refurbishment of dials
Author
Discussion

markymark93

Original Poster:

135 posts

157 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
quotequote all
Hi
Does anyone know someone who can refurbish Smith gauges. Especially if it is for a reasonable cost.

Thanks Mark

interloper

2,747 posts

284 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
quotequote all
I believe most of the crucial bits are available, the glass the rubbers etc, taking them apart can be a pain though.

Flatinfourth

591 posts

167 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
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Speedy Cables! They are in Wales, Swansea Valley to be exact. Very good chaps indeed. Can be trusted with old and valuable gauges.

Tel: 01639 732213 email: instruments@speedycables.com

Cheers

Peter (thesportscarshop.co.uk)


nta16

7,898 posts

263 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
quotequote all
or "not-so-Speedicables" as my mate calls them - to be fair they said his repair could take up to 8(?) weeks, and it did, the work seemed good though and I've seen a Smith speedo they reconned and it looked good

as an alternative -

this guy gets recommendations and it's him I'll try when I eventual get round to getting mine sorted - JDO http://www.jdo1.com/index.html

markymark93

Original Poster:

135 posts

157 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
quotequote all
thanks for that. I have emailed them.

SPT28

443 posts

235 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
quotequote all
Have a look at Vintage restorations in Tunbridge wells, run by a lovely gentlemen called John.

Simple great old fashioned service - refurbished all my MG dials for a good price as well.

NigelStn

268 posts

196 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
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Does anyone know how they whiten the numerals that go cream with age?

Flatinfourth

591 posts

167 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
quotequote all
[quote=nta16]or "not-so-Speedicables" as my mate calls them - to be fair they said his repair could take up to 8(?) weeks, and it did, the work seemed good though and I've seen a Smith speedo they reconned and it looked good

Very aware of their slightly contradictory name! They are ok though if you press for a prompt deadline at the start.

shoehorn

686 posts

172 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
quotequote all
Flatinfourth]ta16 said:
or "not-so-Speedicables" as my mate calls them - to be fair they said his repair could take up to 8(?) weeks, and it did, the work seemed good though and I've seen a Smith speedo they reconned and it looked good

Very aware of their slightly contradictory name! They are ok though if you press for a prompt deadline at the start.
They made two speedo cables(pre and post transducer) for my Capri,I recieved them 4 days after faxing the drawings,that was 15 years ago,I sent them an old smiths triumph rev counter to convert to 8 cyl last year,it took them 2 weeks which seems reasonable to me.

markymark93

Original Poster:

135 posts

157 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
quotequote all
im in no massive rush for them. 6-8 weeks would be the max though. I thought my car would be done in 6 months and at the moment it will be heading for a year. So I am use to things taking a little longer. I don't mind too much. Just gives something to look forward to lol.

shoehorn

686 posts

172 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
quotequote all
markymark93 said:
I thought my car would be done in 6 months and at the moment it will be heading for a year
hehe

markymark93

Original Poster:

135 posts

157 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
quotequote all
On this basis god knows how long it will take to get my two tr's back lol

Robin Hood

703 posts

234 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
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john2443

6,540 posts

240 months

Friday 22nd November 2013
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I used JDO instruments - cheaper than the likes of Speedograph and as far as I can tell did a good job, didn't take too long.

The Surveyor

7,624 posts

266 months

Friday 22nd November 2013
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What's wrong with the existing dials, broken or just dirty.

If they just need a clean-up, do it yourself. The outer bezels can be removed and this allows access to carefully clean the faces and inside of the glass. Strip out the movement and get the cases silver zinc plated and then re-build. You can buy replacement bezels in chrome, or if the originals were just painted, repaint before putting them back together. Watch the face, as the printing is very easy to damage and don't use any liquid cleaner.

I did the dials on my 3000m a little while ago and was quite pleased:-




markymark93

Original Poster:

135 posts

157 months

Saturday 23rd November 2013
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There is a lot of rust to the backs of the dials, the clock is broken and the rest have a question over whether they work or not. So thought best to get them refurbed and then won't have the worry. I'll try the other couple of recommendations though. Certainly not cheap from the one quote I have.

DBSV8

5,958 posts

267 months

Saturday 23rd November 2013
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markymark93 said:
There is a lot of rust to the backs of the dials, the clock is broken and the rest have a question over whether they work or not. So thought best to get them refurbed and then won't have the worry. I'll try the other couple of recommendations though. Certainly not cheap from the one quote I have.
my rev counter was not working in the E type it was sent away during the service at E type Uk , if i recall it was around 200 pounds to be fully recalibrated and serviced

markymark93

Original Poster:

135 posts

157 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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Hi

I have now had one estimate for the refurbishment. A couple of companies have said they cannot help. I am just getting a comparative estimate for the work before sending them off.
Thanks for the help and if there are any others people can think of please let me know.

Right whats next to ask help on lol.