SPA pyro problem

[Steve G]

Changed out all gauges from the Mark I to IIs. The termocouple for the new ones is larger than before. Driving normal the gauage appears accurate (700) but when I put my foot into it the highest reading is 863. I could hit 1400 easy with the old gauge. I called SPA and was told that the new ones are more accurate and that they are only rated for 1000 degrees, and the reading I'm getting is probably accurate. I don't think so. I've check all connections and everything looks good. I'm stumped. Any ideas?



Steve

 

[V Baker]

Steve, I have a new set of SPA guages,same as yours and The 1000 degrees is C. , not F. which =1830 F. roughly.

 

[V Baker]

Steve, if you have the instruction book that came with the gauge,look on page 13 middle of the page. States you can choose Centigrade or Farenheight. Hope this helps.

 

[LSMITH]

Steve, shoot Brandon an email if you did not get this fugured out yet. He is THE SPA MAN!

 

[Steve G]

Thanks for the replies. I doubled checked and it is set in Fahrenheit. I'll shoot Brandon a email.



Steve

 

[Brandon]

i have been real busy, but me and blair have talked with patrick about the pyros, it seems they are takin way too long to go up, you could change back to the old pyro... patrick says he has some new ones coming out that will do the trick

 

[Scooby]

I have the early guages and now have the following problems:



(I had the boost guage go out, but SPA promptly sent a new boost sensor)



1) EGT temp occasionally gives erroneous readings and then returns to normal.



2) one LED went out on one of the guages



3) The transmission temp sensor literally came apart... . the leads and plastic head of the sensor seem to have disintegrated after 2 weeks of use (and a year of sitting around uninstalled)



QUESTION:

What does it cost to change to the "new" guages ?

What changes were made to the thermocouples?





Thanks!

 

[HVAC]

Steve, there is an issue with the new T/couple. Stay tuned cause Blair (thank you Blair) is working with the T/C manufacturer to correct the problem. The manufacturer has assured him they will deal with this item.



The T/couple seems to be reading low. I just installed some gauges in my towing rig and I'm experiencing the same thing.



SPA US is under new management and I'm opptimistic about resolving the questions you have posed.



SPA gauges are just one of several products that have been brought to you by Performance Diesel NorCal.

 

[LSMITH]

Scooby, for problem #1 take apart the connections at the probe and at the amplifier (the spade connectors) and clean them with some fine sandpaper or a brush. Put some dielectric grease on them and put it back together. I would bet that your pyro readings come back to normal all the time.



For #2 send the gauge head to SPA for repair or replacement. Call them and make sure where to send ETC.



For #3 I would bet that with a phone call they will send you a new trans sender.



There was talk of an exchange program when the second gen gauges came out but so far nothing is being done with it that I know of. With the rate that the new gauges are selling I would not hold my breath for an exchange. Check around for pricing on the new types.

 

[Steve G]

Thanks for the replies. I'll wait and give them some time to address this problem. Scooby, Lsmith is right. When I ordered my gauges was told about an exchange program by Ron. After they hadn't arrived in a while, called back and was told that Ron put out false information and did not work there anymore.



Steve

 

[Scooby]

Thanks for the replies as well... .



I'll call SPA if I can find their number after our move and see what the story is... .

 

[Brandon]

317-271-7941

spa

 

[TxDieselKid]

Originally posted by HVAC

The T/couple seems to be reading low. I just installed some gauges in my towing rig and I'm experiencing the same thing.

Is this on all the MarkII models? B, is this true even though you did some work to find out?



Andrew

 

[HVAC]

TexasDieselKidster,



The problem exists with the TC that SPA is using with all the pyros. Blair has been diligently working with the owner of the company that supplys the TC's to SPA to resolve the problem. At this time there are a couple later generation TC's that Blair has put into service that are looking good. He has requested more of them so we can get a wider test bed established.



Once we do more testing to determine they will hold up, and the calibration shakes out, then the problem is solved. Stand by



Thanks to Blair for following through on this problem. If each one of you send him a single gallon of diesel to repay him for his time, he'll be able to drive to the midwest at least once a month :-laf

 

[Bob Wagner]

are the tc's being manufactured oversea's?





USA has plenty of reputable TC manufactures

 

[HVAC]

Nope

Bob, you should know that TC's can't swim! These are 100% domesticated TC's.

 

[Bob Wagner]

its not rocket science either

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Originally posted by Bob Wagner

are the tc's being manufactured oversea's?





USA has plenty of reputable TC manufactures

Bob, just the gauges are made by SPA in England. I had a problem with a defective thermocouple and when I visited the UK factory, they told me that these T/Cs are sourced in the USofA.



... Later

 

[JR2]

About 6 months ago I had problems with my TC. The replacment that came from SPA had a tag on it that read "Gulf Coast Sensor" and a part #. I have since lost the little card, but the TC's are being made in the US.



HVAC - if you need another tester of TC's let me know as the Big Green Smoke Machine is getting good at showing me the top end of the TC range...

 

[SOOT]

I to have the Mark II's and have the same problem.



So if you need another tester send it my way Oo.