Teleflex Amp Gauge Rebuild/Replace?

[Michael]

Has any one had any luck fixing/replacing a bad Amp Gauge?

New member, first post,

I just purchased a 89 PT40 that is at CoachWorks getting serviced for a safe
trip home.
It needed batteries and a new rear 130 Amp alternator and gauge. Both
alternators are
now charging but the Amp gauge 0-300 does not move.

If I understand correctly teleflex is not making that gauge any longer and
CoachWorks may
be short on parts and or obvious replacements. Has any one solved this problem?
Is it
possible to have the gauge rebuilt?

I think 2 of my bezels may already different. Maybe it's not so important for
the ride
home? Because of redundant gauges and the Generator but I'd be miserable
checking a
gauge that read zero all the time!

Any suggestions would be welcome.

[Chuck Wheeler]

Michael, it is rare for an amp gauge to go out. Check the wiring,
especially around the shunt. I have found the shunts bypassed which
will render the amp gauge inoperative. I have a FC so our coach may
be wired differently, but when the batteries are in good shape and
charged up there is very little movement of the gauge. If we are
parked running on the batteries it will show a slight discharge, and
then a charge when the engine is restarted. If it has been parked
and plugged in there is no noticeable movement. If you have ever
watched a battery charges with an amp gauge on it you will have
noticed that it initially shows a charge and then falls off to a few
amps. The system on the BB will act the same. A few amps will not
show up on a 300amp gauge. If you are parked, not plugged in, and
place a good load on the batteries (lights, inverters loaded, etc)
you should see a discharge on the gauge. If so it is probably
working. If you are concerned about charging check the terminal
voltage on the batteries with the engine running. It should be
within a few tenths of the alternator output. I usually pay more
attention to the voltage gauge unless I think I have a problem.

- Chuck Wheeler -
82 FC31
Fort Worth TX
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Michael" <mccampbell@...>
wrote:
>
> Has any one had any luck fixing/replacing a bad Amp Gauge?
>
> New member, first post,
>
> I just purchased a 89 PT40 that is at CoachWorks getting serviced
for a safe trip home.
> It needed batteries and a new rear 130 Amp alternator and gauge.
Both alternators are
> now charging but the Amp gauge 0-300 does not move.
>
> If I understand correctly teleflex is not making that gauge any
longer and CoachWorks may
> be short on parts and or obvious replacements. Has any one solved
this problem? Is it
> possible to have the gauge rebuilt?
>
> I think 2 of my bezels may already different. Maybe it's not so
important for the ride
> home? Because of redundant gauges and the Generator but I'd be
miserable checking a
> gauge that read zero all the time!
>
> Any suggestions would be welcome.
>

[Chuck Wheeler]

Michael, it is rare for an amp gauge to go out. Check the wiring,
especially around the shunt. I have found the shunts bypassed which
will render the amp gauge inoperative. I have a FC so our coach may
be wired differently, but when the batteries are in good shape and
charged up there is very little movement of the gauge. If we are
parked running on the batteries it will show a slight discharge, and
then a charge when the engine is restarted. If it has been parked
and plugged in there is no noticeable movement. If you have ever
watched a battery charges with an amp gauge on it you will have
noticed that it initially shows a charge and then falls off to a few
amps. The system on the BB will act the same. A few amps will not
show up on a 300amp gauge. If you are parked, not plugged in, and
place a good load on the batteries (lights, inverters loaded, etc)
you should see a discharge on the gauge. If so it is probably
working. If you are concerned about charging check the terminal
voltage on the batteries with the engine running. It should be
within a few tenths of the alternator output. I usually pay more
attention to the voltage gauge unless I think I have a problem.

- Chuck Wheeler -
82 FC31
Fort Worth TX
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Michael" <mccampbell@...>
wrote:
>
> Has any one had any luck fixing/replacing a bad Amp Gauge?
>
> New member, first post,
>
> I just purchased a 89 PT40 that is at CoachWorks getting serviced
for a safe trip home.
> It needed batteries and a new rear 130 Amp alternator and gauge.
Both alternators are
> now charging but the Amp gauge 0-300 does not move.
>
> If I understand correctly teleflex is not making that gauge any
longer and CoachWorks may
> be short on parts and or obvious replacements. Has any one solved
this problem? Is it
> possible to have the gauge rebuilt?
>
> I think 2 of my bezels may already different. Maybe it's not so
important for the ride
> home? Because of redundant gauges and the Generator but I'd be
miserable checking a
> gauge that read zero all the time!
>
> Any suggestions would be welcome.
>

[Pete Masterson]

In the scheme of things, an amp gauge isn't all that important in the short run. So, yes, you can probably get home with no trouble without one if the alternator is good and has tested ok. Certainly, you can tell the alternator isn't charging if the battery voltage drops down significantly under 14 volts (or so) while you're on the road. 

Keep in mind, few automobiles have amp gauges (only idiot lights) and we all manage to drive around without that bit of information. 

My coach has a couple of gauges where the bezels don't exactly match, including one with a black bezel instead of silver. (The exhaust gas temperature gauge, replaced when a previous owner installed a 'waste gate turbo' on the engine.) You grow accustomed to the difference to the point where it's no longer noticeable. 

From what I understand, an amp gauge isn't that complex, so it might be possible to rebuild it or install new 'guts' from a new gauge in the OEM case. 

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jun 14, 2008, at 9:10 AM, Michael wrote:

Has any one had any luck fixing/replacing a bad Amp Gauge? 

 New member, first post,

 I just purchased a  89 PT40 that is at CoachWorks getting serviced for a safe trip home.    

It needed batteries and a new rear 130 Amp alternator and gauge.   Both alternators are 

now charging but the Amp  gauge  0-300 does not move.

If I understand correctly teleflex is not making that gauge any longer and CoachWorks may 

be short on parts and or obvious replacements.  Has any one solved this problem?  Is it 

possible to have the gauge rebuilt? 

 I think 2 of my bezels may already different.  Maybe it's not so important for the ride 

home? Because of redundant gauges and the Generator but I'd be miserable checking a 

gauge that read zero all the time!

Any suggestions  would be welcome.

[Michael]

thanks for your input........

I had been thinking they were talking about a Alternator Volt gauge, but then
found the
gauge and their descriptions in a owners manual.


Michael Campbell
89pt40 ThunderBird
Wareham Ma





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Michael" <mccampbell@...> wrote:
>
> Has any one had any luck fixing/replacing a bad Amp Gauge?
>
> New member, first post,
>
> I just purchased a 89 PT40 that is at CoachWorks getting serviced for a safe
trip home.
> It needed batteries and a new rear 130 Amp alternator and gauge. Both
alternators are
> now charging but the Amp gauge 0-300 does not move.
>
> If I understand correctly teleflex is not making that gauge any longer and
CoachWorks
may
> be short on parts and or obvious replacements. Has any one solved this
problem? Is it
> possible to have the gauge rebuilt?
>
> I think 2 of my bezels may already different. Maybe it's not so important
for the ride
> home? Because of redundant gauges and the Generator but I'd be miserable
checking a
> gauge that read zero all the time!
>
> Any suggestions would be welcome.
>