Mechanical guage replacement

[Diver Down]

Fellow HOF members -- Several of our flybridge gauges (two water temp and at least one of the oil pressure gauges) need to be replaced this Spring. I'm looking for suggestions as to replacing these with mechanical or converting to electronic. I'm clueless about how to go the electronic sensor route and if that's the way to go, I could use some specific advice on type, etc. The engines are 8v71t's.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Mike, you might contact Don Wendlich at Isspro, Inc. They are on the West Coast. They do a lot of gauge sets for diesels, with senders. They may also know the compatibility with various brands of senders.

I think I am going to be in your neck of the woods, not this coming weekend, but next. I'll give you a shout before traveling, maybe you'll be around.

 

[Diver Down]

Thanks Jim. Look forward to seeing you in P-town. We don't have any travel plans that weekend that I'm aware of.

 

[GJH]

Running mechanicals that distance is difficult, routing the capillary tubes. Another good source of advice of course is Sam's, with back up from Lauderdale Speedometer. By electronic, I take it you mean the modern Nmea 2000 stuff from places like Chetco?

 

[Diver Down]

Thanks George. My ignorance, probably mean 'electrical' rather than electronic. NMEA 2000 interface would be nice but not really what I had in mind. I have studied the route for running new capillary tubing for the guages and I agree that this could be difficult.

 

[bostonhatteras]

Thanks George. My ignorance, probably mean 'electrical' rather than electronic. NMEA 2000 interface would be nice but not really what I had in mind. I have studied the route for running new capillary tubing for the guages and I agree that this could be difficult.

The capillary for the water temp can take a smaller radius turn than the morse controls cables. Just follow the morse cables. Use a high quality hose for oil pressure if you do go mechanical on that too. Most gauge makers will match a electric sending unit to the particular gauge. all you have to pick is gauge size and what increments it reads out and of course elec or mech. The boat most likely has electric for most gauges so the hard wires are already their, the hatteras manual electrical diagram will show this clearly with cable/wire numbers. I think scrod or boatsb had some issues with stewart warner but mine have held up for years now, both electric and mechanical.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I had one experience with a mechanical oil pressure gauge on the bridge of my 44 Striker. The hose was fine; the Bourdon tube mechanism in the back of the gauge blew out and flooded the inside of the helm with hot engine oil. Based on that experience, I am not a fan of mechanical oil pressure gauges; I don't know that the sending units are any less prone to blowout than the Bourdon tube gauges, but the mess that it made inside the helm console was epic, let me tell you. I think temp gauges are safer.

 

[MikeP]

IMO, rather than mech gauges at the flybridge, a new set of elec gauges/sensors is the way to go plus - if you don't already have them - a set of mech gauges in the engine rooms for monitoring/troubleshooting. - a water temp, eng oil press, and tranny oil press (and a start button) are very handy.