Water Temp Gauge

[BOBBYR]

Hi Guys,
I hope you all are having a good New Year. I know that there are many different gauge rebuilding shops, so the first thought you might have is: Boy! Is this guy cheap? And you might be right. Anyway, now that we have established that, I was wondering if anyone has ever calibrated a smith water temp. gauge? I know the capillary tube has never leaked and I'm just curious if there is a quick fix, instead of sending this gauge out for few months. I appreciate your help and I also thank you for not calling me a cheapskate.Have a great day.
Bobby R

 

[roscoe]

Boiling water is 100 deg C. or 212 F. Plop the probe into a pot of just boiled water and the gage should read pretty close to that, if you pre-heat the probe with a different pot of boiling water. If you are really talking about calibrating the gage, then I haven't a clue. I think it is just a Bourdon tube inside, so I imagine the way that gets done is to adjust the needle so it hits the calibration points you've selected. I think I might have an old gage in the box of gage pieces and parts. I'll look to see if there is an adjusting mechanism, but I don't think so.

 

[Brinkerhoff]

Bobby, not cheap , practical. Hope it works out . I have to send a Jaeger guage in to Nisonger to have a new tube installed , $135 , jeeesh. Kevin

 

[RAC68]

Hi Bobby,

A while back I acquired an article showing how to repair the tube leading from the gauge to the bulb that included the following passage on calibration. Although this article was not for a Healey, it did seem quite accurate when I compared its description to my own gauge. Hope it helps.

Temperature Gauge Head Calibration
“The gauge head is a Bourdon tube connected to the indicator by a linkage. The Bourdon tube is simply a flattened tube rolled into a coil. As pressure is applied the tube slightly unwinds. When the pressure is removed, the coiled tube returns to its original position.

Adjustment is made by bringing the sensing bulb to a known temperature by placing it in boiling water (212°F) then bending the linkage that connects the Bourdon tube to the indicator. Do not bend the Bourdon tube itself.”

Again, I want to reiterate that this excerpt did not come from a Healey or Smiths document.

Hope it helps,
Ray (64BJ8P1)

 

[BOBBYR]

Hi Guys,
Thanks guys for getting back to me on this. Ray, You have supplied me with the answer I need. I was wondering if the tube was supposed to be bent. I would think this is going to be very easy to do. Again guys, I appreciate your help.Hey Ray, If you could, would you send me the link for that article?
Bobby R

 

[RAC68]

Hi Bobby,

The web link is ( https://www.ply33.com/repair/tempgauge ).
All the best,
Ray (64BJ8P1)