The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Temperature gauge repair 1955 first

Lots of good reading in the archives on repair ideas for the temp gauge. The article from Skinned Knuckles magazine seems to be a pretty good way to go. http://www.ply33.com/Repair/tempgauge This is where one uses the bulb and capillary tube from an aftermarket temperature sensor as donor parts. Has any one successfully done this repair?

I have another idea and would like some feedback. What if I drilled and tapped a hole in the side of the sensor bulb for a #8 machine screw then filled the bulb with starting fluid and inserted a small teflon wrapped machine screw to seal the hole?

Starting fluid contains Heptane, Diethyl Ether, Hexane and CO2. I could chill everything in the freezer before filling the bulb and using a mechanical fastener would avoid the use of heat and solder.

Is this an idea worth trying is is it a FUBAR waiting to happen?

no offense - but how much does a new gauge cost? For my time - I'd be $$ ahead to just buy a new one - because I'd probably burn down my truck if I tried to do this myself.

I'm very glad to have seen this thread now as I am deciding what to do with my instrument cluster out of my '46. Jim Carter wants $100 core charge on top of the $410 for rebuilding my cluster to like-new. The water temp AND the oil pressure gauge on my cluster were cut off right at the gauge by a previous owner (doh!).

I know I can restore my cluster easily enough with a re-chromed bezel, glass and decals from Carter's but to get it FUNCTIONAL may be another thing. This repair gives me hope. I didn't know this was possible. Now if I can find a way to adapt a new water temperature gauge and have all this look right with the original (but restored) cluster, I'll be REALLY pleased.

Thanks Peter for providing the link.

P.S. If; per the article, you can buy replacement gauge to use to make this repair for $15, why would you try to do the fix as you propose? I can see trying it (MAYBE) if there were no alternative but there is one. NOT to mention that what you propose could be explosive...right in your face. Personally, I'd pass on the attempt.

Farmer, the temp gauges run from $55 for repro to about $100 for restoring my old one. But you know what I say, learning to restore my original is priceless.

Dan, you are right, blowing myself up would certainly take away from the enjoyment of this hobby in a big way.

Anyone else with a thought here?

Hoping for a few more responses, I am going to bump this to the top one more time.

Seems like starting fluid would be a great way to restore ether into the temperature sending unit bulb and capillary tube. What do you all think. Should I give it a try? Or am I asking for a disaster?

If your going to use the capillary tube my advice is buy a new one. There is a vendor close to your area that sells them new for about a 1/3 of what it'll cost to repair yours...and certainly lots cheaper than the vendors in the midwest or here in the east. D&M Restorations, near me in Greenville S.C., is really good but for my temp guage it was going to run $150 to totally restore it. They do superb work but I decided to buy one from the Truck Shop for less than $45 last year. I'm pleased with it and I took care of the other guages. I Never regretted it and I had plenty of stuff to enjoy "doing it all by myself"!! I hate the Tiawan crap but unless you have deep pockets we have to think smart sometimes.

Here's a technical answer.
1. Assuming you could get starting fluid (or some portion of it) into the tube and sealed, it's coefficient of thermal expansion is quite different from ether, hence the temperature it reads will not be correct.
2. Starting fluid is a liquid only when kept under pressure or VERY cold. Freezer temperatures will not keep it liquid. In the freezer some components will stay liquid, some will evaporate.
3. Teflon wrapped machine thread will not likely seal in this application.
4. You are playing with a potential bomb doing this.

Thanks Alvin. Thanks Harold. I will heed your advice and buy a replacement unit. I guess there are just some things that cannot be rebuilt at home.