SPA Thermocouple question.

[JCyrbok]

I have an older sytle SPA dual boost/egt. The thermocouple is on the way out. I found that the yellow plug on the end of the thermo is loose and when wiggled will either make it work or not. I checked SPA website and did nt see anything that looked like it. The thermo is a 1/8 NPT. ANyone have any idea where to find a new one or how to fix this one. I have an email into SPA with the same question, but have found the TDR to usually be quicker and more reliable.



The thermo is 1/8 NPT with a yellow 2 blade plug on one end that plugs into a corresponding yellow 2 blade plug for the lead to the signal amplifier for the gauage. I think it is a "K" type thermo

(does this sound right) and it is very quick responding to changes.



Are all thermo's like this? any help in fixing for finding a new one would be appreciated.



ALso anyother SPA users out there, has this happended to you?



Thanks

J-

 

[Bob Wagner]

you can get one made here thermocouples made to order





I've been using and selling their products for 15yrs.

 

[JCyrbok]

Problem #2

Just got an e mail back from SPA and they advised that they have the thermo's but that they are now 1/4" tap size for the fittings instead of 1/8". ANy ideas? I was thinking if I could find a fitting that was 1/8 male to 1/4 female then install the thermo fitting into the other fitting then to the manifold. I really dont want to tap the manifold again. ANy ideas?



J-

 

[Bob Wagner]

J- I replied to your PM also you can take the thermocouple plug apart and check for loose or broken wire.



1/8 npt is not a problem

 

[barryg41]

I thought SPA had fixed the problem with the 1/4 temp probe. I thought they were going back to 1/8. 1/4 probes read way to slow for us diesel users. I think Brandon had said that the problem was fixed. Is SPA going back to 1/8 or are they staying with the 1/4 temp probes?



I hope neither one of my 1/8 temp probes break.



Fuel pumps and now thermocouples...

 

[FFL8N]

Boost sender

I am also having a problem with my dual guage spa. Mine is on the turbo side though. I keep getting a Trouble code message and then it flashes back to numbers. The numbers are way off. They are in the 80's and 90 psi range at idle. What is the email address you talked to them at? I tried the one on the back of my book, but I not gotten a response.

 

[barryg41]

FF1607, Try using dielectic grease on the connections on the boost transducer. It did wonders for me. It takes the chance of getting moisture out of the connection. I never here of Dakato's having this problem but it is with the SPA's.



I also took the pressure transducer apart to make sure the connections were good. I will tell you that they were very questionable.



I still have to once every three months or so have to disconnect the trans temp connection to stop the fault error. Grease or not. Go figure!



I still love the digital thing tho'

 

[Brandon]

its like 3/16 now, and they work well, spa has them and patrick told me they would sell them very reasonable as replacement pyros for existing owners



thanks, Brandon

 

[JCyrbok]

My boost sender acts up every now and again too. I did the dielectric grease trick and it is fine now. I also made sure all the connections are tight.



As for the thermocouple, I just got an e mail from Patrick at SPA and he advised that there changed from the 1/8" to the 1/16" thermocouple a while back. They dod not have any adaptor for the hole already drilled in the manifold and he does not think that the thermocouple is loung enough to go through a home made adaptor. So I quess I will either have to drill and tap another hole, go with another company or have a thermocouple made for a replacement. I'm thinking of having one made by the people that Bob Wagner suggested eariler in this thread. All I have to do is figure out the right length, type and plug and he said it was reasonably priced.



Anyone have any other ideas?



Thanks

J-

 

[JCyrbok]

New thermocouple.

If i order a new thermo from SPA it looks like the size is different. Went from 1/8 NPT to 1/4" for the tapped size. Should I try to drill out the old hole and retap it or drill and tap another hole? If its the new hole option what should i use to plug the old hole. WHould a brass pipe plug from Home Depot work or are the temps too high.



WHat a PITA.



J-

 

[Bill Lins]

Just drill the existing hole out with a 7/16" bit & tap with a 1/4" NPT tap- no big deal.

 

[FFL8N]

OK, Stupid question. What is a boost transender? Is that the sending unit or something else. I did the install, but it has been over a year now. I don't remember what parts went to the boost and which were for the egt.

 

[Bill Lins]

Transducer, sender, sensor- all same same.

 

[JCyrbok]

MOunting fitting

Got a new thermocouple today and will have to change out the actual mounting fitting in the manifold too. Its been 2 years and some months since it was installed. How much of a problem should I expect removing the old fitting. I'm kinda worried that thousands of heat/cool cycles has made the fitting stuck and brittle and that it may break off. Only plus to that would be the justification to wife for an ATS manifold, but would rather less hassle.



Should I try to remove it while hot, cold or does it not matter? Also the new thermo fitting from SPA is supposed to have a tap size of 1/4" but the fitting is atleast 1/2" in diameter what gives with that. I have very little knowledge of tap sizes, etc. I have taped quiet a few things but it was alway with good directions. The new thermo came in a box and that was it.



I tried to spin on a 1/2: die and it wont even go on. Any idea's



Thanks in advance for any help.

J-

 

[Bill Lins]

Re: MOunting fitting

Originally posted by JCyrbok

Got a new thermocouple today and will have to change out the actual mounting fitting in the manifold too. Its been 2 years and some months since it was installed. How much of a problem should I expect removing the old fitting. I'm kinda worried that thousands of heat/cool cycles has made the fitting stuck and brittle and that it may break off. Only plus to that would be the justification to wife for an ATS manifold, but would rather less hassle.



Should I try to remove it while hot, cold or does it not matter? Also the new thermo fitting from SPA is supposed to have a tap size of 1/4" but the fitting is atleast 1/2" in diameter what gives with that. I have very little knowledge of tap sizes, etc. I have taped quiet a few things but it was alway with good directions. The new thermo came in a box and that was it.



I tried to spin on a 1/2: die and it wont even go on. Any idea's



Thanks in advance for any help.

J-

Ease of bushing removal will probably depend upon whether or not you used anti-seize when installing it. You might try getting the engine hot then putting ice on the bushing ONLY- that might help to loosen it.



As I stated in a post above, the correct drill bit for 1/4" NPT is 7/16". 1/4" NPT is NOT the same as a 1/4" tap.