panzerjunky
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Hey anyone can the gauges on an M35 be taken apart and cleaned without damage ?
Thanks Jerry
Thanks Jerry
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Gauge repair question
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AceHigh
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New ones are fairly cheap and available and the old ones usually have faces that are scratched or painted over.
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Yes, they can be opened, lens polished and most can be restored to like-new condition! ... with some practice and if you have the time, a small press and if you can fab the molds(dies) to safely hold & crimp the parts back together. Keep in mind, these gauges all come completely sealed against moisture and dust...
G.
G.
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gringeltaube, your posts are most informative and give me the impression you have spent many years with these trucks. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us and for posting photos of your work.
Saludos y gracias,
Rick
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They can be, but the real question is "Is it worth it?" with replacements being so cheap...
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Crimping that edge back on would be the biggest roadblock for most of us, IMHO.
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The original Q. was IF they can be opened W/O destruction....Now to answer your Q.: ......NOT worth it if those replacements were NOS but - YES, if we are considering the cheap chinchulin-repros that are being offered as aftermarket! I bet that a restored 50-year old SW tachometer will work better and last longer, besides being an original part of an historic, legendary MV! These are made like a Swiss watch, really! Just disassemble and compare one of each category and you will understand what I mean and prob. agree...!
G.
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No..only for the last 15years...
Gracias amigo! ... todo por nuestro querido MV-hobby!
G.
runk
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I just pulled mine out of the dash and thoroughly cleaned the outside (including the translucent plastic cases), and polished the outside of the lenses. This made them look 100% better, not new, but certainly legible and as good as any other part of the truck. Combined with cleaning the dash light lenses and slightly brighter bulbs, you can even read them at night. For me, there was no reason for further disassembly.
saddamsnightmare
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February 27th, 2010.
Panzerjunky:
I might suggest that you consider replacing the guages with ones from our suppliers (the usual suspects) that are NOS Army stock, as the older gauges had a radium or tritrium paint used on the hands and numbers to make them visible at night. While the radium may be decayed to a point where it no longer does its job, do you really want to disturb the material and possibly risk breathing any dust that may be released? I am certain there are companies that might undertake the restoration of these guages, as there are with the VDO gauges on my Unimog, but for myself, I would rather let them deal with the problems caused by unsealing the guages, or if cheap enough, I'd just as soon replace them with NOS items.
Just a thought, and my
worth,
Good luck &
Cheers,
Panzerjunky:
I might suggest that you consider replacing the guages with ones from our suppliers (the usual suspects) that are NOS Army stock, as the older gauges had a radium or tritrium paint used on the hands and numbers to make them visible at night. While the radium may be decayed to a point where it no longer does its job, do you really want to disturb the material and possibly risk breathing any dust that may be released? I am certain there are companies that might undertake the restoration of these guages, as there are with the VDO gauges on my Unimog, but for myself, I would rather let them deal with the problems caused by unsealing the guages, or if cheap enough, I'd just as soon replace them with NOS items.
Just a thought, and my
worth,Good luck &
Cheers,
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Agreed Bjorn, but not as difficult to do as one would suppose. Actually it takes more patience to start - carefully pry up - open the rim evenly to avoid cracking; not even 360º all around, just enough for the parts to come apart. The ring holding lens and gasket to the body is made of soft, relatively malleable brass. It will go nicely back into place so that one could barely notice it had been forced open.
Obviously good results can't be achieved just with a hammer and screwdriver...
I promise to take some stepxstep pics next time I'm into this.
G.
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panzerjunky
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Hey Guys
Thanks for the info and advise yes I know there are after market gauges available and I thought about them but I am trying to do a restoration on the truck and she has the original Stewart warner gauges with the exeption of my oil pressure gauge that is Faria and even from the outside I can see a quality difference. And I was sure that the old school military didn't make anything that couldn't be taken apart and repaired so I figured
with a little guidance from the troops here on ss I would give it a shot if I did destroy them there is always aftermarket. One of you fellas Mentioned NOS where can I find NOS Stewart warner Gauges?
Thanks again Guys for the help
Jerry
Thanks for the info and advise yes I know there are after market gauges available and I thought about them but I am trying to do a restoration on the truck and she has the original Stewart warner gauges with the exeption of my oil pressure gauge that is Faria and even from the outside I can see a quality difference. And I was sure that the old school military didn't make anything that couldn't be taken apart and repaired so I figured
with a little guidance from the troops here on ss I would give it a shot if I did destroy them there is always aftermarket. One of you fellas Mentioned NOS where can I find NOS Stewart warner Gauges?
Thanks again Guys for the help
Jerry
hippiedude
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Check out e-bay they pop up all the time ............ Tim
Heath_h49008
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Talk about a tough thread to bump
Heath_h49008
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So... I picked up a new speedometer and noticed some fogging around the outer 2/3 of the face. It wasn't moisture. It's a side effect of either the rubber seal or the desiccant pack outgassing and reacting.
I pulled it apart. Yes, you have to take your time. Yes, it can be done.
I used my handy Leatherman box opener and can opener to slowly work around the rim and pry back the retaining ring. It's soft brass, so be careful.
The lens itself cleaned easily with a little dish washing detergent.
When I find out what I'm going to use to re-crimp the ring I'll post pics. I just tacked two side together so it's secure enough for now. I did mar the ring a little bit, but nothing a bit of paint won't cure.
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You mean...there are OTHER tools to work on a Deuce????
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To evenly press it back to original shape I use exact fitting bearing cups, eventually turned/chamfered accordingly. Will try to find what size/ part# it was for the speedo....
Sometimes YES, see above...You mean...there are OTHER tools to work on a Deuce????
G.
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My Dad and I took apart the tachometer in my Deuce when i rebuilt it after the crash. the gauge faceplate (the part with the numbers on it) somehow got bent upon impact. everything else was fine with the gauge, but it was bent pretty bad. That is how hard the truck hit. We were able to straighten it back out, polish up the gauge and it looks pretty good. I agree with G, I would rather take my time and clean up a good ol' SW gauge any day over anything imported.
Flyingvan911
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I want my gauges to glow again. It would be very handy at night.
o1951
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When I find out what I'm going to use to re-crimp the ring I'll post pics.
Heath, When I can, I leave rims uncrimped on old gauges and seal with clear epoxy to keep moisture out. That way if I have to get back in again, I do not have to bend the metal again, and possibly crack it - usuallly second time bending does it. Next, I just cut epoxy with exacto. Sometimes you can't do this, depends on how fits into dash.
Heath, When I can, I leave rims uncrimped on old gauges and seal with clear epoxy to keep moisture out. That way if I have to get back in again, I do not have to bend the metal again, and possibly crack it - usuallly second time bending does it. Next, I just cut epoxy with exacto. Sometimes you can't do this, depends on how fits into dash.