Motometer problems

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Motometer problems
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bernard, San Buenaventura, Calif on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 02:56 pm:

In November of last year I purchased a used Boyce Motometer from eBay seller "modelt-mark."



It was cheap and I bought it because it looked worn, a perfect fit for the dogbone and just what rocks my boat.
During the few trips I made with the car, it didn't overheat, and I actually never noticed it climbing enough. So I put it in a pot of water and turned up the heat!

Nothing. The thermometer doesn't climb. It's not leaking, but it's not working either.

Here are my questions:

1) Can it repaired?
2) Can I buy a brand new one from one of the vendors and make 2 out of 1 by keeping the worn housing?

Feedback wanted.

P.S.
This and the fact that I have a water pump that slightly leaked when the engine was turned off warmed up caused me to have a closer look at the cooling system. Watch out for my up-and-coming thread: "Dear Mother of God!"


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 03:12 pm:

Best is to use new as you posted.

You could try to 'spin' it and get the alcohol based red ink to gather at the bottom of the stem if the ink is separated. Yours seems to have lost the red ink.

Keep the old look by taking off the outer nickel plated trim rings, and use the old plate in front of the new plate.

It will work great, and still seem old, with the old style faceplate, albeit the chrome surround is a giveaway of a new repro unit.

Spun this one in a lathe and got it to work.



On this one, just bought a new Motometer and used an old faceplate and old trim rings.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry Ostbye on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 03:14 pm:

Water Pump ? Oh Dear Gawd I can hear the stuff headed your way for that.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thode Chehalis Washington on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 03:15 pm:

If you can see any separated fluid in the top of the thermometer, it can be shaken or spun down. If there is none there, you may be able to find a replacement thermometer for it.

Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thode Chehalis Washington on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 03:27 pm:

If there is some fluid to spin down and you use a lathe, the entire thermometer should be on one side of the lathe center. It is hard to tell in Dan's photo but it looks like that would throw the upper part of the fluid to the top and the lower part of the fluid to the bottom.

It only takes a few seconds on the lathe like this:


Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Robison on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 03:41 pm:

Looks like it is taking a dip in a mini jacuzzi!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 03:51 pm:

Jim - Not to sound negative here, and I'm sure that any carefully applied centrifugal method such as you suggest would produce positive results. However, and, not to question anybody's intelligence because this is pretty obvious, but extreme care should be used in regard to attaching the motometer to any revolving fixture (such as a lathe faceplate) and the method of attachment, as a motometer is a pretty heavy hunk of metal and glass and could cause serious injury!

(.....all this to say, for heavens sake, don't stand directly in front of that lathe faceplate, and not too much "rpm"!)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 03:59 pm:

Jim's bungees look pretty stout, but that's
why I buried the Motometer in a wood fixture, my lathe is tiny, but the stem stuck out far enough for centrifugal force to work the tiny bit of liquid back into the stem.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ed Archer on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 05:49 pm:

Bernard, I probably have a Motometer in that condition that has a working thermometer that I'll give you. Just pay the shipping.
Ed Archer


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thode Chehalis Washington on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 06:05 pm:

Harold,
I fully agree with you. There are a bunch of things here that fully deserve a "don't try this at home" statement. Not the least of which is actually driving a 100 year old car on the public road.

Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jack daron-Brownsburg,In. on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 06:14 pm:

I was told,(never tried it yet) that you could use a rear bike wheel. Then crank the pedal as fast as you want. Not quite as dangerous as a lathe.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Carter - South Jersey on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 06:58 pm:

Spinning it will put the fluid together at the bottom of the motometer, but there is no fluid at the top in your picture so it won't help. If you don't see any fluid even when heated - sorry, I think it is toast.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug - Braidwood (glow in the dark), IL on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 08:20 pm:

Mine is exactly like that. Never had the ink leak out, but it disappeared I think.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By J Berch on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 08:42 pm:

I've got a couple old one's like that. One has a faint red stain on the glass. I think I read somewhere that the fluid is alcohol and glycerin.

I've tapped down several that had the fluid up in the glass cause I don't have a lathe or a bicycle. It works but it takes some patience.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Carter - South Jersey on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 08:45 pm:

I have tied them to a string and swung them around my head - it worked good.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 - 09:01 pm:

Try putting some water in a metal 3LB coffee can, punch a few vent holes in the lid and one in the center for the motor meter. Put the lid on the can with the meter in the hole in the center and heat the water to a boil. The meter reads the vapor temp not the water temp. See if that works. Remember the lids plastic and will get hot and soft so watch what you are doing. Or you could replace the plastic lid with a wood plug, but don't forget the vent holes. :-)


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