Rex-a-co Temperature Gauge problem

[Chris in WNC]

Installed a Rex-a-co temperature gauge in our Town Sedan about 10 years ago.

When we bought the car back last month, the gauge is not working right.
Stays at about 160 degrees whether stone cold or boiling over.

Are these repairable or is it time for a new one?

Any opinions regarding this brand or others?

[1930-Pickup]

There are places that specialize in this type is gauge repair.
I haven't used one in many years though, so I cant recommend one.

If your gauge has a long tube with a bulb at the end (I think so), its filled with ether gas.
As the temp goes up, so does the pressure of the gas.
So in reality, these temp gauges are actually specialized pressure gauges.

The only failure mode I've ever seen on these systems is when a leak develops and the gas leaks out, which makes the gauge read at its lowest setting.
It odd to hear that yours is stuck at 160, which makes me think it has a stuck gear in the gauge head.

Good luck
.

[Bob-A]

Probably cheaper to just replace the unit with another repop. I use original Moto-Meters on the radiator caps on my 2 "A's".



Bob-A

[Synchro909]

I had an inoperable one of those gauges repaired a while ago. It cost about the same as buying a new one. IMO, not worth doing.

[1930-Pickup]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I had an inoperable one of those gauges repaired a while ago. It cost about the same as buying a new one. IMO, not worth doing.

So true, if you have a repop.
If you have an original Rex-A-Co, it may be worth it...but it depends on your level of commitment to preserving history.

[Y-Blockhead]

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Originally Posted by Bob-A

Probably cheaper to just replace the unit with another repop. I use original Moto-Meters on the radiator caps on my 2 "A's".

Bob-A

I have a Moto-meter on my radiator cap also. Unfortunately I can not see that far to read it!!

[CWPASADENA]

If it is a Repop, I would get a new one.

Instead of a Rex-a-Co repop, I would buy a Stewart Warner, better quality and they will fit in the bracket.

If you want to do a little work, try to find and old Stewart warner mechanical gauge that only goes up top 240 deg. instead of 265 like the new ones. You get better resolution and can tell more accurately what the actual temperature is but these are getting hard to find and almost always have to be repaired.

My opinion,

Chris W.

[30 Closed Cab PU]

I also have a Rex a Co, have not had any issues since install 7 years ago. Fellow club members told me the Stewart Warner guages are better, but either way it is best to check them for accuracy/calibration by putting the probe in boiling water, and checking the temp of the water with a IR Temp gun vs teh reading on the guage. Mine is off hot by 3-5 degrees.

[katy]

Stays at about 160 degrees whether stone cold or boiling over.

I would suspect that the tube is either kinked or flattened somewhere, more likely kinked from being bent too sharply.

[Chris in WNC]

thanks, katy.

I will check that before replacing.