Who Rebuilds Smiths Gauges?

nolamax · Aug 30, 2015

To "rightshiftrick": Apparently Joel Levine and Precision Instrument Repair are one in the same. I was doing business in late 2013 with J. Levine, Inc. and speaking directly with Joel Levine. When my tach arrived, in the box he included a hand written sketch warning of the dangers of having a cable that was too long. That sketch was on the letterhead of Precision Instrument Repair and Joel Levine (both names at the top).
Not meaning to pile on; but... in my one transaction with this individual, I experienced every one of the negative aspects thus far contained in this thread.

FreeRadical · Sep 1, 2015

Mark Bohman did an excellent job for me. He is located in Cincinnati, OH. (513) 367-6402

$339 for both (which included return shipping). I had to get the gauges to him on my own dime.

Beach · Sep 1, 2015

Big thumbs up for Mark...He has done 6 for me and always does an excellent job..

dragonfly · Sep 1, 2015

+1 on Marc Bohman. My speedo is better than factory new.

wjrich · Sep 1, 2015

Had my Atlas speedo rebuilt by Joel Levine early last summer. It was about a two week turnaround and cost $250. The speedo came back looking like new, and so far works perfectly. I wouldn't hesitate to use him again for instruments on either of my bikes.

Brithit · Sep 2, 2015

Interesting reading! I had Nisonger's reverse the direction on a TR6 chronometric, and do a bunch of work on a rebuild of it. It came back, and the clock/anti-clock direction was incorrect, even though my directions to them were correct. I called them back, they apologized, and got the repair corrected immediately. I was impressed that when something was wrong, they made it right in a hurry. Another time I sent them a grey face speedo off my Trident. It had a nice patina, and they replaced the face on it, which I didn't request. Looked very nice, so I sent the tach out for a matching rebuild - new face. I would just make certain if you are sending it to them, you put in writing exactly what you want or don't want. Based on my experiences with them, they do good work, and I've never regretted using them. My two Trident clocks are so good, you'd swear they weren't Smiths! Just thinking about sending them a speedo that is either over-optimistic, or cars around me are driving very, very fast.

ewgoforth · Sep 2, 2015

nolamax said:
To "rightshiftrick": Apparently Joel Levine and Precision Instrument Repair are one in the same. I was doing business in late 2013 with J. Levine, Inc. and speaking directly with Joel Levine. When my tach arrived, in the box he included a hand written sketch warning of the dangers of having a cable that was too long. That sketch was on the letterhead of Precision Instrument Repair and Joel Levine (both names at the top).
Not meaning to pile on; but... in my one transaction with this individual, I experienced every one of the negative aspects thus far contained in this thread.

I've had mixed experience with him. A Speedo odometer wouldn't turn over correctly at around 11000 miles at just under a year of use. Wouldn't warranty it because of the miles. I've had two Smiths speedometers serviced by him that died due to too much cable protruding into the instrument, but I can't really blame him for that. My tachometer he rebuilt is still going strong after almost 100,000 miles.

swooshdave · Sep 2, 2015

utahnorton said:
Another option: http://www.smithsgaugesusa.com

With my new Comstock designed electronic drive conversion kit it totally resolves the mechanical issues of the original magnetic and chronometric Smiths gauges and eliminates the cables as well (and cost). Made by Smiths in one of their original factories in Wales to original dimensions so they drop right into the original gauge holders. New batch of Green Globe Norton gauges currently in stock. Built in LED lighting actually makes them visible at night. We'll be racing at Miller and living at the track from Thursday through Sunday so will be out of the shop at the end of the week. Norton is the featured marque and Brian Slark is guest judge and Grand Marshall: http://www.bonnevillevintagegp.com

Cheers,

Tom Kullen
AHRMA 44x
Formula 750/BEARS
tom@smithsgaugesusa.com
http://www.smithsgaugesusa.com
801.557.4255 cell/text

These will be going on my next build.

grandpaul · Apr 24, 2016

I've had Joel Levine rebuild over 40 instruments and had perfect success every time. Reasonable prices and turn-around time, good packing, zero issues.

I guess he likes me...

eskasteve · Apr 24, 2016

I just got my speedo back from Scott at Smiths Magnetic Instrument Repair. One week turn around. He replaced my glass, bezel, seals, grommets, and checked calibration. He even cleaned out some spiders that had some way found a new home inside my speedo. All for around $110.00. I found Scotts' ad in the Norton News. scott@smithsgagerepair.com or 224-595-2037

Bernhard · Apr 25, 2016

eskasteve said:
I just got my speedo back from Scott at Smiths Magnetic Instrument Repair. One week turn around. He replaced my glass, bezel, seals, grommets, and checked calibration. He even cleaned out some spiders that had some way found a new home inside my speedo.

