Mechanical Sunpro Oil/Water Temp Gauge

[pjsmetana]

Trying to hook it up to my Spit 1500. The factory water temp probe is electrical and oddly 18mm, which somehow I don't have in a socket! This one, as you can see comes with its own probe. Just curious if anyone else has done this and can give me some guidance before I go and screw something up

 

[TR3driver]

Pete, that is a mechanical gauge, not too different than the one I have in my TR3A (except for the color scheme). The probe remains permanently attached to the gauge; inside that spring-looking thing is actually a very fine bore tube (commonly called capillary tubing because of it's small inside diameter). If you kink or crack the tube, the gauge will stop working.

Should be an easy installation, but check your thermostat housing (or wherever the probe goes) to be sure it has the surface that the lip of the probe butts up against. The nut has straight (not tapered/pipe) threads and bears against the outer surface of the lip, so the inner surface forms the seal against the housing. If your housing doesn't have that surface or it's not in good condition, you'll need an adapter to go between the nut & housing.

You'll probably also want to find the bulb holder that fits into that open hole. Tap the wire into the red wire behind the dash, so the bulb comes on with the dash lights.

At the very least disconnect the battery, preferably remove it entirely. The capillary tube will flop all over as you thread it through the car (starting from the cockpit obviously, and ending at the thermostat housing). You wouldn't want it to touch a battery terminal (particularly since the ether inside the bulb/tube is flammable).

 

[pjsmetana]

It came with the bulb and adapters and all that. I'm not completely sure I have the right adapter for the thermostat housing, but I'll find that out after I get an 18mm socket and remove it. I have all the paperwork and installation instructions for a 'generic' car. I guess I'm more/less curious if I install the probe for this new mechanical gauge in the hole where the factory electrical probe is at.

Thanks for the heads-up with the battery. I'll pull it before install.

 

[Andrew Mace]

If the mechanical temp sender is anything like a typical Smiths "safety" gauge (same oil/water combo.), you might need an adaptor such as this one from Mini Mania; it provides the 'seat' for the sender.

 

[dklawson]

The threads in the Spitfire housing should be the same as those on your Sunpro gauge. However, what you will need is the adapter fitting to correct "depth" issues.

The fitting is available from Mini Mania as it is also used on A-series engines. Paul Tegler installed a "dual gauge" in one of his Spitfires. He shows the adapter fitting (and lists its part number) on his web pages. See:
https://www.teglerizer.com/triumphstuff/75w_dualgauge.htm

 

[pjsmetana]

Thanks guys. Adapter ordered. Somehow I forgot all about that teglerizer site, thanks for the reminder!