SX-28 S-meter fatigue cracks

Peter Bertini · **Posted:** Aug Thu 09, 2012 2:40 pm

What machining did you do after you chucked it?

What would you want for one of those sleeves?

Pete

Tmear · **Joined:** Oct Sat 08, 2011 5:42 pm **Posts:** 50

DITTO! I'd love to have one for my SX25 which has the same problem. Great work and it looks fantastic. I'm ashamed to admit that mine still sports the two hose clamps the PO put on it.

Tom

tinwhisker · **Posted:** Aug Fri 10, 2012 9:39 pm

FWIW, these come to mind as a source for metals, tubing, etc. (I believe the last two are from the same source, but includes "Little Machine Shop" as added interest.)

http://www.speedymetals.com/c-8200-roun ... ?pagenum=2

http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cf ... top_cat=79

https://www.littlemachineshop.com/Info/OnlineMetals.php

Perhaps an undersized tubing can be expanded out with the "tail pipe expander" as mentioned?

Charlie

Curmudgeon · **Joined:** Apr Tue 12, 2011 3:15 am **Posts:** 386

Peter Bertini wrote:

What machining did you do after you chucked it?
Pete

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

The ID of the coupling is 2.37". The OD is 2.71". I just took the ID out to 2.5" to match the meter case, Cutoff tool at 1 and 3/16" which is the depth of the case. Cleaned up the ends. Drilled meter movement mounting holes. Installed hose clamp about 1/4" back from rear of meter case to ease sleeve installation. After sleeve was started, removed hose clamp, seated sleeve and installed meter movement screws.

Thanks tinwhisker, for the links. Will have to take a look at that.

Bill

oddball · **Posted:** Aug Sat 11, 2012 11:15 am

If you are interested in making some extra to sell, pm me and let me know. I'd like to have one to fix mine with and maybe another to have as a spare for future use.

Shanghai Jack · **Posted:** Aug Sat 11, 2012 12:59 pm

Add me to the growing list for several if you decide to produce these..

Mike Bracey · **Posted:** Aug Mon 13, 2012 6:56 am

I would also like to be on the list.

Mike

oddball · **Posted:** Aug Wed 29, 2012 11:43 am

Curmudgeon sent me one of his sleeves to repair my meter case and I took some pics. It worked very well and I am very happy with the results. I used ty-raps to pull the ends of the original meter case together so I could slide the sleeve on. I found out though, it probably would have worked better to have used a hose clamp for this as it would have pulled the original case together a little better. I also found out that if you file the outside edges of the exploded meter case slightly, it helps in sliding the sleeve over the original case by keeping it from biting into the plastic sleeve. Oh, the piece of paper taped in place, was to catch dropped screws, nuts and washers. Thank you very much Curmudgeon!

Scott · **Posted:** Sep Wed 05, 2012 12:41 am

Very nice!

tmea · **Joined:** May Wed 13, 2009 7:37 pm **Posts:** 46

Wow.

Excellent looking solution to the problem! If you plan on selling any of them I have an SX-25 that is dying to get one....

Tom

Curmudgeon · **Joined:** Apr Tue 12, 2011 3:15 am **Posts:** 386

PM sent.

PBPP · **Posted:** Sep Fri 07, 2012 5:34 am

Outstanding idea and an elegant solution!

~ Mitch ~

Shanghai Jack · **Posted:** