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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Temperature gauge capillary bulb too long

Title says it all folks.
Have bust 2 combined temp pressure gauges and have now worked out that the sensor bulb is too long to fit in the head.
The bulb bottoms out on an internal casting in the head before it seats and seals.
Effect being that you tighten it down and water leaks out so you give it an extra turn and the bulb bends splits releases its ether and jams in the head GRRRRRR!

What is the solution? ( I don't want to continue contributing to the pensions of gauge reconditioners!!!!)
Tim( frustrated)
T Dafforn

might be a silly question but have you got the washer and adapter (if your head requires it)

when I put my gauge in it had a slight leak at the adaptor and I just added a little sealant of some kind (for some reason I think it might even have been a bit of thread lock?? but can't remember)
Nigel Atkins

What adapter ?
Neither of the engines I have had one, but then one was from a Morris marina and the other was source unknown!
Tim
T Dafforn

http://www.sussexclassiccar.co.uk/shop_factory_hazel/contents/en-uk/d698.html

have a look here. adaptor temp sender.

regards bob.
bob taylor

http://www.sussexclassiccar.co.uk/shop_factory_hazel/contents/en-uk/d698.html

have a look here.

regards bob.
bob taylor

thems the ones (although the squashy copper washer is the modern replacement also used elsewhere on the car like sump plug)
Nigel Atkins

Hi T Dafforn I have a couple of duel gauges for sale . You can contact me on 01332 510130 0r 07749838528. Richard
rj woolley

Thanks Richard but I have a gauge unabused!
have ordered the adapter..
Thanks everyone..
Tim
T Dafforn

don't forget to have a washer too

I wonder about the thread on your heads too but you'll be able check when the adaptors arrive
Nigel Atkins

Kenlowe do very nice units which fit into the radiator core, rather than in the pipe itself. Have loads of the old bulb type with temp regulators, from Kenlowe in stock if they are any use to you.
J L HEAP

throw up a photo JL
Nigel Atkins

Oops my error, must have got excited, and spouted off about the rad switch not a temp sender, der !!
You can buy an extension fitting to allow a longer nosed sender unit to fit a confined space.
Have alook here for short senders http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/AUM0/3246/N0824.oap?pt=N0824&ppt=C0391
J L HEAP

Yep, you need the extension piece for the side of the head, been there done that got the old gauge to prove it!

Shaun
Shaun

I didn't notice (not really looking for though) a washer with my adaptor yesterday (when I was farting about trying to get a bowed cork rocker cover gasket to fit) and thinking about it now I can't remember one when fitting the gauge but then I remember little about such joys anyway
Nigel Atkins

Always find a bit of hermatite blue works wonders with keeping the rocker gasket in place on the rocker cover.

Regards
Shaun
Shaun

Wrap a couple of turns of PTFE plumbers' tape around the threads of the adapter before screwing into the head. It has 2 flats on it so you can tighten it into the head with a spanner.

Then fit the bulb/probe and tighten the retaining nut. Don't overtighten though. And don't allow it to turn as you tighten the nut or it will strain the capillary tubing. If you don't have a copper washer use a fibre one, or wrap some more PTFE tape around to form a washer. Or even just a dab of household gloss paint will seal it if you tighten whilst it is still wet.
Guy W

Shaun,
that's what I've used in the past but ignoring my own advice I didn't check I'd got all that was required to do the job properly and I though with some very slim hooks and patience I could position the gasket

turned out that after 15 minutes I was out of stock of patience and when I took my small tube of hermatite blue out of its small box there was so little left in the tube it had gone solid - so I used UHU glue instead

I'm initiating a straighten process for the other two cork gaskets to avoid this next two times at least
Nigel Atkins

I think we have drifted on to rocker cover cork gaskets - and deformed ones at that!
A few spots of isocyanate superglue on the gasket will quickly hold it in position in the right shape. Then the cork will seal perfectly well without any extra sealant when tightened down. And this allows it to be reused many times over as it doesn't disintegrate when you remove the cover at a later date to adjust the valves.
Guy W

superglue - complete misnomer I've always found, perhaps this 'isocyanate superglue' is better but I threw away my last small expensive bottle of (not)superglue as it had dried itself out after a few failed uses

I know there are hundreds of adhesives and glues all with different uses but from experience I know that UHU will get cork to hold plus it was the only glue in the house

back on 'subject' - I've found modern PTFE tap available from the giant DIY stores to be very thin which can sometimes be an advantage as the older thicker tape can sometimes be too thick when wrapped on small fittings
Nigel Atkins

I store the cork gaskets on a spare rocker box cover, they slip over the top and keep shape perfectly.
David Smith

the only rocker cover I've got is on the engine :)

now it's all too late I've put mine on a corrugate cardboard form I constructed - as I meant to do before but forgot

Blue Peter have asked me for a drawing of this handy bit of kit I invented but I'm taking it to the Dragon's Den
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 30/08/2013 and 02/09/2013

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