[TR] Looking for a decent TR2/TR3 Temp gauge - with or without capillary tube

Tue Apr 24 17:37:08 MDT 2018

Great results! Very impressive!

Alex Thomson

From: Triumphs [mailto:triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Chris Simo
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 2:03 PM
To: list Triumph
Subject: Re: [TR] Looking for a decent TR2/TR3 Temp gauge - with or without capillary tube

I received a gauge from a list member on Friday.  Thanks to all who responded.

I got home from the Gathering (Triumph club of the Carolinas car show up near Mayberry, NC) on Sunday and went to work to clean it up.  It worked out well and I thought I'd write something up that I hope the rest of you can add your wisdom and I'll turn it into a club newsletter article.

I nuked a coffee cup of water and stuck the bulb in the cup ----   The needle moved!!!

Then, the tedious part -- 

1.	I isolated the sender piping so it did not flop around - it was already bread tied together in pretty good fashion.
2.	I carefully removed the old o-ring under the bezel as these work like glue and have given me a tough time separating the case from the bezel in the past. 
3.	I pried ever so slightly on all the tabs on the back side of the ring.   I did this more to make sure that they were not stuck.   I used no oil or lubricant at this point.
4.	I was then able to turn the case and bezel to separate.
5.	I used a two liter bottle filled with water set up as a place to hold the gauge and capillary tube while I worked so as not to flex the capillary tube by repeated up and down placements.
6.	I then used a tool I'd made in the past to unscrew the nut that holds the innards to the case and carefully (the gauge face is not attached to the needle/mechanism) pulled the innards out and slide the case down the capillary tube.  Holding my tongue right I slid the face over the needle with out disturbing the needle.
7.	Cleaning the gauge -- Do not use solvent!  I've found it does a nice job of smudging the lettering on gauges. -- I use water and a q tip and run the face under the water while gently working the q tip across the face.   This gauge had some residue, so I used some mild soap with the q tip and cleared that out.
8.	After cleaning the lens, I saw a small chip in the glass.  I think most of it will be hidden behind the bezel.
9.	I took an exacto knife and started scraping the needle - keeping it still during this activity with case in my hand and two fingers stabilizing the needle.  Having the case in same hand as the fingers holding the needle help to not move the needle during scraping and sanding.   After Scraping was complete,  I sanded with 320 grit.   Because I have it,  I dipped a q tip in Ospho-coat and ran it across the needle where rust was evident.  An hour later I used a wet q tip to remove any excess.
10.	Dinner time -- after a few hours I went back out and painted the needle with flat white paint (I may spring for fluorescent white needle paint).
11.	Next day --- I put the gauge back together and it looks really nice.
12.	What do do with the capillary tube?   IS there a decent looking cadmium style paint out there?  https://www.walmart.com/ip/Krylon-MC202-Dupli-Color-Metalcast-Yellow-Anodized-11-Oz-Aerosol/39154119?wmlspartner=wlpa <https://www.walmart.com/ip/Krylon-MC202-Dupli-Color-Metalcast-Yellow-Anodized-11-Oz-Aerosol/39154119?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1235&adid=22222222227026966689&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=53852858231&wl4=aud-273067695102:pla-88029100391&wl5=9009703&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112354589&wl11=online&wl12=39154119&wl13=&veh=sem> &selectedSellerId=1235&adid=22222222227026966689&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=53852858231&wl4=aud-273067695102:pla-88029100391&wl5=9009703&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112354589&wl11=online&wl12=39154119&wl13=&veh=sem

Anyways -- Thanks to all who responded - I'm in business but I'm afraid I'm going to have to pull apart and clean all the rest of my gauges!!!

I've got two center gauge clusters (no gauges) for a TR3 w/crinkle paint  if anyone is in need.

Chris

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