WOW, Enlightened

[AweMan]

I saw a used purported working Tr-3 temp gauge go on E-Bay today for $275.00 + shipping!
I had no idea they were worth that much.
I guess I will send mine in for refurb.
Nossinger or The Gauge Guys?
Anyone?

 

[Lou Metelko]

Without doubt, the ONLY choice for gauge restoration is MO MA in Albuquerque. Margaret Lucas and crew are slow but the end product has no equal. Far from cheap but worth it. Phone 505-766-661 or momanm@aol.com

Lou Metelko
Auburn, Indiana

 

[Tinkerman]

Kerry, the last time I checked with Nossinge it was $110, probably more now. The costs are high because the tubing has liquid in it as opposed to some sort of mechanical type. Forget what the liquid is, sure someone on the BCF has the info. In fact I seem to remember a thread about DIY temp guage rebuilding.

Tinkerman the Forgetful

 

[martx-5]

The fluid in the temp gauges is ether. I've repaired several of these gauges myself using the instructions I found here. It will cost less then $20. You have to buy a donor capillary temp gauge at you local parts store. All you want from the gauge is the tube and the ether inside. I buy them from Pep Boys for about $18. If you follow the instructions carefully, the job will turn out successfully. Just make sure that you have a big enough soldering iron. Those little 40 watt electronic ones are too small.

 

[Tinkerman]

Art, thanks for the reminder. It's now safely tucked away in my "BCF Tips" file. I think I even spelled gauge correctly, heh.

Tinkerman

 

[CraigLandrum]

I repaired my TR3 temp gauge and it was relatively straightforward, assuming you can operate a soldering iron. The innards of the gauge itself are fairly simple - a metal diaphragm that expands under pressure (from the heated ether) and pushes a rod that moves the needle. Our gauge didn't work because we were sort of forced to cut the capillary line that runs between the gauge and the ether bulb that fits in the water pump, so all our ether went bye bye. Read the instructional link in the post from martx-5, but the general idea is to buy a cheap $20 capillary tube new gauge from the parts store, chill the new bulb waaaay down by immersing it in a mixture of water, ice and salt, then splice the existing tube from the old gauge to the new tube from the new gauge (important - remember to put on the proper securing nut to fit the TR3 water pump before splicing!!). The splice is made with a 1 inch section of 1/8 inch or so brass tubing. You tin the clean-cut ends of the capillary tubes (only the outsides - don't stop up the tubes!). Also it helps to insure that the tube ends were not crimped shut when you cut them - if so, open them up with the sharp end of a safety pin or something similar. Once tinned, the ends go in the section of brass tube and you solder the ends into the tube, ensuring *very* clean solder joints with no cracks or open areas. Once done, you can remove the new bulb from the freezing water and insert it into hot water (or just hold it under a very hot faucet) - you should see some movement on the needle as the bulb heats up. If you have any kind of leak around your solder joint you will be able to smell it quite easily. Dipping it in boiling water should send the bulb towards 212 and when back under cool running water it should go back down. So long as it swings most of the way across the dial, you are probably good to go and can adjust the needle to be reasonably accurate. Once repaired, I also used a model brush to repaint the needle using white model lacquer to give it a cleaner look.