but they clean up easily with tooth pase or plastic polish. The yellow is sulpher from the rubber parts that migrate onto the plastic. Some Armorall or other rubber treatment helps keep the rubber gaskets soft and prsvents moisture from intruding. If it is a single metal bezel it cannot be opened without mashing the bezel. If it is rust it could be a Hobbs meter as they have a lot of ferrous parts in them.

[bob_deb]

UPDATE,

I did as Antares suggested, it was a double lens and it did clean up with toothpaste.
thanks to all of you and your input.
- Bob