Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

I have an original that needs work....and would appreciate any leads for someone who can rebuild or restore one of these units.

Thanks - Jim

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

I have heard that it is the thermometer part that cannot be replaced that prevents rebuilding.

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

Jim, exactly what are you needing? Are you wanting the plating re-done, -or has the mercury separated in the vial? If it is the first one, Craig Riker is the man.

If it is the second one, invert the vial and place it in your deep freeze for a few days. Sometime you will need to remove and allow it to come to room temps. Then stand it rightside up and induce a little heat with a match on the vial end. Then repeat the inverted chill process. If the mercury has escaped, and if it is an original unit, find an old repro junker Motometer and swap the vial.

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

The Moto Meters I have seen have alcohol in the vial, not Mercury. Mercury would be silver colored and hazardous.

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

why not just buy another?


often less effort and less expensive.

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

I agree ! By a new one. If you want it nickeled, just burn the chrome of using acid.

Henk

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

BTW I had my tube restored in the UK. Went well, but the cost was some 300 dollars

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

I never heard of burning the chrome off. My 28 has a nickel radiator shall.

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

Thanks to al for the replies - the thermometer in my unit is non-existent, and the lenses are also gone. All else is in reasonable shape.

Thanks - JIm

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

Snyders has replacement lenses and gaskets. See part numbers A-18353, A-18354-RK, and A-18361-MM.

Years ago I located a thermometer that was close but a little too big in diameter. At that time I could not find a thermometer that fit. The must exist. Perhaps a junk motometer with a good thermometer is the best bet.

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

I've seen replacement thermometers in the past on eBay. And they were the correct ones for the round dial moto-meters. Not the replacement thermometers for the newly made thermometer equipted Flying Quail hood ornaments. My success rate for restoring original Moto-Meters ran about 50%. That is freeing up the thermometer fluid so the meter would actually work. I used boiling water, a bowl of ice and a length of strong twine.:eek: Disassemble* the Moto-Meter, place the stem of the thermometer in the boiling water for a few minutes. Then place the stem in the bowl of ice for a few minutes again. Now tie one end of a 3 or 4 foot length of twine securely to the top of the Moto-Meter dial and start swinging the meter body around and around for a little bit. The centrifugal force this creates helps in getting the fluid to move. Make sure you have plenty of room around you first! Repeat this procedure until you either free-up the alcohol in the thermometer or realize it ain't going to work. Not to many years ago decent "original" Moto-Meters were not to hard to find and fairly priced. EBay use to be a good hunting ground, but I got tired of people trying to sale older repop Moto-Meters as good originals and the ridiculous money they were asking for them.:mad:


Bob-A:D


* This does not include removing the glass thermometer tube from the Moto-Meter body. The tube is secured to the body with a type of glue or cement/plaster material. Which would take somebody with greater knowledge to restore it then me.

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

You are likely very correct in this. I have never paid that much attention to restoring them as I have never liked them. :D My father was the one that used to "restore" them when I was a kid, and I vividly remember Motometers propped against the ice cream carton in our freezer, -or me being the one to get on the floor searching for the tiny screw that he dropped. :eek: He never refilled the vial that I can remember, -or that I knew of likely because he also assumed they were filled with mercury. Good to know it was alcohol.


Jim, have you tried asking these folks? https://www.motometercentral.com/

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

They are not all that accurate. Someone tried to steal mine, and all they did was snap the neck on my super good radiator. Cost me $585, plus shipping, and my labor. I have a gage now.

Re: Does Anyone Restore Boyce Motometers ?
 

The thermometer is cemented in with a ceramic cement, probably Sauereisen brand. The Sauereisen site says that a low concentration of sodium hydroxide may dissolve the cement. I have always just dug it out. I am not sure what sodium hydroxide would do to the metal components.