Sounds good for a chronometric- but be careful that they have actually cleaned all the interior out, if there is ANY spiders eggs still inside there you will have an plague of them next spring, if you are really lucky they may be little Tarantulas- you will be able to flog those off for $25 each :!: :shock:

eskasteve · Apr 25, 2016

Bernhard said:
eskasteve said:

I just got my speedo back from Scott at Smiths Magnetic Instrument Repair. One week turn around. He replaced my glass, bezel, seals, grommets, and checked calibration. He even cleaned out some spiders that had some way found a new home inside my speedo.

Click to expand...

Sounds good for a chronometric- but be careful that they have actually cleaned all the interior out, if there is ANY spiders eggs still inside there you will have an plague of them next spring, if you are really lucky they may be little Tarantulas- you will be able to flog those off for $25 each :!: :shock:

Dang! Maybe he did himself a favor with those spiders. Scott captured and removed them not cleaned them out. I'm gonna do a complete check of the garage looking for the spider parents. You opened my eyes on a new way to finance my hobby. CNW, Old Britts, Ebay, and Craigslist get ready!

Danno · Nov 7, 2017

I spoke to Mark Bohman at this years Barber Vintage Fest. He quoted me a price of $150 per gauge, but that may be labor only.

Beach · Nov 7, 2017

Danno said:
I spoke to Mark Bohman at this years Barber Vintage Fest. He quoted me a price of $150 per gauge, but that may be labor only.

I think that's the price from him but have to include shipping both directions. Even if it is $170 each, still one helluva deal.

grandpaul · Nov 7, 2017

Apparently, Joel Levine prioritized my work over many other people's (or so it would seem). It's been over a year since the last ones he did for me (the JPN), and zero issues still...

Really sorry nobody else got the same very positive results that I did.

With reference to a previous post about Buchanan's, the same holds true in my case - I have had almost twice as many wheels rebuilt by Buchanan's, as I have meters refurbished by Joel Levine, and not only all with 100% satisfaction, but regular increases in my reseller discount. I wouldn't trust a wheel to ANYONE else, ESPECIALLY "east coast wheel" <fair warning.

Re-reading the above, just a WILD GUESS - perhaps I've had such excellent service from these two shops because I've been a volume repeat client of over 20 years?

Danno · Nov 7, 2017

I would think volume had everything to do with the purported difference in customer service. But a better businessman would never have let his lower-priority customers know they weren't just as important. I'll probably give Mr. Bohman a call and see if I can get a volume deal on 3 clocks.

Danno · Nov 7, 2017

Beach said:
I think that's the price from him but have to include shipping both directions. Even if it is $170 each, still one helluva deal.

I think so, too. And he apparently does good work. If it takes a while, no big deal.

bucksfizz · Nov 7, 2017

internetannoyance said:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A later magnetic Smiths is actually fairly simple, very little moving parts, one bearing? and the rest is cleaning and assy. However, it takes a special tool to recrimp the bezel and seat the glass and seal. It can be made of course if enterprising.

I prefer to do all my own work where possible, and it is possible to restore the instruments.
As other have said, if they're working OK but are cosmetically bad, it's actually quite easy.
My tacho before:

TachoBefore by peter_hatfield

The instruments are easy to dismantle - don't lose any parts:
The cups/buckets were knocked about, but they are easily filled and painted:

InstrumentCupsPainted by peter_hatfield

New seals and bezels are readily available from any Brit bike shop, and cost peanuts.
Now the interesting and imaginative part.
We made up some mandrels with an old wood-working lathe, and used the lathe to compress the rubber seals:

TachoInLathe-1 by peter_hatfield

This will make the bezel protrude below the instrument housing.
Using an old bearing attached to a length of steel, start the lathe running, and press the bearing hard against the bezel:

TachoInLathe-2 by peter_hatfield

The finished result:

Instruments&CupsRefurbed by peter_hatfield

Lineslinger · Nov 7, 2017

Give this company a look before you ship them off....high end work.
https://www.bobsspeedometer.com/1/120/contact_us.asp

Basic rebuild? Tough to make that call until you start digging inside. My gauges (and bike) sat for 40 years before I got my hands on it. The barn in which I found it was located in Nevada so rust was not as bad, but the rust bug still got into the gauges and in the interest of doing it right the first time I bucked up to get them overhauled and then I upgraded the internal lights to LED. They came back in pristine condition. Ended up running about $400 each.

Danno · Nov 8, 2017

I think you can buy them new for less than $400 a pop. Here's a refurbished pair for $510 shipped. No core refund was mentioned.

Who Rebuilds Smiths Gauges?

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