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Triumph TR3 - Temp. guage

Well I had a disapointing drive home from work last night. About ten miles from home, happened to glance at the temp guage just in time to watch it go from 185 down to about 100. Obviously lost the gas out of the capillary tube. Took a quick glance at it this AM and the end where it goes into the thermostat housing is very loose. So anyone know who fixes them? I know there is someone in the eastern U.S. Anyone up north?
And as the question is pondered," how do the get the center in the Caramilk Bar?"; how do they get that gas in the capillary tube??????
Brian
B. Towne

Been a question for me too, Brian! I think it's ether. Probably an easy thing to do once you've done it a dozen times. A compartment pressurised with ether, and use a resistance soldering iron? I bought a set of guages with a non-electrical temp in case I couldn't ever find another. Haven't checked to see if it would screw into the fitting for sure, it looks like it would. I doubt if it's a real sin to use a TR4 electric one unless you do the high point concours thing. Even the one on my TR4 has had it's moments, tho. Works fine now, but it started acting up at a friends funeral, I think he was teasing me. I have seen the name of a company that does the repairs, hope I find it before Don tells you. LOL

Ebay has had some for less than $100, but not much.
Tom

I had my temp gauge rebuilt by Palo Alto Speedometer (http://www.paspeedo.com/) for about $85 in 1992. They have been around since 1957 and did a first rate job. Recently I found in tech tip in an old news letter on a do it yourself method for refilling the capillary tube with ether. If anyone is interested I will send a photo of the article.
Berry Price
Albany, Or
BTP Price

Hi Brian

Went and checked at TSC. They have them in many flavours. James the managers a great guy. He was nice enough to let me open packaging and look. A lot of them are permanent connects to the gauge but they have a multiuse one with all kinds of adapters that may work for you?
about 40 bucks guage and all. You would have to check the fitting don't have a 3 to compare.

Bill
Bill Brayford

Here is a repair method and a way of swapping the tube if Tom is right and the thread and pitch are the same?

http://www.ply33.com/Repair/tempgauge

Bill
Bill Brayford

Great link, Bill!!

This takes most of the mystery out of it, what an eyeopener. If you have a broken pipe right by the bulb, it does sound like a much harder thing to repair with any hint of ether left inside. I don't know if the bulb end has a soldered connection there or not, if the tube is cracked, maybe you could just shorten it. Refilling could be a real trick, too. Ah, there's still magic. But this replacing the gauge end with your present one is intrigueing. And once you have that gauge you don't want of of the tube, the collet (?) fitting at the thermostat housing could be exchanged for the original, too. I'm gonna try it with the one I bought some day. I think I have an old gauge with a broken tube somewhere.

Thanks again, Bill!
Tom

Thanks all! Excellent site Bill. Tom let me know when the Guage shop is set up. I saw on another thread that Don isn't feeling well. Explains why he hasn't jumped in. Get well Don!
Brian
B. Towne

I second that wish! Get well, Don.
Tom

This thread was discussed between 17/09/2004 and 21/09/2004

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