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dash gauges & glass cleaning
- Thread starter richards
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The answer is yes (and no). I say this because (at least in the TR3 and TR4 that I have) the glass comes out the front but the chrome ring that holds the glass in is being pinched against the dash by the guage mounting bracket.
All you need to do is reach up under the dash and losten the nut that holds the guage to the dash (the small guages have one the large guages have to if I recall). Once you have just a bit of gap between the chrome and the dash you can rotate the chrome and it will come off (it is sort of like a bayonette mount on a camera lense) and the glass will follow.
Good luck.
All you need to do is reach up under the dash and losten the nut that holds the guage to the dash (the small guages have one the large guages have to if I recall). Once you have just a bit of gap between the chrome and the dash you can rotate the chrome and it will come off (it is sort of like a bayonette mount on a camera lense) and the glass will follow.
Good luck.
dklawson
Yoda
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The statements above are true for most Smiths/Jaeger gauges.
If the gauges have never been apart before you may need to apply a small bit of penetrating oil to the joint between the chrome bezel and the gauge cup/housing. There are some seals in there that were probably once rubber. Over the years these disintegrate or morph into a glue that locks everything together. Though not encouraged, you can also pry up the bayonet tabs on the bezel SLIGHTLY. All you want to do is relieve a little bit of the force. Rubber grippers like you use to open jars in the kitchen can be helpful as can a strap wrench or two.
When you put the cleaned parts back together, you'll need to replace that disintegrated rubber seal. I typically use a length of o-ring cord with a little bit of oil on it. Very small tubing can also be made to work.
If the gauges have never been apart before you may need to apply a small bit of penetrating oil to the joint between the chrome bezel and the gauge cup/housing. There are some seals in there that were probably once rubber. Over the years these disintegrate or morph into a glue that locks everything together. Though not encouraged, you can also pry up the bayonet tabs on the bezel SLIGHTLY. All you want to do is relieve a little bit of the force. Rubber grippers like you use to open jars in the kitchen can be helpful as can a strap wrench or two.
When you put the cleaned parts back together, you'll need to replace that disintegrated rubber seal. I typically use a length of o-ring cord with a little bit of oil on it. Very small tubing can also be made to work.
Geo Hahn
Yoda
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I have made replacement seals cut from black gasket material and they worked well... just need something that will keep the glass & ring from rattling.
Would think this would almost require the gauge to be out of the dash but that is easy enough on any gauge (except for the TR3 temp gauge). Be wary of any temptation to clean the faces of the gauges. The early ones at least have the white bits painted on with something that comes off with a good sneeze... won't tolerate any wiping or brushing.
Would think this would almost require the gauge to be out of the dash but that is easy enough on any gauge (except for the TR3 temp gauge). Be wary of any temptation to clean the faces of the gauges. The early ones at least have the white bits painted on with something that comes off with a good sneeze... won't tolerate any wiping or brushing.
dklawson
Yoda
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Very true about the white paint. I've taken to cleaning just the black portions of gauge faces using a cotton swab moistened with only water. I found almost any soap or degreaser will completely remove the old white paint.
Like Mr. Hahn, I've used thick gasket paper between the inner (black) bezel and the glass. I use the o-ring stock between the chrome bezel and the glass. As he mentioned, you want to keep things from rattling.
Like Mr. Hahn, I've used thick gasket paper between the inner (black) bezel and the glass. I use the o-ring stock between the chrome bezel and the glass. As he mentioned, you want to keep things from rattling.