1970 S4 temp guage

PostPost by: roebuck » Sat Oct 31, 2020 7:29 am

Finally got the car on the road today only to find temp gauge would not go above about 50 C.
Left the car for 3 hours and went for another drive and the needle didn't move.
Checked with laser thermometer,all ok with temp and coolant so guess there is a problem with gauge.
Can this be repaired or do I have to replace the gauge??
I am in Melbourne Aus.
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PostPost by: RichardHawkins » Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:43 pm

Yes, they can be repaired/overhauled here in the UK. Sorry, but I do not know if such a service exists In Australia, but a google search might find a company in your country who do such work.

Hope this helps,

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PostPost by: vstibbard » Wed Nov 04, 2020 1:18 am

Try Howards Instruments in Melbourne, they repair Smiths instruments, if not try Lionel Otto Instruments in Brisbane.

I'm in Sydney and have used both, my personal preference based on customer experience/quality issue would be to use Lionel Otto.

Cheers

Vaughan
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PostPost by: Evante » Wed Nov 04, 2020 2:47 am

I had this problem with my temp gauge on my 72 Sprint. It urned out to be the rubber seal between the glass and the actual gauge had deformed and was hitting the needle. I was able to bend it back so that the needle moved freely but after a while it happened again. I just removed the rubber seal and put it back together without it and have not had a problem since.

You may want to try this before spending the money to have the gauge rebuilt.

Best,

Jay S.
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PostPost by: roebuck » Wed Nov 04, 2020 3:35 am

Thank you all for your assistance.
Have found a Smiths repair place in Melbourne
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PostPost by: pharriso » Wed Nov 04, 2020 1:26 pm

Evante wrote:I had this problem with my temp gauge on my 72 Sprint. It urned out to be the rubber seal between the glass and the actual gauge had deformed and was hitting the needle. I was able to bend it back so that the needle moved freely but after a while it happened again. I just removed the rubber seal and put it back together without it and have not had a problem since.

You may want to try this before spending the money to have the gauge rebuilt.

Best,

Jay S.


I had a similar issue, but with the nylon insert:
IMG_0991.jpg and
New gauge on left, old on right

I replaced the whole thing...
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1972 Elan Sprint 0260K
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PostPost by: roebuck » Wed Nov 04, 2020 8:45 pm

Hi
Where can I buy a new replacement gauge.
I can not find on the usual Lotus part suppliers parts list?
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PostPost by: pharriso » Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:16 pm

roebuck wrote:Hi
Where can I buy a new replacement gauge.
I can not find on the usual Lotus part suppliers parts list?


I bought mine from this eBay seller - https://www.ebay.com/itm/202921281229
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PostPost by: nmauduit » Wed Nov 04, 2020 10:42 pm

pharriso wrote:I bought mine from this eBay seller - https://www.ebay.com/itm/202921281229


the font on the face is closer to the proper one for an S4, the other one is that of earlier cars (S1-S3)...
S4SE 36/8198
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PostPost by: pharriso » Thu Nov 05, 2020 3:03 pm

nmauduit wrote:
pharriso wrote:I bought mine from this eBay seller - https://www.ebay.com/itm/202921281229


the font on the face is closer to the proper one for an S4, the other one is that of earlier cars (S1-S3)...


Sorry I posted a picture of a different gauge next to my failed one. This is the face of the gauge that is available on eBay:
SmithsCombiGauge_GD1301_23_2.jpg and
Correct for an S4 & Sprint...
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PostPost by: 512BB » Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:58 am

pharriso wrote ' This is the face of the gauge that is available on eBay'

That is not the face of the gauge available from that seller any longer. That seller used to sell that gauge with the correct gauge number at 12 o clock but when the one I bought turned up, there was no number on the gauge and I sent it back, at the sellers expense. It also had a bent mounting screw which did not marry up with the hole in the bracket. Seller said he had not noticed that they were coming through without the gauge number and he altered the listing picture to show the same.

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