9 replies to this topic

[1984mini25]

I’ve just won a Tim mechanical oil pressure gauge on e-bay for the princely sum of £3.95 and now need to buy the additional fittings to plum it in.

I’ve found I need 1/8npt t piece adaptor and pipe work, but that’s about as far as I’ve got.
What I’m stuck on is any other fittings I may need, as presumably Tim and Smiths gauges use different threads?

Edited by 1984mini25, 11 February 2011 - 02:53 AM.

[lawnmowercrap]

Depends on the age of the gauge to be honest mate. I'd wait until you get it, then nip down to your local Plumb Centre or Focus.

[AVV IT]

I'd wait until you get it, then nip down to your local Plumb Centre or Focus.

I tried a few local plumb centes, hardware & DIY stores when I was trying to fit mine and it was hopeless, the tiny fibre O ring washers in particular were near impossible to get anywhere. Then I found This Place who stock absolutely everything you could need and were very helpful too! If you send them an email telling them exactly what you want to fit, then they will reply with the full list of parts that you will need to do it:thumbsup:

[maggies_minder]

ive got the same TIM gauge to go in my mini, all the adapter pieces you need you can get from minispares.

you need the adaptor to connect the pipe to the guage.
the adaptor that allows the pipe to be connected to the "T" piece (so you can keep your oil pressure warning light)
and the "T" piece itself.

if you need i can give you the code numbers as ive still got the invoice from this exact order.

[dklawson]

I tried a few local plumb centes, hardware & DIY stores when I was trying to fit mine and it was hopeless, the tiny fibre O ring washers in particular were near impossible to get anywhere.

The tiny fiber washer should only be needed to go between the back of the Smiths gauge and the original Smiths copper tube plumbing. Since this post is about fitting a TIM gauge (in addition to?) an existing Smiths gauge or pressure switch, all that should be needed is the T-fitting. Between the old Smiths parts and the new TIM parts everything else should be there.

As a minimum, from the home center you will need a 1/8" NPT elbow, a 1/8" NPT nipple, and some Teflon (PTFE) tape. Apply Teflon tape to the nipple, thread it into the T and tighten securely. Remove the existing fitting from the block, thread the nipple on the T fitting into the block. Finally, attach the old Smiths fitting to one branch of the T and the TIM fitting to the other. (Teflon tape on all threads). Start the engine and look for leaks. The T from Mini Spares will be a little cleaner looking in the engine bay but will function and be plumbed the same.

[1984mini25]

ive got the same TIM gauge to go in my mini, all the adapter pieces you need you can get from minispares.

you need the adaptor to connect the pipe to the guage.
the adaptor that allows the pipe to be connected to the "T" piece (so you can keep your oil pressure warning light)
and the "T" piece itself.

if you need i can give you the code numbers as ive still got the invoice from this exact order.

That would be very helpful

Since this post is about fitting a TIM gauge (in addition to?) an existing Smiths gauge or pressure switch, all that should be needed is the T-fitting. Between the old Smiths parts and the new TIM parts everything else should be there.

The mini this is being fitted to (when it arrives) has nothing more than the orange idiot light in the dials.

What I’d ideally like to know is if I buy a kit, i.e. tube and fittings for a smiths gauge, will it all screw together into the Tim gauge I have?

[1984mini25]

ive got the same TIM gauge to go in my mini, all the adapter pieces you need you can get from minispares.

Just out of interest what does the back of the gauge look like fittings wise?

This is the one I’ve now got,
[attachment=107719:tim_oil_gauge_12.jpg]

But I’ve found a few pipe kits with fittings (1/8npt) one with pipe and fitting, just needed the t section and one with the pipe and t section. But I’m thinking I might need an adaptor/fitting for the back of the Tim gauge?

But will obviously wait until it arrives though.

[dklawson]

My apologies. I misread your earlier post and thought you already had a gauge installation kit for the TIM gauge.

Most oil pressure installation kits will come with a length of tubing and an assortment of compression to pipe thread fittings. However, MiniSpares does sell a really nice braided oil pressure hose if you have money to invest in it. If you purchase the less expensive kits, buy one with copper tubing, not nylon. The fittings with the kits will typically include one compression fitting with 1/8 NPT female threads. Your TIM gauge is likely to have male 1/8 NPT threads so wrap them with Teflon tape and install the female fitting. The kit should also come with a compression fitting with 1/8 NPT male threads. That will go at the other end of the tubing... in the block (or T-fitting if you retain the warning light sender).

When running the copper line, do not run its entire length "straight". Somewhere between the engine and the firewall, wrap the tubing around a cylinder (perhaps a small can or bottle) to form several loops resembling a coil spring. Then extend the remaining tubing to your TIM gauge. The coils in the tubing will absorb the engine vibration and extend the life of the tubing. If you must use a kit with nylon tubing, route the tubing so it will not get bumped and is kept away from heat sources.

[maggies_minder]

so this are all the bits i got for mine, all from minispares.

code, part,
OL, the oil pipe, i got the plastic one.
TP, this is the "T" piece
OA, this is the adaptor which allows the pipe to be connected to the "T" piece
LMA 017, the adaptor which allows the pipe the mate up to the guage itself.


hope that helps, and have a look inside the dashboard directory for pics of these mounted.
ive got a full set of TIM gauges ready to go in.

Edited by maggies_minder, 11 February 2011 - 09:19 PM.

[sh1ftybob]

Hi, I have had the same problem . Just bought a Tim oil pressure gauge. Old but still in box. The thread on the gauge is 5/16 unf 24tpi. I have had to make an adaptor. If you are not comfortable cutting new threads in a brass fitting, I suggest a good quality machine tool engineer should be able to help.