DIY TA rebuild?

Farace · #1 (**permalink**) 12-08-2003, 05:50 PM

Submitted for discussion. Have any of you ever tried this?

DIY thermostatic actuator repair

**Roadtrip** · #2 (**permalink**) 12-08-2003, 09:51 PM

I've seen this but never tried it. I think I'd be more inclined to just plunk down $200 for a new one that has good seals. Gotta admit though, this guy has raised the bar for self-sufficiency.

DriverJon · #3 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 02:14 AM

Hmmm... does seem clunkier with that fitting in there.. potential vibration and breakage unless mounted securely.

I read that Wes Ingram had identified the original "mystery fluid" in the TA to be ethylene glycol. I wonder if this is compatible with brake fluid. I'd wonder if the thermal expansion characteristic is the same, too.. but you're doing a recalibration, so that may not be as big a deal as whether the two fluids will get along in the long run.

Wes rebuilds TA's, he charges $165 with a $25 core charge..

There was a guy who advertized in the Alfa Owner magazine, (but not for a while now) who used to rebuild them with a stainless steel capillary, also I think less than $200.

Thought I needed one when I got the car.. but even after 25 years, it's still good. The problems all were an out of adjustment Spica..

**Roadtrip** · #4 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 08:58 AM

That's why it's so important benchtest a T/A if you think it's bad. All you need is a mm ruler, a pot of heating water and an accurate thermometer . . . . . . and about 30 minutes when your wife won't be at home.

The standard parts suppliers I think charge about $200 exchange.

DriverJon · #5 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 02:10 PM

"Honey... why are we cooking car parts on the stove???"

"Uh, it's a scientific experiment, dear..."

"Riiiiiight.. Well, clean the pot when you're done..."

My wife is pretty understanding... coulda been a much worse reaction, I'm sure!

Actually, she's been interested and even involved with our semi-restoration project, I'm pretty lucky...

Farace · #6 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 02:19 PM

I sometimes build guitar effects and my wife has put up with me baking a spraypaint finish onto aluminum enclosures in the oven, so hopefully I won't have a problem with testing my TA.

My biggest problem so far, believe it or not, has been finding a millimeter scale! The local hardware store I tried doesn't have one. Maybe I'll try Advance Auto tonight. Almost thirty years after the US was supposed to switch to the metric system, I can't find a scale.

DriverJon · #7 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 02:57 PM

If you have a Harbor Freight nearby, they have a digital caliper that goes for about $20 when it's on sale.

Something to have, and being digital it converts from inch to Metric at a touch of
a button.

Measure from the mounting flange to the end of body, write it down for reference,
then you just measure the tip to body end when you actually do the hot test.

Adding up measurements like this, it's better to have accurate ones.

And a caliper is immensly useful around the garage and house.

**Roadtrip** · #8 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 03:02 PM

Something every Alfa owner/maintainer should have is a set of dial calipers. They come in metric and english. While the top of the calipers have jaws for measurement, the bottom has a stick that you can measure depth and extensions. They're available on ebay fairly cheaply. I use mine all the time.

Farace · #9 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 03:08 PM

No Harbor Freight here in New England. I've been meaning to get a caliper anyway, I guess now is the time. (I do have a nice micrometer.) (I always forget about the depth gauge on a caliper!)

Kjell · #10 (**permalink**) 12-09-2003, 04:28 PM

No need for a millimeter scale. Just convert - 25.4mm per inch.......