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Gauge light question

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drooartz

drooartz

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Jack's thread on gauges reminded me of something. Both my speedo and tach seem to be missing something in regards to their extra warning lights--ignition and high beam lights. The lights work, but they just come through as white light. Should there be some sort of jeweled colored cover on the little hole that they shine through? Neither of my gauges has anything, just the hole.
 
Should be, is red or green I disremember. Think green for high beams and red for alt light. will have to check
 
Iggy should have a red jewel, high beam indicator was blue.
 
Ahh, that's it.
 
Wonder where I can find those? Seems strange that they would be missing. Do they just cap over the end of the little hole, or do they press in from the back?
 
As I remember, push in from back with a bit of glue maybe.
 
I'm not sure where you can get them (try radio shack), but I used a milk top (cut to size) as a temp solution until I picked one up at a swap meet.
 
Look in hobby shops. I've seen some passably similar ones there. They go in from the front of the gauge on the ones I have. Mat need to do some Dremel mods on the "hobby" ones: the originals have a shouldered end where they stick in the hole.
 
I don't believe you can buy those lenses separately or new. You can buy an old gauge off eBay and gut it. It doesn't have to be for an MG, almost any British car from the 1960s with Smiths or Jaeger gauges will have them.

The lenses pass through the gauge face from the front and are held to the back of the face with a push-on circlip. You'll have to improvise that part. Some home centers sell similar push-on clips/nuts, but a small o-ring and a little crazy glue should work just as well.

On a related topic, if your car's colored gauge lenses are faded or ugly, go to a craft store like A.C. Moore or Michaels. Seek the craft area dealing with decorating glass/windows. There are translucent acrylic paints for painting on glass that do a great job of restoring the color of these lenses (red, blue, or green). I've also heard of these being used on the inside of tail lamps before.
 
Are these (blue and red) similar to what is on the Bugeye gauges?

eBay #8047833220

Looks like a Spitfire gauge, but would these be the sort of jewels I'd be looking for?
 
I was under the impression they were all the same. As if Smith's had gazillions of each color made ONCE and used 'em in all the instrument variants... but mebbe I'm all wet.
 
There are some variants that used different lenses but I don't think these showed up in the sports cars. The other type I've seen (larger, flatter lenses) were commonly used on things like the Nash Metropolitan and some of the non-sports Triumphs/Standards. I'm not very familiar with the gold face instruments used before about 1960. It's quite possible that the Mk1 Sprite/Bugeyes did have different lenses. Like the Dr, I assumed all the sports cars had common lenses.
 
I got a few more responses from the Spridgets email list, and it turns out that Bugeyes did not use the jeweled lights, just 2 little red dots. Replacing them is just a matter of cutting 2 small circles out of some translucent red plastic. Nice and simple--a project for later. But at least now I know.

-Drew
 
As do I! I'd never have known that. Guess I gotta go dry off now /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

EDIT: For the green T. Sig indicators in the MGB I used two of me mum's bingo chips. They worked great. Mebbe a couple red ones for your application?
 
If you can't find the red material you need for the buttons, don't forget what I mentioned in a post above about the translucent, acrylic paint at craft stores that can be used to color clear material and recolor faded gauge warning light lenses.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I got a few more responses from the Spridgets email list, and it turns out that Bugeyes did not use the jeweled lights, just 2 little red dots. Replacing them is just a matter of cutting 2 small circles out of some translucent red plastic. Nice and simple--a project for later. But at least now I know.

[/ QUOTE ]

Drew,

I know on my original speedo and tach (which are not in the car - I currently have the speedo and tach from the later 1275 donor Spridget in my car), the lenses are not flat, but are faceted pieces. I assume they're original, since the gauges appear original and unmolested, but I could be mistaken.
 
You are correct Drew, nothing there but a small peice of plastic stuff, no real shape to them, anything should work if light will pass through it. Try a hobby store even.

Jack
 
I had a nice member of the Spridgets list offer to mail me off a few dots today. He used a translucent red plastic 3x5 card holder from staples, and a cheap rotary hand punch from Harbor Freight. Small bit of sanding, and he got them to fit. 1/8" size punch pin. He recommends using a small nail or screw to carefully place them in. Some sanding may be necessary to get a snug, but not too tight fit.

I looked in the Horler book last night, and the Bugeye they used for a dash close up was missing the High Beam red dot, though the ignition one was present. Not that great of a design, I guess.

Kurtis--not sure why your would be different, unless some previous owner tried to fix them with what was at hand. Odd.

-Drew
 
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