fitting a temperature gauge to sidevalve

Post by **tortron** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:53 am

hi guys,

I have just picked up a pair of smiths gauges (amp and water temp) mechanical , which match the original gauges to the mm.

Where is the best spot to put the sender?

I have seen a few kits floating around which are basically an aluminium pipe with a thicker box section in the middle, you can then mount these mid-hose.

or is there a more suitable spot on the head to drill and tap into?

Post by **RobThomas** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:25 pm

I'd say that you want it in the head so that it still reads hot after the water has all leaked out. If you've not got a heater then an MG Midget adaptor will go into the head at the rear and will allow the cap to fit perfectly. Some SV water stubs that bolt to the side of the crankcase behind the dynamo have an area designed for you to drill a hole for a temp gauge. I have some of them here if you get totally stuck.

Rob
Cardiff
01446 795489

Post by **mike.perry** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:25 pm

Two suggestions for location of temp gauge sender:-
If you have the later engine with the location for a water pump there is a raised boss behind the thermostat. This goes into the water jacket and can be tapped to take the sender unit.
The other alternative is to tap into the rear of the header tank as low as possible. It will be noted that loss of water to a level below the sender will result in the temperature reading dropping as the gauge reads the air temp in the header tank.

Post by **tortron** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:02 am

that blank just below the accelerator cable would be the spot then?

Post by **mike.perry** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:34 pm

That's the one. Get it right first time, you don't want to ruin a good head.