Instrument gauge cluster

[87MJTIM]

My MJ came with full gauges in blue.  Several years ago, I swapped out the gauges to the red ones.  I have changed my mind and want to go back to the blue ones.

 

 

However, some of the gauges do not read correctly (oil and temp).  The red OP gauge was reading pressure at 40 - 60 psi.  The old blue is reading <20.  When I turn the key to start the engine, the OP needle buries far down to the left.  The temp gauge has always read low (could be the sending unit).

 

I will use the blue tach and speedo.  Can I swap the faces from the blue on to the mechanical parts of the reds?  I tried to pull the needles off the red units but could not get the to pop off.  Do I need to pull harder?

 

(Before you comment, all the clusters I have [4] are renix era, blue cases, cable drive speedos. Two AMC, one Chryco, and one not sure.)

[Minuit]

When I bought my blue full cluster the oil pressure and temp gauges did exactly the same thing yours do. I've tried to remove the needles from gauges to swap faces, and I was never successful. I ended up breaking every gauge I tried this on, and even if it did work there's really no way to "index" the needle so it reads properly - the needles just slip onto a tiny shaft.

 

I ended up replacing the individual oil pressure and temp gauges with ones from an '88 "3/4" cluster and they work just fine. They're the exact same gauges as the ones in your blue full cluster.

[HOrnbrod]

To pull gauge needles w/o damage, use a puller made to do just that. Pulled many gauge needles using one of these back in my Cal Lab days:

 

 

[87MJTIM]

Where does someone like me find one of those "thingies"?

[HOrnbrod]

THIS one would work with our gauges. It's cheap too.

 

Wouldn't be hard to make one either. 

 

[a bum with money]

What are you guys referring to in regards to red or blue gauges?

 

 

 

Bryce

[87MJTIM]

photobucket isn't working

 

Edit: Finally got it to work.  PhB takes too long to load all the adds and pop-ups

 

Blue:

 

Red:

[MeanLemons]

What are you guys referring to in regards to red or blue gauges?

 

 

XJ had red gauges and MJ had blue... or is it vice versa?

Bryce

[Minuit]

Blue gauges, '84-'87. Many people including myself think they look a lot better. Found in both MJs and XJs. The '87 version is unique - the speedo will work with the "late" style speedometer cable with the plastic clip, and that the tach usually works better and is also adjustable for 4 or 6 cylinders.

 

The gauges like to read too low and especially on '84-'86 versions the tachs can act funky. The speedometer, temp, and oil pressure gauges are the same as the "3/4" cluster with every gauge but the tach.

 

"Red" gauges: '88-'96.

 

 

I never knew there was such a thing as a gauge needle puller. Bet that would probably work a lot better on the Jeep gauges than what I was doing. Tim, if you need any spare gauges I have plenty of junk Renix gauge clusters.

[Crash]

I have a 3/4 blue gauge clsuter I could let go for a price or trade. Sold my last blue gauge full cluster a while ago.

[87MJTIM]

Follow up:

 

For the oil pressure gauge, I borrowed a pressure tester to see what the oil psi is coming from the engine.

 

I disconnected the wire and unscrewed the sending unit.

 

I connected the tester.

 

I turned the key to run.  The needle on the gauge rose straight up to 80 psi.  That tells me the gauge is working.

 

Started the engine.  The needle on the tester bounced from 54 to 60 psi with a cold engine.  Gave the engine some gas and the needle held steadier at 60 psi.

 

Does this indicate a bad sending unit?  or am I missing something.

 

The other gauges seem to be working (except temp).