Doin' the Windmill? Temp. Gauge Tricks

[GaryU.]

My temperature gauge in my '38 was a reproduction that like typical had lost all red coloration so was completely clear and difficult to read at all. On Friday I came across a set of '38 Deluxe gauges and speedo for sale at local spring swap and for once the capillary tube and bulb was not damaged or cut off. However because of probably laying around in a pile for who knows how long the red liquid was not separate from any air inside the gauge. From a post long ago I tried two remedies and success! First I set the bulb in a pan of boiling water followed by quenching in ice water. This helped some but not completely so followed that up with the boiling water and then the crazy part. Being very careful and slow I spun the bulb overhead vertically and just like that , instead separation and proper operation. Checked with boiling water and quenching a few more times and it looks good to go. Pictures at 160 degrees and it goes as high as it should at boil.

[FortyNiner]

The most amazing thing in this story is that you found usable parts for something other than a 60s muscle car at Jefferson. Astounding! The trick with the spinning was cool too.

[mhsprecher]

Good work. Old Yankee ingenuity at work!

[ford38v8]

You must have gone back pretty far to find the spinning remedy, as I had reported that method back in about 1995! For me, it wasn't a magic cure, but it helped. Something else you didn't say, but hope you discovered, is that there is a scratch on the glass bulb indicating the original location of boiling temperature, that scratch to be aligned with the 212º mark on the gauge.

[GaryU.]

Might have been on the old Barn but have used it twice now with success. And yes am aware of the scratch on the glass at boiling point. Thought it was a good time to post this since it hasn't been brought for quite awhile.

[jimTN]

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I have taped the bulb and gauge to a bicycle wheel and spun it with success.

[gdmn852]

Hello glad you found a quick fix on the gauge I had a 37 That would indicate hot as soon as the car was started that was because of bad engine ground.Fortunately you found a quick and also cheap repair.Gary