The Cal-look Lounge

Not sure if i'm in the right forum, but..............

I’ve recently brought an old style motometer oil temperature gauge, and although the gauge is generally in very good condition, the sender wire has been cut. :(

I want to get it repaired as I actually want to use it in my 58, but am not sure how it works?

Looking at the gauge, the sender wire is a solid copper wire which runs down the middle of a weaved outer sheath. There are no electrical parts to it other than the light.

I thought that the oil might simply heat the middle wire and operate the gauge, and thus tried to test the gauge by dipping the end of the wire in boiling water, but this does not operate the gauge?

I was just wondering if anybody know how this type of gauge works? And also how it could be repaired?

I've posted some pictures below to try and show the sender wire and gauge.

Cheers,

Dude  8)

(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/deanodynosaurs/MotometerFront.jpg)

(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/deanodynosaurs/MotometerBack.jpg)

(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/deanodynosaurs/MotometerSenderWire2.jpg)

Here is a similar gauge
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MotoMeter-THERMO-GAUGE-PORSCHE-356-911-VW-SPLIT-190-SL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ42606QQihZ024QQitemZ370202773053QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MotoMeter-THERMO-GAUGE-PORSCHE-356-911-VW-SPLIT-190-SL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ42606QQihZ024QQitemZ370202773053QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW)

Let us know what you find out.

i've the same problem with my early empi oil temp gauge  :'( :'(

I currently have an empi temp guage being repaired. I have never used the company before, but am still waiting for the repair. About 15 years ago i had another empi guage repaired by an ederly gentleman call the "The Temperature Guage Guy" out of florida. I found him thru Hemmings. He did an awesome job. I believe that guage still works, i installed it in Kobus's  64 bug. Kobus?  The repairman i believe is no longer with us.

kobus gauges still works ,   jim can you explain the work of cooper wire  ??? there's some gaz inside the wire ???

no one ???

i think there is some kind of gas inside the cooper wire...
like mini cooper...  ;)
i see a speedwell mini cooper gauge made in this way...

yes i know that  ,but nobody know someone who can fix it  ???

try on a minicooper forum....  ;D

Speedwell, does the empi gauge have a copper tube going to it, or is it a wire??

sorry... you are right..
speedwell gauge have tube

yes chris  , copper  tube  going into and weld on a bimetallic element inside 

Wow that's pretty cool. Can someone get Kobus to shoot us some pictures of his gauge and how it's connected to the engine?

;D ;D

I sure miss that car.  The temp guage is actually hooked up to a empi filter pump. I will check the pictures of the build to see if there is a shot of it. Speedwell i am waiting to hear back about my guage that is being repaired. I will post the outcome.

cool  jim let me know when you will receive your gauge , may be i will be interested to repair mine if it's not to expensive  ::)
 for info here's what !'ve on my engine (http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=9005.0;attach=29953;image)
may be i can connect my gauges to the pump too ??? , what kind of sender can we put on the pump ??? or can i take the t° at the oil sump  ??? here's mine (http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=9092.0;attach=30221;image)

thx
fabs

Fabs I do believe there is a chance your gauge still works.  When the gauges were new you had to "snake" that copper line from the dash to the engine. This is why you see the copper lines cut, because it was a time consuming pain in the ass to get the line out of the car. Why not cut it right? They are just going to sit on peoples shelf’s anyway. ::)
Your gauge needs to be un-soldered where the line goes in, you will have to find some new line, long enough to run from the dash to the engine, solder it back in the gauge, route the line to the engine. Then you will need a compression fitting to go from the line to a "T" fitting that connects to the oil galley port in the case.
On a side note, I would unwind the copper tube from the back of the gauge, use the compression fitting to connect it to the engine and see if it works, before you go thru the trouble of the long line and soldering ect...

thx for the info chris   ;)

The capillary tube on the Empi gauges is indeed hollow and filled with a gas.
A length of wire soldered on will not work.
The gauges can be repaired, although it may cost hundred$.
Here is a copy of my original instructions.

thx richard very appreciated