B-1 instrument guage

[Mike Aubin]

Hi Guys,

Been lurcking in the forums for a bit sucking up as much knowledge as I can and I'm finally starting on restoring a 48 b-1-b and have a question on the instrument cluster.

When disconnecting the instrument cluster my father in law over heated the temp guage connection in the engine compartment with a torch when heating it up to loosen the connection and the needle in the temp guage went past 212 and hasn't come back. Is the guage broken now? If so can I get just a new temp guage or do I have to find the complete instrument panel with all 4 guages?

Thanks,

Mike

[grey beard]

Hi Mike,

Sounds like your temp gauge has well and truly taken the proverbial dump. There is a thread on this forum in the technical section that tells you how to repair this problem - involves warming it up and adding ether or some such gas, after you find and solder the leak. The tube and bulb of which you speak is a capillary unit with an inert gas sealed inside that reacts and moves the needle. Quite obviously this is the wrong time to offer this caution, but they must be handled gently.

Having said all that, your best bet may be to ask on this forum for a spare gauge unit. The dash gauge and capillary tube/temp bulb are all one sealed unit. If you find another one, it must be handled sorta' like a light bulb - very delicately. Someone likely has a parts truck with one that hasn't yet been blown out.

Good luck. Keep us posted on your progress.

[Reg Evans]

Hi Guys,

Is the guage broken now? If so can I get just a new temp guage or do I have to find the complete instrument panel with all 4 guages?

Thanks,

Mike

You don't have to change the entire gauge cluster to install another TEMP gauge. I just changed mine out last week for one with a nicer face. Maybe you'll get lucky and your needle is just hung up in that extreme position.

[norrism1]

Look and see if it just got stuck on the high side, may just need to tap it to release it if binding. Cant hurt if already broken right? May not have to replace a working gauge if thats all it needs.

[bkahler]

If your father-in-law removed the capillary tube from the rear of the temp gauge then the gauge will no longer work. There is ether inside the tube and if the tube has been de-soldered from the gauge the ether is gone.

You'll either have to send the gauge out for repair or find a used replacement somewhere. Although there is someone on the site who has repaired their temp gauge. Search the archives and you should find the info.

Good luck!

Brad