this may be a dumb question but does anyone know how to disconnect a smiths water temp gauge from its capilary tube?
even with my reasonable-ish engineering experience it doesnt seem particulary obvious, i would assume it would just unscrew but with it not being flat sided and looking as if it were all one peice with the internal mechanism i didnt want to force it and end up wrecking something. the tube is soldered into the end of the brass cone if that makes any difference?
thanks everyone!
J
Smiths Water Temp Gauge Problem
Started by
cavman
, May 23 2008 09:40 PM
3 replies to this topic
#2
dklawson
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Moved Into The Garage
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Posted 23 May 2008 - 11:19 PM
There are no dumb question. Your question is particularly important because assumptions about the mechanical temperature gauge will cost you money.
You're asking about the capillary type temperature gauges. Regardless of whether they are Smiths or any other type, they were not standard factory issue on Minis.
More importantly, to answer your question, you do NOT remove the gauge or expansion bulb from the capillary tube... ever. The expansion bulb and tubing are filled with ether. If you damage the tube or bulb in any manner, the ether evaporates and you have a non-functional gauge. They can be repaired but they often cost more to fix than a new unit. The gauge most often repaired are the Smiths dual gauges where the top half of the 52mm gauge is oil pressure and the bottom half is water temperature.
For more info on how to repair these gauges and how they work, see this link:
http://www.ply33.com/Repair/tempgauge
You're asking about the capillary type temperature gauges. Regardless of whether they are Smiths or any other type, they were not standard factory issue on Minis.
More importantly, to answer your question, you do NOT remove the gauge or expansion bulb from the capillary tube... ever. The expansion bulb and tubing are filled with ether. If you damage the tube or bulb in any manner, the ether evaporates and you have a non-functional gauge. They can be repaired but they often cost more to fix than a new unit. The gauge most often repaired are the Smiths dual gauges where the top half of the 52mm gauge is oil pressure and the bottom half is water temperature.
For more info on how to repair these gauges and how they work, see this link:
http://www.ply33.com/Repair/tempgauge
#3
cavman
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Just On Tickover
Posted 25 May 2008 - 10:48 AM
thanks for the reply, thats a good article.
so basicaly, if i remove the engine end it'll damage the bulb, and it wont come out of the gauge end? so if it isn't fitted into a pod when first fitted, it cant be there after (without cutting the pod to allow feeding the still conneced tube in)? i wish i knew who put this car together!!
J
so basicaly, if i remove the engine end it'll damage the bulb, and it wont come out of the gauge end? so if it isn't fitted into a pod when first fitted, it cant be there after (without cutting the pod to allow feeding the still conneced tube in)? i wish i knew who put this car together!!
J
#4
dklawson
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Moved Into The Garage
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Posted 26 May 2008 - 02:27 PM
Capillary tubes are great but installing them and removing them can be a lot of work. You can put the gauge anywhere another 52mm gauge would fit. However, if it involves putting the gauge in a different hole, you have to remove the bulb from the cylinder head and pull all the capillary tube and all back through the firewall and completely reinstall the gauge.
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