Temp Gauge, sensor wire routing?

[Winchester]

My temp gauge didn't work so I ordered a new one. Pulled the old one and thought it would be easy to replace.
But when I start looking at the sensor wire routing it goes down the steering wheel, under the diesel tank
and end up in the "engine room". But the sensor won't pass through the way the old one was put in.

Do I really need to pull the tank to replace the temp gauge sensor wire?
Would it be OK to cut and splice this wire? The old one was fluid filled, but the new one is all electric.
But would it loose it's way to read correct temp?

Anyone ever changed this temp gauge out with a new and have som tips on an easy way to do it?

[Winchester]

As I read on I see that they can't be cut an spliced. Guess I need to pull the tank!

[Mervyn Spencer]

Hello Tom
I have been following your frustrations with sympathy. I am very interested to learn that your new temp gauge is electrically operated as the originals were filled with a gas of sort, not sure whether you are aware of that. Unfortunately the channel between the tank and the steering columb is very small and I found that the easiest way was to remove the tank, thread it through and carefully replace the tank. I bought a new temp gauge from the sparex company about four years ago and it was still the original style. If I have been left behind in time and it is wire then I would be very hesitant on cutting unless you are one 100 % sure it is wire and in that case make a soldered joint and insulate well.

Good luck
Mervyn

[Winchester]

Well, I'm not quite sure how this thing works. It ain't fluide/gas filled as the original. It has a inner wire that is soldiered to the temp sender, and a braided wire sleve over the inner wire that works a "ground". But I guess I was a bit quick when I wrote it was all electric.

Got the steering wheel off last night, and will work on the tank today

[Mervyn Spencer]

Hi Tom
What I believe is that that thin tube has a gas in it, the braiding is just a protection for that thin tube. The gauge that I bought those four years ago has a tightly wound spring wire around the tube, as apposed to the original gauges that had a thin wire rather loosely wound around the tube. Hopefully some of the more experienced members maybe able to put up a picture of the current gauges.I will try and put a picture up for you but hanen't posted a picture for a long while, hold thumbs.

Mervyn

[Mervyn Spencer]

Tom
Google Dexta temp gauge and the first item you see is a discussion on the gauges by this forum in 2003. Open it and read it, it should give you a better understanding of it. Secondly a couple of lines down you will see and advert budget water temp gauge for dexta open it and it shows you a picture of what I would call a near replica of the original ie. the wire wrapped around the tube that has ether in it.
Mervyn

[john.n]

check the dial fits in the housing first! i had one that didnt fit so had to swap the face of the dial with the old one.

[Winchester]

I did as suggested and did a google search. That one ain't the same as mine. Mine has a light bulb and are backlit. I pushed the braided sleve some together to get a better look at the inner wire. And it ain't a ether filled tube. It's a verry flexible wire, that are soldered on inside the temp sender, just like a coaxial cabel to a PL plug.

Coaxial PL plug:

[Winchester]

The actual gauge.


The braiding and the light bulb/holder. A positiv wire connects to the bottom of the bulb holder giving power to the light:


The temp sender, you can se where the solder has been filed down on the side:

[dexta roadless]

hello tom
This is a gauge you maybe bought on Økonomideler for a ferguson, and it is definetly gas filled. I put a similar one on one of my tractors and the only way is to take the tank off

[Winchester]

I got mine of ebay. And luckily I got it in without removing the tank. I loosened the front tank bolts, raised it some in the front, and there was just enough room to get the sender through. Works like a charm, and very nice with light in the gauge :)

[Mervyn Spencer]

Hi Tom, glad you won your battle. The gauge that I suggested you google is a definate replica of the original dexta temp gauge what you have a photograph of is a typical temp. gauge for the Furgy 35 etc. Anyway if you are happy with what you have thats great.

Regards Mervyn

[Winchester]

Didn't really like to read that, this new gauge is 99% like the old one that I took off. I bought it adverticed as a 1964 Super Dexta gauge, and as it was like the old one, I didn't think more of it. But now as I google the original, I see that they ain't like at all. The original must have been replaced some time back then?
But It will have to work for now. Repainting it this summer, maybe I search for a OEM/NOS one then.

[Mervyn Spencer]

Hi Tom, I'm sorry for the bad news, the type you have recently bought is a universal gauge available all over the world even down here in South Africa. The point you raise is that it is the same as the old one which is good unless you want to restore your Super to original as possible. The Dexta temp gauges are also commonly available from the UK. Google agriline products and you will find all the parts you are looking for.
Look forward to some pictures of your project soon.

Regards
Mervyn