I thought you could replace just the "element" in a moto-meter (mercury no longer there/red) but I'll be darned if I can find one on any of the parts suppliers websites. Is it me or am I wrong about this?
John, as far as I know there is no supplier for the thermometer its self. I collect up old ones and mix and match parts to build a good one. The old ones are much easier to read than the repops and more accurate I believe, also they had no mercury in them. Guess the chinese get around the enviromental laws, KB
The original one's had a red dyed alcohol based fluid from what I have found out.
During Prohibition my great uncle went into business making Moto-meters. He ordered 75 gallons of red alcohol and produced 6 Moto-meters. Or so I've been told. ;>)
Gary - I am SURE he didn't intentionally taste the stuff, but just sayin he did...I mean just out of curiosity cause he was bound to have spilled some on his mouth trying to pour it into the meters...what did red dye taste like back then?
Same as it does now. Like alcohol.
Gary, I laughed so hard I spit out my glass of wine!
John. I Googled it and found a thread from 2009 on this http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/107937.htmls web site. It may be of some help for you.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/107937.html
Try this link. I seem to have an extra s on the end.
On Moto Meters.... I have often wondered how accurate my meter is when it is several inches above the water level?
I attached a wire wrapped around the bottom of mine and extended it down into the tank about 2 inches thinking it might pick up more heat being closer to the actual water level.
I have a '12 Brassworks radiator and the water level always looks very low, nearly out of sight but cool running.
They all seem to read differently. You could test the difference between being in the water and above the water using the kitchen stove and a thermometer:
Inside the enclosed space, the air temperature is within a few degrees of the water temperature. Most of my antique automobiles over the years have had working motometers. You mostly watch for the temperature to suddenly become abnormally high.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Yes indeed - if your radiator cap gasket is working properly the temperature in the top of the radiator will be the temperature of the hot water vapor above the water. It is this water vapor temperature that all Moto Meters are intended to measure. They were never intended to touch the water.
If your radiator cap gasket is no good then make a new one from the bottom of a Kleenex box, or buy a vanity sink drain rubber gasket from the local hardware store. I usually get them for about a buck.