Thorneycroft engine gauges not working?

[Molteni]

Thorneycroft T80 engine 1991 vintage

With the key in the "aux" position, the oil pressure immediately goes to full.

When the engine's running and warm, the oil gauge is still all the way to the right (ie too far), and neither the rev counter or temperature gauge show anything at all.

Another minor issue is that the glowplug toggle switch remains on until you actually switch it off. If you forget to switch it off when the engine starts, the glowplugs could be damaged?

This is a new-to-me boat. Am I missing something obvious, or is there a fault?

Thanks

 

[GrahamM376]

Sounds a bit strange as the standard Thornycroft 80D panel has the heaters/glowplugs as position 2 on the ignition key switch. I wonder if you have a faulty key switch and someone has done a bodge-up by adding the toggle switch?

 

[penberth3]

Two simple suggestions.

Check the oil pressure sender, and the earth on the gauge.

Is it a sprung toggle switch, and the spring has failed?

 

[Jim@sea]

Thornycroft Engines (BMC Diesel) have a very low dipstick hole and when fitted in a yacht water in the bilges can go down the dipstick hole (as well as covering the inside of the starter motor with gunge) perhaps the oil pipes which supply the pressure to the Oil Pressure Gauge could be contaminated.
I would try a second Oil Pressure Gauge to see if the reading is the same.

 

[GrahamM376]

Thornycroft Engines (BMC Diesel) ..............I would try a second Oil Pressure Gauge to see if the reading is the same.

The 80D also called T80 is a Mitsubishi K4D.

 

[Molteni]

Seem to remember a similar problem with an old car. Turned out to a a loose earth at the panel, giving either full-on or full-off readings

Have just had a failed session trying to get decent access behind the panel, and there's not enough wiring to pull the panel into the cockpit more than an inch or so.

Trying to get this sorted soonest to get out sailing, with confidence in the instruments and without the buzzer being permanently on!

 

[chewi]

Seem to remember a similar problem with an old car. Turned out to a a loose earth at the panel, giving either full-on or full-off readings

Have just had a failed session trying to get decent access behind the panel, and there's not enough wiring to pull the panel into the cockpit more than an inch or so.

Trying to get this sorted soonest to get out sailing, with confidence in the instruments and without the buzzer being permanently on!

Two guages acting as above, as said, is probably their 0v connection failed. if access is hard then just add another one in a more convenient place & they''ll prob go back to normal.

 

[maxi77]

My first check would be the panel wiring, poor connections can play havoc with the gauges. The probable solution to the glow plug switch is to get a new key switch with the glow plug position and replace your present starter and glow plug switches then that side should be OK.