trans. pressure gauge

[86Hat41]

Anyone have a source for a new or used "AC" trans pressure gauge. I'm sick of having to bang it to have it read correctly. Sams says they're no longer available.
Thanks.

 

[86Hat41]

no one really? I can't be the only one to have a gauge go bad on my dashboard can I?

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Make freinds with the counter guy at the motor parts store (not Crack auto either!) or try these guys also... ws

http://www.isspro.com/ordercat.php

 

[MikeP]

There are no replacement oem gauges unless you find them on Ebay. Only solution is to replace them with something current.

If you haven't already done so, I recommend you install mechanical oil/tranny pressure and water temp gauges in each eng room (or someplace convenient to the engines). A start button there is also handy.

 

[davidwigler]

I'm interested in installing new gauge sets in the engine rooms. What parts are required?

 

[MikeP]

This is what I did - the gauges are all Autometer. There were existing fittings on the 8V71Tis to accept all the gauge fittings. You will need to buy the appropriate hose - I used aeroquip - for the pressure gauges. The temp gauge comes with it's own tubing. The start switch is just a standard pushbutton switch available at hardware/auto parts stores (as well as marine stores).

In this pic the eng temp is showing around 130 because the block heaters are on.

 

[rsmith]

The gauges are crooked so the needles line up in normal ops? I did the same on the bridge.

 

[MikeP]

Yes, at cruise with everything normal they all point to "12 o'clock."

 

[davidwigler]

Wow, that's fantastic, Mike!

I can't tell from the photo where you mounted them. Do you have pics of the units in place?

 

[davidwigler]

Regarding transmission pressure, why is it that we can check the fluid level with the engines running and pressurized oil doesn't spray out the dipstick tube?

 

[Genevatexan]

If you run Allison M20s, the transmission selector lever housing has two ports on it. One is low pressure with the mini dipstick, and the other is on the pressure side. You can unscrew the plug and tap in a hose and guage assembly for manual transmission pressure readings. I just did those at the suggestion of this forum. I used (I think) 1/8 pipe thread hose with a generic guage from Harbor Freight. It runs about 130 during normal operation so I picked a guage scaled to 200 max. Don't open the high pressure fitting on the transmission lever housing with the engine running or you will end up with half your oil and the engine room ceiling.