Mark and Kathy, --Just my personal opinion, others may differ. I cleaned up my
own gauges, but then, I also worked in the design and fabrication of medical
and research instrumentation for quite a few years. -So the extremely fiddly
does not bother me.
Subject: Gauges Revisted
I have a need to save some of my restoration moneys for other areas of the
car
and would like to know what the list thinks about just doing a gauge
"clean
up". I would like to save the $100.00 per gauge restoration charge if
possible.
I have no problem with taking the gauges apart, but would like to hear some
input on the "do's and don'ts" that some of you may have experienced.
Such as:
- cleaning and lubing gears and bushings
- I VERY sparingly used electronic cleaner/solvent to remove dirt, oil, crud
from the workings of the guages. Rarely spraying with the aerosol, but more
often with Qtips, and tiny bits of paper towel. I re-lubed any bearings with
a very light grade of INSTRUMENT oil.
- cleaning the faces
- My recommendation: stay as far away from the faces as possible. I have a
BT7 and therefore the Magnolia faces, and I found that they are extremely
vulnerable to damage, even by water. -Add age and heat effects, and I'm not
even comfortable with brushing them. -Before I found this out, I wound up
having to replace my speedo face. -Don't handle the faces.
- how far to go on disassembling the different gauges?( I don't think I will
be attempting to remove any of the needles at this time)
I believe that I only removed the needles on the larger two guages. -Cannot
remember. For the most part, I mainly removed the backs, did some very
judicious cleaning and lubricating, cleaned the glass inside and out, cleaned
and plated the bezels, refinished the cases, and replaced the seals. -And felt
fortunate that they worked properly when reassembled.
- are all the rubber "O" rings available now?
-I believe they are. Try BCS.
Thanks all wise and knowing Listmeisters, Mark
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