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general discussion => ALL mechanical and technical related questions => Topic started by: Seff on January 11, 2026, 12:01:18 PM
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The capillary tube on my temperature gauge was cut, and I've soldered it together with a sleeve connector - but there's no ether in the bulbs, and thus no effect.
Does anyone know how much ether the system holds? Is the bulb completely full, or?
Thanks!
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Bless yer heart for fixing it! How hard is it to fill and seal the system? Is it unreasonable to guess-r-by-golly and test with boiling water until you get it right?
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I just figured that it'd be cheaper to fix it - plus, these things are in finite supply.
It's a matter of soldering the tube shut. Once the bulb is refilled, it's a matter of submerging the bulb in ice water, to prevent the ether from escaping, when the element is heated.
The finicky part is getting the volume right, so the gauge is calibrated.
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I think it's always better to try to fix an original part if it's feasible rather than pitch it. As you said, they're drying up quickly. If I knew what I was doing, I'd fill it and try it. Might get lucky on the first try. Otherwise, adjust the volume and try it again. Just think how proficient you'd be by the time you're done!
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Yes, that's usually how it goes - learning by screwing up, and becoming an expert only by the time you're done with the job. :o
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I had this saved from a video I watched where a guy was repairing a Stewart Warner temp gauge. Maybe it’ll help you out.
-Tom
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Thank you, Tom! Did he fill the bulb entirely?
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Thank you, Tom! Did he fill the bulb entirely?
I think so. He measured out 1.5 ml and then added another .5 ml “for good measure”.
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I tried tonight. Soldering the line went fine, but I'm having trouble getting ether into the tube, because the line is so tiny. The very end of the bulb has a plug soldered in, which I'll try to fill from next. Right now the whole thing is in the freezer for the night.
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If you need to get the bulb colder, crush dry ice and poor Isopropyl alcohol in with it. The water will burn off leaving just the alcohol at about -100F. Maybe heat the bulb, dip the line in eather then into the bath should draw the either in as the bulb chills. Then solder the end. Dont start a fire....
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Here's the link to the video. He goes high tech with a vacuum system, but I think you can use the "chill" method as well.
https://youtu.be/KY-1AGZKSYY?si=T9o2XS-o5uuKj1w9