SMITHS OIL PRESSURE GAUGE - fitting help please

[blueangelical]

Hiya, what else do I need to fit a SMITHS OIL PRESSURE GAUGE besides the gauge itself., and what do I do to fit it & where, many thanks in advance..

[Willie]

You need the pipe to connect it to a T piece which screws into the block in
place of the oil pressure warning switch(behind the dizzy). This T piece has
a take off for the new pipe and also accepts the original warning switch. My
own pipe is actually plastic and has been satisfactory for more than eleven
years. You will also need to take a feed from an existing instrument light to
the new gauge.

[blueangelical]

cheers willie, is this the t-piece I need...?

http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/adv ... 067e724c92

[Shawn]

If you want to retain the oil warning light, you need a "T" piece to screw in where the oil pressure sender goes. It's simply a double adapter which gives you a point for the warning light sender and a point for the oil capillary line.

After you've found a location for, and fitted the gauge itself, you need to carefully connect the capillary line to the T and the gauge, via a grommeted hole in the bulkhead.

It is critical that the line does not rub on anything that will wear through it! High pressure oil spraying under the dash might be good for rustproofing, but it's not fun for anything else! I've seen a tip somewhere that suggests running the part of the oil line that's inside the cabin through another outer tube (like vacum tube or fish tank filter tube) to protect it from chaffing!



You can see the T piece and capillary line in the above photo (disregard the distributor - that's another story). The T piece can be the most difficult bit of the whole job, between the distributor, oil line and starter motor, there's plenty to get in the way.

[Shawn]

Willie - you beat me to it!!!



...must be less verbose

[blueangelical]

yeah., but it's great to hear from australia., I'll get the t-piece from esm and then keep the post upto date when it arrives.., many thanks to you both..

[57traveller]

I'll get the t-piece from esm

Grandmother and eggs might apply, but you will also need the straight adaptor for the side connection to accept the pipe union. The ESM "t" adaptor hopefully has a female connection on the end, not visible, to accept the existing pressure switch?

[blueangelical]

Grandmother and eggs might apply, but you will also need the straight adaptor for the side connection to accept the pipe union. The ESM "t" adaptor hopefully has a female connection on the end, not visible, to accept the existing pressure switch?

- thanks for that... where abouts in staffs moorlands are you..?

[blueangelical]

Ok, all fitted and working fine, what reading should I expect to have on a good engine, and what does it mean if the reading increases/decreases....??

thanks in advance

[Willie]

The designed maximum pressure should be 60psi HOT (slightly more when
starting in cold weather) at any sort of speed. The tickover would be 40psi
on an excellent engine. Much lower tickover pressure does not mean that the engine is on its last legs. The maximum pressure is regulated by the
spring length in the Oil Pressure Relief Valve but, if the spring length is correct and the pressure is still too low then you either have a weak oil pump
or worn bearings.

[blueangelical]

willie., many thanks for your reply, I shall keep it for future reference, cheers

[Willie]

BLUEA'....If you are keeping for reference then the pressure relief spring
should be exactly 2 55/64" (72.63mm) long.

[blueangelical]

If you are keeping for reference then the pressure relief spring
should be exactly 2 55/64" (72.63mm) long.

- cheers