[Spridgets] Repair - Water Temp Gauge Problem

[Dean Swanson]

http://www.ply33.com/Repair/tempgauge

Follow the steps outlined on the '33 Plymouth web page with the following
additional steps/warnings.

 

       Make the splice piece to join the new and old capillary tubes well in
advance of when you start the gauge repair work.  Make at least two splice
pieces.  Use calipers and number drills to make the inside holes of the
splice piece as close to each tube diameter as possible.  You do not want
"big" gaps between the splice piece and the capillary tubes.  

      You will be tempted to make the splice piece as short as possible.
Don't.  Make it about 1" long so it will be harder for the solder to wick
all the way to the center of the splice.

      If the donor gauge and old gauge have a spring wound around the
capillary tube, use a C-clamp and blocks of plastic/rubber/leather to hold
the spring "back" from where you cut the tube so the new and old springs can
be twisted together later without stretching the springs.

      With the spring pulled back, tin the capillary tube with solder before
you cut it. 

      DO NOT cut the donor capillary tube until the expansion bulb is as
cold as you can get it.  Dry ice is an alternative to the salt bath method
shown in the Plymouth link.  Use a separate thermometer to check the
temperature of the cold bath and make SURE the temperature is well below
freezing before you cut the donor gauge's tube.  Below 0 oF is best.

      Once you cut the capillary tubes, file the cut end square and remove
burrs from the diameter.  Make sure the cut end will go into the splice
piece.

      Use TINY number drills to open the bore hole in the middle of the
capillary tubing.  Cutting and filing the ends of the tubes can cause the
hole to close or be blocked off.  The center hole of the tubing MUST be open
before soldering the splice.

      When soldering the splice piece in place, make sure you have nice
fillets of solder between the splice and the capillary tubes.  HOWEVER,
solder as quickly as possible.  Apply heat for the minimum length of time
possible.  You do not want the solder to wick deeply into the splice piece
as it can plug the ends of the capillary tubes inside the splice.

      Once the splice is soldered in place, remove the expansion bulb from
the cold bath and apply heat (hair dryer, propane torch, heat gun.).  You
need to confirm that the splice is not plugged with solder.  If the gauge
stays "cold" after the bulb is warm/hot to the touch, the capillary tube is
plugged and you need to remove the splice piece and start over.  That is why
I suggest making at least two splice pieces before you start the repair
process.