Removal of coolant capillary bulb

Removal of coolant capillary bulb

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billybradshaw

Original Poster:

352 posts

149 months

Tuesday 25th August 2015
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Evening all,

I've been busy removing the coolant hoses this evening. When I unscrewed the sender for the temp gauge it has become two pieces. Is this right? If so, how do I remove the bulb from the coolant pipe? I believe they are very fragile and I don't want to wreck it.

Cheers

Ian

billybradshaw

Original Poster:

352 posts

149 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
pmessling said:
Sounds like you've already buggered it.
DOH!, thought as much, b*llox

I believe it's a crappy job to replace aswell frown

billybradshaw

Original Poster:

352 posts

149 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
Tanguero said:
Too late I am afraid - it's wrecked! Speedy cables will repair it for you. Note, they are "speedy" by name rather than by nature.

For future reference, the trick to removing the bulb without damage is to soak the boss and nut on the water rail in penetrating oil for several days while running the car up to temperature to warm it up. Free the capillary tube all the way back to the firewall so you have plenty of loose slack. Run the engine to get the rail good and hot and slowly undo the nut making sure that if the bulb turns with the nut, the capillary has enough slack to take the twist without kinking or snapping.
Thanks for the tip. Hopefully once it's repaired and back in it won;t need touching for a while.

Thinking about it, is the fitting of an electronic gauge something that has been tackled before whilst of course retaining the looks of the original gauge?

Ta

Ian

billybradshaw

Original Poster:

352 posts

149 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
pmessling said:
Could always go the SPA dual gauge root for oil pressure water / temp.
OK, just had a look on their website. Presumably the DG200 gauge is the one I'm after.

Am I right in saying that the information from a digital gauge is far more accurate / reliable than the original analogue and therefore, fitting one is an appropriate thing to do whether mine is knackered or not?

Ta

Ian

billybradshaw

Original Poster:

352 posts

149 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
thefrog said:
I have a dual SPA gauge where the clock normally is, Oil Temp + Water Temp. I don't think the gauge will fit the hole in the standard location without it being enlarged a little, I had to dremel a tiny amount of material from the pod to fit mine. The TVR gauges are 50/51mm rather than 52mm iirc.

The digital one may be more accurate, some will argue that an analogue gauge shows fluctations that a digital one won't. E.g sharp spikes or drops in oil pressure won't show up as well in digital as they would on an analogue gauge.
Right OK, thanks for that. I thought the converse would have been the case with respect to fluctuations, etc. hey ho

An SPA gauge it is then. What was going to be quite a simple rad / hose replacement is getting a little more involved and of course expensive........rolleyes

billybradshaw

Original Poster:

352 posts

149 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
Just ordered the gauge.

How much of the dash do I need to strip down in order to route the cables?

Ta

Ian

billybradshaw

Original Poster:

352 posts

149 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Demondad said:
Do the SPA gauges come with all that's required to wire into the cars system, I'd appreciate a run through how a water temp/ oil temp one is fitted as mine will need doing this autumn.
Looking at the pictures on their website it does look to be a complete kit. The only thing that folk have mentioned is the need for adaptors in order to locate the senders on the pipework / engine.

billybradshaw

Original Poster:

352 posts

149 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
pmessling said:
Yes an adapter for the oil and water. My oil feed comes from the original place between the V under the coil packs. Get some heat reflective sleeve for the cable to protect it. And cable tie it right out the way. Recently had to replace the loom due to it having touched the exhaust.

Careful with the oil sensor as the new type are bigger then the original and the coils need to be brought up to clear.

I removed the oil sensor plug to pull the cables through the grommet that the throttle cable runs through. Just needs a live cable and earth connected plus sensors and works.
Morning Peter,

Are the adaptors readily available (and if so what size) or will I need to get some made?

I was looking at the old sender last night and mine might be OK in that I didn't realise that the securing 'nut' is seperate to the main body of the bulb hence why I thought It was in two pieces. I'll bung it in some boiling water tonight and see if it registers.

Cheers

Ian