Colin Lindsay Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 Vacuum gauge is much more fun, as it flies about when you drive and you're always trying to keep the needle in the green... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 I have a vacuum gauge flying back and forth as Colin says, it's my favourite. You can set you're timing with it. Just as you do it by ear, turning the dizzy for maximum revs and back a gnats, turn the dizzy for maximum vacuum and back 1, it's the same thing. db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 If I was going for 3 additional gauges I'd choose a voltmeter, ammeter and oil pressure gauge. Ditch the clock - it'll just sit there draining your battery and you'll either have a phone with the time on it or a watch anyway! Gully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 Oops - double posted and can't work out how to delete, so pointless message instead! Gully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 So is that 6 gauges Gully - seems a bit excessive ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 Gully, Ammeters are problematic ALL the current goes through the gauge and the wires get HOT. When I broke down and had to pull the car onto the verge with the starter motor I thought the wires were going to melt! In the 70s I had a Smiths shunt ammeter which was a small resistance high current resistor with a volt meter across it calibrated to current, but they don't seem to make that any more. Unless I can find another I'm going to have to make do with a volt meter, which is not good. They tell you different things, the volt meter tells you the state of the battery, the ammeter the state of the charging mechanism. If you only have the volt meter, by the time you notice it's dropping off, it's too late! Mark, 6 is the absolute minimum! I'm thinking about a dual water temp/oil pressure to make room for something else. Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 2 hours ago, Colin Lindsay said: Vacuum gauge is much more fun, as it flies about when you drive and you're always trying to keep the needle in the green... Surely you mean in the red. Much more fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitFire6 Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 Hi, I would not fit a clock unless there was a spare hole that needed plugging. Oil temperature is more intuitive than oil pressure. Fit a higher cut in oil pressure switch. Mechanical oil pressure nylon hose longevity? Psssh. Ends blowing off; yes. Fit electronic gauge and sender. Mechanical water temperature gauge is useful as reads temp with ignition off. AFR gauge is very useful for the money and expense to fit. Amps +/- is good if Hall effect and sensor fitted in correct place. Volts can be useful, certainly better than a clock. Analogue gauges with added digital display are a nice addition.; Easy to remember a number. 270 degree sweep preferred over standard 90? degree sweep. Additionally, Can somebody tell me the vertical distance between the metalwork of the centre console dash as I want to fit a multi-gauge display? Cheers, Iain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 7 minutes ago, spitfire6 said: Amps +/- is good if Hall effect and sensor fitted in correct place Iain, interested to hear more about that. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitFire6 Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 (edited) Hi Doug, A quick google shows this: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?489572-Anybody-used-a-Hall-Effect-ammeter Now, emm, If I need to find a link for one that is analogue and 2"; that might be more difficult... EBay has a lot of dc current transformers if you search. Cheers, Iain. Edit: By best place i mean; clamped around all cables going into the battery +ve terminal, excluding the starter motor cable. Edited March 16, 2018 by spitfire6 EDIT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 16, 2018 Report Share Posted March 16, 2018 This is the only thing on Ebay I can find that does the job. Smiths used to make one but, no more. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KUS-Boat-Ammeter-Marine-Car-AMP-Meter-Gauge-W-Current-Shunt-Pick-up-12-24V-50A/232544358818?hash=item3624b951a2:g:p~UAAOSw5VtZ-Ams db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted March 17, 2018 Report Share Posted March 17, 2018 I can’t quite work out how this one is wired but doesn’t seem to be whole current https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smiths-Industries-Ammeter/132520185080?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20171010182013%26meid%3Da36c22d1411a4db682435ac258f5d766%26pid%3D100890%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D232544358818%26itm%3D132520185080&_trksid=p2056116.c100890.m2460 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 17, 2018 Report Share Posted March 17, 2018 Mark, Reading the instruction for fitting to an alternator it appears to be a whole current device. And those cables are heavier duty, the same as on mine. I don't think they're enough, but that's what came with the kit when I fitted it in the late 70s (IIR ) Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blitz Posted March 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2018 15 hours ago, Anglefire said: Ditch the clock and put both temp and pressure But then I won't know what time it dropped oil all over the road Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlubikey Posted March 17, 2018 Report Share Posted March 17, 2018 Don't get an oil pressure gauge; you'll just spend all your time worrying about your oil pressure! Cheers, Richard <EDIT> Damn, I didn't see the next page at the bottom of the screen and thought I was responding to several "get oil pressure" posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted March 17, 2018 Report Share Posted March 17, 2018 3 hours ago, dougbgt6 said: Mark, Reading the instruction for fitting to an alternator it appears to be a whole current device. And those cables are heavier duty, the same as on mine. I don't think they're enough, but that's what came with the kit when I fitted it in the late 70s (IIR ) Doug I was reading on my phone and thought it suggested there were some tappings off the alternator for the current - but confess thought that would be a bit optimistic! 3 hours ago, Blitz said: But then I won't know what time it dropped oil all over the road Flawless logic there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 17, 2018 Report Share Posted March 17, 2018 24 minutes ago, rlubikey said: Don't get an oil pressure gauge; you'll just spend all your time worrying about your oil pressure! For a long while I was concerned my oil pressure was too high. Not a common fault on a Triumph. db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlubikey Posted March 17, 2018 Report Share Posted March 17, 2018 Nurse, I think he's stopped taking his medication. He's talking all confused 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 17, 2018 Report Share Posted March 17, 2018 Sugar rush! Too much cake and icing, nearly gone, nearly back to normal. db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShaunW Posted March 21, 2018 Report Share Posted March 21, 2018 On 3/15/2018 at 11:07 PM, dougbgt6 said: Andy Cooke (IIRC?) pointed out plastic pipes get old and brittle and if it breaks, there goes your oil, bearings and every thing. A very weak link. Doug Presumably that would show up on a gauge somewhere. I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted March 21, 2018 Report Share Posted March 21, 2018 19 minutes ago, ShaunW said: Presumably that would show up on a gauge somewhere. I That or you get a hot leg or a squirt in the eye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 21, 2018 Report Share Posted March 21, 2018 Maybe I could contrive a large red flashing bulb telling a gauge is out of allowable parameters? But surely that's what my modern does, I turn error lights off with my OBD2 meter? db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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