Bugeye oil/water gauge?

[paulsherman]

As I have seen in most cases the the lines (both water and oil) have just been cut at or near the gauge. Can these lines be replaced by a DIY nerd like me, are they available or does anyone have a gauge, complete with lines they would be willing to part with at a fair price?

Thank you

 

[smaceng]

Oil line is just metal tubing and can be replaced easily....a nut holds it on at the gauge with a copper ferrel. The water temperature gauge I believe is filled with ether and is not a DIY project.

 

[dklawson]

Actually... you CAN fix the temperature gauge yourself. I have done about 1/2 dozen.

Use the method outlined in the link below.
https://www.ply33.com/Repair/tempgauge

Consider the followings as footnotes to the basic method described in the link.

First, if the temperature gauge needle is NOT sitting on zero BEFORE you start the repairs... don't bother. If the gauge is not firmly in the "cold" zone resting on the stop pin/peg, the gauge is going to require more calibration work than most of us DIY people want to mess with.

I replaced the salt/ice bath with chunks of dry ice (available in small quantities at many grocery stores). The dry ice does not ruin the zinc plating on the coil spring covering the capillary tube. It is also colder and gave me more confidence in what I was doing.

Pre-tin the lines before you cut them. File the cut ends sooth to remove burrs. Use a tiny number drill (to make sure the hole in the capillary tube is open) before soldering the splice. Finally after soldering, use a hot air gun or similar to quickly raise the temperature of the expansion bulb to make sure the hole in the capillary tube is open. If the gauge needle does not climb when you heat the bulb, the capillary tube is likely to be blocked. Fix it by re-chilling the bulb, unsoldering the joint, re-drilling the capillary holes, and soldering again.

 

[smaceng]

Yes, what I meant to say is that it is not for the AVERAGE DIY person!!!
Doug, you are the exception!

 

[dklawson]

I am just exceptionally cheap.

 

[smaceng]

I too am very cheap......should I even say this on a public forum, but my family way back when was from Scotland!
Even though I knew about the DIY method, I have not tried your technique Doug!!!
Scott in CA

 

[dklawson]

I wish I could take credit for the method... but it is not mine. I can only add my suggestions on how to improve on the technique and when to not bother with repairs.

The most unique temperature gauge I repaired was for a variant of the Standard Sportsman, an uncommon sedan (in the U.S.) from the mid to late 1950s. A friend bought the original factory show car and ended up sourcing a broken temperature gauge from someone in OZ to fill the empty hole of the dash for the missing gauge. I was a bit nervous working on that one.