Smoke Grenade Gauge Pod

[njjeeper]

So I have been looking for a way to mount the pyro in my M109 for a while. I have seen a lot of custom enclosures and some of them are really nice but I wanted something different. So, I started looking around for military items that were similar size to the gauge. Enter the M83 Smoke grenade. It checked all the boxes. Cheap to acquire, military, cool looking(different smoke colors on the cans for variety!) and it was the perfect size in diameter for the pyro. Here are pics of the first pass. Lots of stuff I want to clean up in my second attempt so I used the plain white grenade assuming i would mess this one up.

Anyway, I figured I would share since I have gotten so many good ideas from this site.

TJ

 

[MatthewH]

Where did u get the smoke grenades? Got a few extra gauges to install in my M37, think this would work nicely

 

[FloridaAKM]

Great idea. Did you use a fired smoke grenade or clean one out? The ones I have dealt with that are fired, corrode badly due to the chemicals used to make the smoke. Hope you patented your idea before releasing it to us.

 

[njjeeper]

Lol, no patent I am sure this group will improve the idea!

I used fired ones. Once I cut the bottom hole I cleaned out all the residue. It seems like it burned straight down the center with a burn track about 1/2 inch wide. The rest of the inside was hard burnt crust that smelled like fireworks. Comes out pretty easy!

 

[machinist75]

Very nice.

 

[JimmyThompson]

What the heck is a pyrometer?

 

[jdknech]

What the heck is a pyrometer?

please tell me you are joking.....

 

[JimmyThompson]

Nawp... Never heard of it. Sorry.

 

[JimmyThompson]

My Google-Fu suggests it's used to measure temperature from 0-2000 degrees. Not really sure what gets that hot on a Deuce. I'm not being critical... Just trying to figure out what I'd use one for? I think it looks cool!

 

[jdknech]

My Google-Fu suggests it's used to measure temperature from 0-2000 degrees. Not really sure what gets that hot on a Deuce. I'm not being critical... Just trying to figure out what I'd use one for? I think it looks cool!

on a STOCK deuce, it is not really needed, but if you turn up the IP at all, a pyro is a must have! that way you can keep a eye on the exhaust temps, and not burn a valve, or worse- melt down a engine.. 1100-1200 is the MAX temp you want to let it get to.. and dont let it stay there long..

 

[JimmyThompson]

10-4

 

[peashooter]

That's a great idea on the gauge pod! Looks like it belongs there. I like the creativity!

 

[59apache]

cool idea!

 

[rustystud]

My Google-Fu suggests it's used to measure temperature from 0-2000 degrees. Not really sure what gets that hot on a Deuce. I'm not being critical... Just trying to figure out what I'd use one for? I think it looks cool!

A pyrometer measures any temperature not just to 2000 degrees. At 1200 degrees aluminum starts to melt . Pistons are made of aluminum.

 

[M35A2-AZ]

Nice job!!! Cool idea.

 

[Scar59]

That is a neat idea, wasn't planning to install an EGT (exhaust gas temp) gauge due to the stock configuration, but the smoke grenade bezal makes it look like it belongs in the truck.

 

[Triple C]

To JimmyThompson, a pyrometer is pretty standard equipment on most big trucks. The idea being that in a long hard pull, one can overheat the motor before the water temp cries foul. Most turbo equipped motors use them because turbo raises in the incoming air significantly and the increased ability to add fuel (because of the increase in air) allows for lots more heat to be generated. If you are on a long pull and watch your pyro increasing, drop a gear or grab a gear which ever is required, just don't exceed the motor's temp parameter or as another post stated - aluminum melts and it can get ugly in a hurry. Hope that helps.

 

[njjeeper]

I have gotten a few questions on where I got the grenades. I searched ebay and the forums and found mostly over priced burnt up ones without pins and spoons. The best source I found was a guy at Aberdeen this year. He had a lot of them in great condition that were in the original paper cylinders. If that guy is a member here perhaps he can post

 

[Artisan]

Beautiful display of "thinkin' outside da box!"