12 replies to this topic

[Dusky]

Hi there.
I bought a gauge on ebay (temp) and would.like to fit the smaller sensor in the head. I would drill out the old sensor, then weld the new sensor in the old drilled sensor, then just screw it in. Is this possible without destroying the sensor? I would tap it or buy a screw adapter, but cant Find any. I bought 2 3/8 to 5/8 (female -male) adapters, but they didnt fit...

Cheers

[sledgehammer]

use chemical metal 

 

welding or brazing will kill it

 

there should be adapters

 

you could use a pipe sleeve with a tapped hole in it 

Edited by sledgehammer, 20 June 2015 - 03:39 PM.

[Broomer]

You sure it isn't a npt thread ? My acewell temp sender was.

[dklawson]

Dusky, the sensor hole in the head is 5/8-18 (UNF).  If you buy an aftermarket mechanical temperature gauge it will probably have the same thread.  If you buy an electric gauge its sending unit may have a 1/8 NPT, 1/4 NPT, or 10mm threads.  

 

You mentioned you tried some adapters.  The 3/8" male thread adapters will be too big to fit the head.  If you had a 5/8 UNF die you can re-thread the 3/8 adapter to fit.  I bought my 5/8 UNF tap and die on eBay.  It is a size you will find a few uses for on the Mini.

 

As mentioned above, you cannot weld anything to your new sensor without destroying it.  You can use an old Smiths sender as an adapter though.  Take the old sending unit, drill it out, and tap the old sender to accept the new sending unit.  This will work for the 1/8 NPT and 10mm senders but probably not for a 1/4 NPT sender.

[Dusky]

Dusky, the sensor hole in the head is 5/8-18 (UNF).  If you buy an aftermarket mechanical temperature gauge it will probably have the same thread.  If you buy an electric gauge its sending unit may have a 1/8 NPT, 1/4 NPT, or 10mm threads.  

 

You mentioned you tried some adapters.  The 3/8" male thread adapters will be too big to fit the head.  If you had a 5/8 UNF die you can re-thread the 3/8 adapter to fit.  I bought my 5/8 UNF tap and die on eBay.  It is a size you will find a few uses for on the Mini.

 

As mentioned above, you cannot weld anything to your new sensor without destroying it.  You can use an old Smiths sender as an adapter though.  Take the old sending unit, drill it out, and tap the old sender to accept the new sending unit.  This will work for the 1/8 NPT and 10mm senders but probably not for a 1/4 NPT sender.

Wich one is closest to 10 mm? 1/8 or 1/4 npt?

the sensor I have doesn't fit in a M10 hole, but its very close, so probably just a bit over or under?

 

so UNF is smaller than the other? These thread things are getting wearder with the minute

 

I toyed with the idea of using a sensor and drill it so I only have to buy a tap :)

 

thanks 

[dklawson]

You asked which was larger, 10mm or 1/8NPT.  There is no simple answer.  10mm = 0.394" and the thread is usually straight.  1/8 NPT is a tapered thread.  I don't know what diameter it starts at but it ends at the pipe diameter of 0.405".  I wouldn't worry about which is larger, measure the sending unit you receive for your new gauge and buy the appropriate tap if you decide to modify an old sender as an adapter.

 

The other two threads (3/8NPT and 5/8 UNF) are also close in size but not as close as the 1/8NPT and 10mm.  3/8NPT is also a tapered pipe thread and it diameter ends at the pipe size of 0.675".  The 5/8 UNF thread is straight with a major diameter of 0.625".  

Threads can get interesting when you mix products that have been in production for many years in many countries.  There are UNF/UNC threads, Whitworth threads, BA threads, metric threads, tapered pipe threads, straight pipe threads... and the list goes on and on. 

[Spider]

Take your new and old sender down to the Auto Parts supplier and find the correct adapter.

 

If you don't have an Auto Parts suppler, then take your new sender to a Fastener Suppliers or Engineering Shop so you can have the thread identified correctly.

[Broomer]

Unless you have a Labrador and white stick you should be able to see if it's npt instead of unf.

[nicklouse]

So do we have a link to the item you have bought?

[59 Speed]

Have you tried these?

http://www.lmaautopa...TRIC_MALE_LONG/

I got lucky on eBay and found the one I needed (LMA032).

 image.jpg   10.33K   4 downloads

[Dusky]

Unless you have a Labrador and white stick you should be able to see if it's npt instead of unf.

Have a look? xd  I don't have the labrador, but I do have a dalmatian.. lol .

 

I'm terrible when it comes to this, I'm only used to metric thread ( long live the belgians.. )

 

cheers

[dklawson]

Dusky, I haven't worked with honest-to-God verniers like that in over 30 years.  They are good for what they are and they never need batteries... but there are other options worth investing in.  If you have a cheap tool store in Belgium they should have sets of the Chinese digital calipers (see the eBay link below as an example).  If you prefer non-battery powered stuff, there are also traditional dial calipers which are also easier to use.  I find the digital ones quite nice because you can switch between metric and inch units with the push of a button.   They use the common LR-44, SR-44, or 357 button cell batteries which can be cheap when purchased on eBay.

 

Digital calipers:

http://www.ebay.com/...=item1a011e76aa

 

Dial caliper (plastic)

http://www.ebay.com/...=item3cfc6ab2d8

 

Dial caliper (metal)

http://www.ebay.com/...=item51d2b6ec41

 

 

Trying to read your pictures, I'd say that sensor measures about 0.97mm so perhaps this is a 10mm straight thread sensor with 1mm pitch threads.  A 1/8NPT sensor would measure just over 1cm on its largest diameter. 

[Spider]

I'm 99.99% sure those are M10 x 1.0 Thread.

 

Here's one;-

 

http://www.racetechd...eces/4589439306

 

MO 32M