-Another Gauge question-

[iwant1]

Hello everybody... I have a slight problem with my oil pressuree gauge, on wiring in an interior light, one of my mystery wires melted through the pipe connecting the oil pressure gauge to the block. Having now found out that the Alexander- made gauge that i have is quite rare i'm not sure what to do, and don't know whether the pipe is interchangeable with say a smiths gauge one. If anybody knows of this type of gauge, info would be great. I thought about using a brake hose, but am now thinking they're to big, just off to check though. Thanks, Ben.

[Alec]

Hello Ben,

the pipe is just that, any pipe from a different make is suitable. Brake hose is much larger bore, however the gauge really couldn't care less, it will just look rather bulky.

Alec

[iwant1]

ahh, thats good news, thanks Alec. I have since found that the male brake hose fits the female gauge pipe only i would need a brake hose with two female ends so i can't do that. Would you know where abouts i could get a pipe from, charles ware couldnt help, and also which one would be most easy to get hold of so i can ask for a particular brand, i think smiths might be the most well known.. not sure though. Thanks, Ben.

[Alec]

Hello Ben,
probably the easiest is a scrap yard, but finding a car with mechanical as opposed to electrical gauges could be the snag. Engineering suppliers sell high pressure nylon tubing and fittings but the quantity would be a problem as you only want a small amount and a couple of ends.

Alec

[bigginger]

If you're after brake pipe with 2 female brake pipe ends, it's dead easy to make up your own, or loads of the accessory places (who make up brake pipes) will happily do it for you.

[Cam]

I would take the gauge into a mini specialist and check to see if their braded oil pressure pipe ends fit. If they do then job done! If not then I'm sure you could make up a an adapter with a very small length of rigid pipe to connect to their braded pipe which is more or less the correct length and has the correct ends fitted.

[iwant1]

Thanks for the suggestions, turns out ESM have a pipe afterall, never dealt with them before but they seem very helpful. With regards to a temperature gauge (electrical) does anybody know whether a metro sender would fit the minor head? well, an early metro anyhow. and then, for a cheap gauge could just pull one out of the metro dash unit and use that? i dont fancy having to look for a round gauge on a yard, or paying 30 quid for a new one plus whatever the sender would cost.

[Cam]

It SHOULD fit OK. I have a Metro one in my head but it's a Metro head! I have tried senders from Mini 1000, Ital, Marina, Maestro, Allegro and they all seem to be the same, but I've never actually tried a 1098 head. But I can't see why it would be different.

You will have to hack the gauge out of the metro dash and re-wire it from the original matrix. It will look awful. If I were you I would look about for a 2nd hand Mini 1000 gauge. eBay is a good place to look.

[iwant1]

true true it would look terrible, but it would be acting as a "stop gap" until i did find a round smiths type one. I dont fancy running the car without a temperature gauge for a long time. I do have the space already for a round gauge, as i have a mechanical gauge, but it has broken.

[Jefftav]

Hi,

I will have to check, but I'm sure I have an electric type of temp guage - Smiths 2inch round type and this works with a mini or metro sender. I have a metro cyl head but tried these on a 1098 and they seemed Ok to me.

do you have an email address or phone number I can contact you on.

Jeff

[Jefftav]

Hi,

I do still have the temprature guage & sender if you want to get in touch my email is Jefftav@aol.com.

Cheers, Jeff

[Matt]

If he doesn't want it, how much will you want?

[Jefftav]

Matt,

The other guy hasn't been in touch as yet. £12.00inc P&P for the gauge & sender is what I paid. It has been used by me and god knows how many others before I purchased it. So isn't new but is perfectly serviceable. Please email me on Jefftav@aol.com before 6/5/05 to sort out where to send the cheque and where I should mail it too.

Jeff

[Matt]

emailed