Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 5:53 pm
by Sonex1517
Hi Everyone
Our AeroVee arrived this week (well, most of it. Two backordered head assemblies). So our focus now is on assembling it.
Some questions for this who have actually used mechanical gauges with an AeroVee.
I am interested in specific part numbers for a mechanical tach (if one is compatible with an AeroVee), old fashioned mechanical oil pressure and oil temperature.
Thank you.
Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:31 pm
by MichaelFarley56
All I can tell you Robbie is that i used a basic 0-100 psi mechanical oil pressure gauge from AutoZone. You have a couple of basic options but they’re all about the same. Everything else I have via my MGL EFIS.
Congrats on the engine delivery!
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 1:23 am
by wlarson861
I bought a mechanical oil pressure as a cross check to my Enigma. Less than $20 at O’Reily auto parts. The picture shows it in the right corner under the panel.
http://sonexbuildersandpilotsfoundation … /h20361158
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 7:30 am
by Bryan Cotton
When I was a kid we would go to JC Whitney for gauges in Bugs and the American iron.
Bumped up - analog tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroV
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 3:44 pm
by Sonex1517
Bumping this post again.
I am very interested in hearing from anyone who has installed analog oil temperature, RPM, and/or oil pressure (electrical, not tubed) gauges with an AeroVee.
Appreciate the replies I got earlier.
Thanks
Robbie
Re: Bumped up - analog tach, oil temp and oil pressure for A
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:16 pm
by fastj22
Sonex1517 wrote:Bumping this post again.
I am very interested in hearing from anyone who has installed analog oil temperature, RPM, and/or oil pressure (electrical, not tubed) gauges with an AeroVee.
Appreciate the replies I got earlier.
Thanks
Robbie
I installed all electric analog VDO gauges on my Karmann Ghia. Oil temp, pressure, tach, and fuel. Looked cool too.
http://www2.cip1.com
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 1:04 pm
by n502pd
Hi Robbie, I have analogue instruments on my Sonex, but am still building. Pannel is finished but not installed. I do have electronic tach (it was really cheap, and worked) I have the capillary tube oil temp and the mechanical pressure gauge too. call me if you need, or email me! 903-818-0496 
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 5:45 pm
by kmwoody
Robbie, definitely go with a mechanical oil pressure gauge. I had fluctuating electrical readings on my MGL, changed the sender twice, and finally installed a mechanical gauge. Electronic reads 65 in cruise, spiking to over 100. Mechanical steady at 42 to 45.
Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 6:29 pm
by Sonex1517
Thanks
As clarification - when you say mechanical are you talking about an oil pressure line to the gauge in the cabin?
Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2014 6:01 pm
by kmwoody
Robbie, yes, tube to gauge. There is another builder having high electronic pressure on his Stratomaster. (I have an Enigma) He hooked up a test gauge, mechanical, and his is reading 42 @ 3000 rpm. For $20 its a no brainer.
Ken W
Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2014 7:32 pm
by Sonex1517
Thanks! Much appreciated.
Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 9:17 am
by Darick
Old subject revisited.
The mechanical oil pressure gauges I’ve seen at auto parts stores have a nylon tube from the engine to the gauge. I’m a bit hesitant to have a nylon tube in my engine compartment. Robbie and others, what did you use?
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 10:59 am
by Sonex1517
I used a VDO gauge - I ran copper tubing as I also did not want to use poly-anything for hot oil running into the cockpit. Purchased at a local auto parts store complete with fittings.
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 8:58 pm
by GordonTurner
I too am planning to use a mechanical (tube) oil pressure gage. The tiny tube (copper) is only 1/16" ID so in the case of the proverbial leak (which I’ve never heard of actually occuring) I am guessing not very much oil will actually come out. Or put another way, i would expect to have plenty of time to get on the ground of the leak happemed. And the gages are so accurate and appear to last forever. Oh yeah, and CHEAP.
Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 9:25 pm
by Sonex1517
I really like the VDO oil pressure and temperature sensors. Not so much their RPM gauge.
Yes, I went old fashioned and used steam gauges and a GRT mini for an artificial horizon.
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 10:16 pm
by fastj22
I recently added a mechanical auto oil pressure to my panel. I think it was like $20 at AutoZone. I still have the VDO electronic one to my MGL Xtreme but I’ve lost my EFIS in flight due a bad RDAC 2 hours from home. Rather unsettling. The Jabiru has a second port you can put the tube on. Now I have both and can cross check at runup too and instant readings at startup.
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 2:38 pm
by Darick
Thanks guys,
I went back to the auto store, told them my concerns regarding nylon tubing and they went right to the display showing a copper tube retrofit, for the gauge I bought the day before. Problem solved.
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 5:24 pm
by MichaelFarley56
That’s exactly what I did as well Darick. I ran the copper tube to a union back by the firewall where I then switched to the nylon tube. For what it’s worth, I bet I flew my airplane for 50 hours with the nylon tube running from the front of the engine all the way to the instrument panel and didn’t have any issues. As long as it doesn’t touch anything hot, it seems to hold up okay. Not that I recommend the nylon tube up by the engine though!
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 1:01 pm
by Darick
Certainly running the nylon from the firewall to the gauge sounds easier to deal with than copper tubing. It’s something I’ll consider when I get to that point.
Re: Mechanical tach, oil temp and oil pressure for AeroVee
Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 4:21 pm
by radfordc
MichaelFarley56 wrote:For what it’s worth, I bet I flew my airplane for 50 hours with the nylon tube running from the front of the engine all the way to the instrument panel and didn’t have any issues.
I did the same for a couple hundred hours and no issue so far.