Hi all
I am going to install a mechanical temperature gauge on my daughters and my mini's.
The adaptor below is a parallel thread and I am not sure how it is to seal in the head.
Do I just screw it in till it stops, use thread sealant or does the head have a tapered thread in it ?
The rest should be straight forward other than I don't have a hole in the fire wall big enough for the grommet that is supplied on the capillary line.
Any advice would be appreciated.

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Find a job you love and you will never have to go to work !

It will screw straight in (if it is the right thread), and a little bit of thread sealant never does any harm. Stag or a similar sealant goes well.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Thanks Mick
I measured the OD of both the electric temperature sender and the mechanical adaptor ant they are both 5/8" so it should screw in OK.
My dad introduced me to STAG when I was rebuilding engines in the early 70's (Brabham Torana) and I have used it successfully ever since.

Phil

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Find a job you love and you will never have to go to work !

Just a note, I've had the bulb contact a part of the head as it goes in. I didn't realise what I was doing and it deformed the bulb a little.

I don't think it affected the operation, but I guess it should have by reducing the internal volume of the bulb. Anyway, watch out for that.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I'm about to install the exact same gauge into my deluxe. With the adaptor it's a direct fit. Even when using the electric sender I use a little Loctite on the thread to ensure it doesn't leak.

Stuck the sensor in a heated saucepan of water today, and comparing it to an infrared temp gun it's more or less spot on!

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Thanks jprior
It's good to have reassurance before you tackle a job.

Phil

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Find a job you love and you will never have to go to work !

Mick, not good...the aim should be to have the bulb sitting in the coolant flow and not fouling any part of the head or block (depending whee you fit it)..."deformed" may mean you have effected its operation or calibration.

I would be doing a trial fit and measure without the adaptors first to see how deep you can insert the bulb. Then carefully insert into the adaptor (some plumbers tap on the threads is OK) and add spacers under the bulb thread or adaptor if necessary.

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"Show me the Mini!"

Just another question on this. I recently went to fit a mechanical gauge to my car. I grabbed an old head I had lying around and took it down to the auto shop. We pulled a few gauges out and test fit them in the head to make sure it would work as I was on a bit of a time schedule for the swap. The head I used to test fit had a tapered edge inside the temp sender hole that the sender bulb sat up against and then you could just screw the fitting on over the top and it sealed like a dream, and had the bulb sitting nicely in the middle of the coolant flow. I went to do this on the engine in my car and found that the head in the car did not have this tapered seat, so the bulb would not seat, and when the fitting was tightened over the bulb it would just wiggle about and leak coolant. Is this a common thing?

Cheers,
Keels.

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-Wasabi
1972 Clubman - Daily Driver
1962 850 - EW1 Powered

Did you try using the TE5 adapter?

http://minisport.com.au/mini-temp-gauge ... -is-fitted

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I wish I had some sort of witty quote in my signature

I didn't try using an adaptor. This was sort of a last minute decision so I was just trying to use standard parts from the auto shop. Decided on Thursday Night I needed a mech temp gauge for a 3hr road trip on Friday morning.

I've just had a look at that adaptor and it seems to be exactly what I need to make it work. I just thought it was weird that one head sealed perfectly and the other hadn't a snowballs chance. I'm pretty sure they were even the same casting number.

Cheers,
Keels.

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-Wasabi
1972 Clubman - Daily Driver
1962 850 - EW1 Powered

Yes, this was about 22 years ago, and the bulb was longer than normal, maybe it had been repaired?

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

That sounds like a good idea if you're going on a road trip - If I only I had mine installed the other week for my road trip. It came the day before I left and I thought 'nah she'll be right'... Famous last words haha.

Good luck

James

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I wish I had some sort of witty quote in my signature

Hey James,

Yes I read through what happened, and if it makes you feel any better I've done the exact same thing before. Luckily enough the only real issues I had on my road trip were the passenger front suspension settling down properly and causing the tyre to rub a bit on lock, and the drivers windscreen wiper falling off in the rain. Both pretty easy fixes.

In regards to installing adaptors/sensors, I see most people recommend Loctite or some other similar liquid sealant. When I was installing mine, I was just going to use some thread tape. Is there a specific reason that most people use a liquid thread sealer over tape or is it just a matter of personal preference?

Cheers,
Keels.

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-Wasabi
1972 Clubman - Daily Driver
1962 850 - EW1 Powered

I've had this happen with a gauge recently - its definitely worth checking if it's a largish sender. Pretty easy to see if the thermostat is off, else poke something in the hole!

Stop beating yourself up James...a blown head gasket etc can cause damage very quickly so unless you are constantly watching the Temp Gauge and ignoring everything else like your speed or the road ahead, anyone can get caught out

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"Show me the Mini!"