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[GMCnet] Temperature gage wire. [message #111106]

Thu, 06 January 2011 18:12

Charles

Messages: 455
Registered: January 2004

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Some of my wires tangled with the Alternator pulley.
The wires lost the battle. One I don't know about is
my temperature gage wire. There is what looks like
a copper wire surrounded by a coiled wire. The
copper looking wire is still in tact. The coiled wire
that surrounds the copper wire is cut. Is this outer
wire a ground wire for the gage or is it just a
protection for the internal wire? Any suggestions
on how to check this out? The gage appears to
still be working with a one inch separation the
outer wire. I suspect the outer wire is just protection
for the internal copper wire that could not stand up
to the vibrations it would encounter running from
the engine to the dash with out this cover.
Charles
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Charles Wersal
Duncanville, Texas
26 foot 1975 Glenbrook
Pandora's Box

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Re: [GMCnet] Temperature gage wire. [message #111108 is a reply to message #111106]

Thu, 06 January 2011 18:32

ggroth

Messages: 282
Registered: February 2004
Location: Carson City NV

Karma: 0

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Charles, I had a similar situation with my temp. indicator. I tried everything I knew to fix or bypass that broken coiled wire, but nothing worked; bought a new gauge, w/sender and wire. I also have an electrical temp. indicator.

geo groth '73 260 Sequoia Carson City Nevada 89703

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Re: [GMCnet] Temperature gage wire. [message #111118 is a reply to message #111108]

Thu, 06 January 2011 19:26

WD0AFQ

Messages: 7111
Registered: November 2004
Location: Dexter, Mo.

Karma: 207

Senior Member

Charles, that center wire is a tube. I had one break last year. Replaced it with an electric gauge. If that center one breaks you lose it.
Dan

3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm 355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng. Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer

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Re: [GMCnet] Temperature gage wire. [message #111131 is a reply to message #111118]

Thu, 06 January 2011 20:06

Charles

Messages: 455
Registered: January 2004

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Thanks Dan,
One of our fellow GMC'ers sent me detail explanation
of temperature gage function. As much as I don't
want to, I think I better replace the unit. The tube has
a couple serious marks on it. If it looses its contents
I could overheat and not know it. Too risky to
gamble with. Please keep all cold fronts out of TX
for a couple days. I don't have a nice warm building
to work in.
Charles

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Charles Wersal
Duncanville, Texas
26 foot 1975 Glenbrook
Pandora's Box

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Re: [GMCnet] Temperature gage wire. [message #111136 is a reply to message #111131]

Thu, 06 January 2011 20:22

WD0AFQ

Messages: 7111
Registered: November 2004
Location: Dexter, Mo.

Karma: 207

Senior Member

Charles, there ain't any water in there. Mine busted last year. Just lost all reading. Some kind of gas or something that sends the reading to the head unit. I bought another one like it but was going to be too hard to fish it through the dash so I just took it back and used an electric one. Mine works fine now. I had some issues with it reading correctly and had to take it back for another temp sender. It leaked. I sealed it with tape, making sure to leave threads for a ground. All is good now. If you have easy access through the dash I would put one just like you have back on.
I hope all cold fronts have passed here now. We are about to be drycamping in the desert for 2-3 weeks. Don't need anymore 12 degree temps.
Dan

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Re: [GMCnet] Temperature gage wire. [message #111194 is a reply to message #111106]

Fri, 07 January 2011 07:30

Steven Ferguson

Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006

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Charles,
It is for reenforcement purposes only.

On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 5:12 PM, Charles <gcw13@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Some of my wires tangled with the Alternator pulley.
> The wires lost the battle. One I don't know about is
> my temperature gage wire. There is what looks like
> a copper wire surrounded by a coiled wire. The
> copper looking wire is still in tact. The coiled wire
> that surrounds the copper wire is cut. Is this outer
> wire a ground wire for the gage or is it just a
> protection for the internal wire? Any suggestions
> on how to check this out? The gage appears to
> still be working with a one inch separation the
> outer wire. I suspect the outer wire is just protection
> for the internal copper wire that could not stand up
> to the vibrations it would encounter running from
> the engine to the dash with out this cover.
> Charles
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>

--
Steve Ferguson
Sierra Vista, AZ
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Re: [GMCnet] Temperature gage wire. [message #111203 is a reply to message #111194]

Fri, 07 January 2011 08:50

emerystora

Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004

Karma: 13

Senior Member

Charles <gcw13@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>> Some of my wires tangled with the Alternator pulley.
>> The wires lost the battle. One I don't know about is
>> my temperature gage wire. There is what looks like
>> a copper wire surrounded by a coiled wire. The
>> copper looking wire is still in tact. The coiled wire
>> that surrounds the copper wire is cut. Is this outer
>> wire a ground wire for the gage or is it just a
>> protection for the internal wire? Any suggestions
>> on how to check this out? The gage appears to
>> still be working with a one inch separation the
>> outer wire. I suspect the outer wire is just protection
>> for the internal copper wire that could not stand up
>> to the vibrations it would encounter running from
>> the engine to the dash with out this cover.
>> Charles
>> _______________________________________________
>>
Charles
Your description makes me think that it is a mechanical gauge rather
than an electrical gauge.

I believe you will find that the center wire is not a wire but rather
a small copper tube that is hollow. This is usually referred to as a
capillary tube.

The temperature gauge is a “mechanical” unit consisting of a bulb
with fluid (ether) mounted on the engine head, a gauge head mounted in
the instrument cluster on the dash, and a tube connecting the bulb to
the gauge head. The gauge head is actually a pressure sensing unit.
The gauge head is a Bourdon tube connected to the indicator by a
linkage. The Bourdon tube is simply a flattened tube rolled into a
coil. As pressure is applied the tube slightly unwinds moving the
gauge pointer. When the pressure is removed, the coiled tube returns
to its original position.

Emery Stora

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Re: [GMCnet] Temperature gage wire. [message #111206 is a reply to message #111203]

Fri, 07 January 2011 08:56

Charles

Messages: 455
Registered: January 2004

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Thanks to everyone for replies. Yes it is a mechanical
Temperature gauge with a capillary tube. On closer
examination this morning the tube has some damage
which at a later date could rupture and lose what ever
is inside the tube. I am going to replace it today and
maybe tomorrow.
Charles
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Charles Wersal
Duncanville, Texas
26 foot 1975 Glenbrook
Pandora's Box

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