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Jun 14th, 2026
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,358 Likes: 353
Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
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Roadster Guru Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,358 Likes: 353 |
I think if the instrument bodies were metal it would help to transfer heat from the underdash into the instruments, and might keep them drier. Certainly I never had this on my MG Midgets.
On my Roadster I've added clear plastic film to the small gauges, but that alone made little difference.
The thing is, overnight they clear. Park up and they clear. It's all strange.
DaveW
'05 Red Roadster S1
'16 Yellow (Not the only) Narrow AR GDI Plus 4
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,616 Likes: 43
Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
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Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,616 Likes: 43 |
It is hard to believe the misting cannot be cured, I understand all the excuses about temperature differentials - yawn - but in all the years of flying in Tiger Moths all year round I never once experienced this phenomena, or in any other light aircraft for that matter.
It'll be interesting if Kerry can add some input on this one about older aircraft too. I’m pretty sure by the 1930’s Smiths Aero instruments will have been hermetically sealed So another case like the fastenings of Morgan building down to a price and not improving the quality that should be expected at the current price ranges. I might be wrong but I don’t think it’s anything to do with Morgan I’ve been on what are now branded as Smiths car gauges website and downloaded the catalogue and I can’t see any reference to them being vacuum sealed. The glasses and bezels can be replaced and the gauge can be got into in the back to change the lamps so I don’t think the ones that go on a Mog are fully sealed to the point where no moisture in the air can get into the unit Some of the older VDO instruments might have been better sealed but they still had a plastic lamp holder that could be pulled out of the back quite easily On my last Mog it was only the small dials that fogged up - the large VDO dials were fog free
2008 XXVII Platform, Bugatti Blue Roadster 4 Seater
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,776 Likes: 4
Talk Morgan Expert
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Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,776 Likes: 4 |
I even tap the glass to make sure the gauge is working :doh
I'm surprised that MMC dont fit a dash barometer.. or they could have a little man or woman that pops out with an umbrella to say rain likely.. they'd sell like hotcakes!
Steve
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 37,407 Likes: 977
Tricky Dicky Member of the Inner Circle
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Tricky Dicky Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 37,407 Likes: 977 |
It is hard to believe the misting cannot be cured, I understand all the excuses about temperature differentials - yawn - but in all the years of flying in Tiger Moths all year round I never once experienced this phenomena, or in any other light aircraft for that matter.
It'll be interesting if Kerry can add some input on this one about older aircraft too. I’m pretty sure by the 1930’s Smiths Aero instruments will have been hermetically sealed So another case like the fastenings of Morgan building down to a price and not improving the quality that should be expected at the current price ranges. I might be wrong but I don’t think it’s anything to do with Morgan I’ve been on what are now branded as Smiths car gauges website and downloaded the catalogue and I can’t see any reference to them being vacuum sealed. The glasses and bezels can be replaced and the gauge can be got into in the back to change the lamps so I don’t think the ones that go on a Mog are fully sealed to the point where no moisture in the air can get into the unit Some of the older VDO instruments might have been better sealed but they still had a plastic lamp holder that could be pulled out of the back quite easily On my last Mog it was only the small dials that fogged up - the large VDO dials were fog free It does seem strange to me that with my first Plus 8 1994 they were Smiths I think and now with my 1999 with VDO gauges I don't have a problem. I am quite happy thinking that the temperate climate that we have down here should help out a bit but I have always used my Morgan's year round and get a couple of frosts a year and when there is salt around I don't go out. We live in a marine environment less than a mile from the sea and we normally are subject to a high moisture level (pissing it down). The Sport 2009 was bad from day one the oil and Speedometer being the worst affected from memory, so much so that there was visible staining on the inside of the lenses.
2009 4/4 Sport Henrietta
1999 Indigo Blue +8
2009 4/4 Sport Green prev
1993 Con Green +8 prev
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 28,894 Likes: 351
Salty Sea Dog Member of the Inner Circle
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Salty Sea Dog Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 28,894 Likes: 351 |
I even tap the glass to make sure the gauge is working :doh
Tap the bezel, not the glass!!
Graham (G4FUJ)
Sold L44FOR 4/4 Giallo Fly
'11 MINI Countryman Cooper D All4
'90 LR 90 SW
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,616 Likes: 43
Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
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Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,616 Likes: 43 |
Having had one Mog with VDO and my latest Mog with Smiths. I would say the larger VDO instruments were I think of a better quality of manufacture
They are much heavier in feel and everything like the glass, bezel and lamp fitting seemed to be fitted tightly
2008 XXVII Platform, Bugatti Blue Roadster 4 Seater
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 37,407 Likes: 977
Tricky Dicky Member of the Inner Circle
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Tricky Dicky Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 37,407 Likes: 977 |
Yes I agree about the construction of the VDO's being superior to the Smiths.
2009 4/4 Sport Henrietta
1999 Indigo Blue +8
2009 4/4 Sport Green prev
1993 Con Green +8 prev
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,616 Likes: 43
Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
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Wave & smile... It's a Morgan Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,616 Likes: 43 |
I think if the instrument bodies were metal it would help to transfer heat from the underdash into the instruments, and might keep them drier. Certainly I never had this on my MG Midgets.
On my Roadster I've added clear plastic film to the small gauges, but that alone made little difference.
The thing is, overnight they clear. Park up and they clear. It's all strange. Just theorising out loud Do you think it’s to do with the fact that the cockpit heater is set so far back under the dash so when we are driving with the heater on, it’s warming any moist air which rises up under the dash into the instruments? The instrument glass being further forward and higher remains cool as its exposed to the cold upper cockpit draft so the heat differential is greater
2008 XXVII Platform, Bugatti Blue Roadster 4 Seater
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,748 Likes: 158
Member of the Inner Circle
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Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,748 Likes: 158 |
I have a mixture of small sealed Smith's guages with LEDs and rebuilt original Morgan/Smith's guages that used incandescent bulbs. Because of colour differences between the lit guages at night I have experimented a lot with LEDs and I now have LEDs fitted to all guages. Quite frankly I think Smith's (or actually Caerbont who produce the Smith's guages) should have fitted LEDs to all their instruments and sealed them some time back.
The LEDs do not generate so much heat as the incandescent bulbs so I have not experienced misting guages since fitting the LEDs.
Peter ![[Linked Image]](http://bradley.it/public_images/drive.jpg)
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,957 Likes: 116
Talk Morgan Sage
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Talk Morgan Sage
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,957 Likes: 116 |
I have experimented a lot with LEDs and I now have LEDs fitted to all guages. I fitted LEDs to the DB7 dials and warning lights. Not because of misting, I couldn't see them in the sun with the hood down!
Best Regards
Lang may yer lum reek
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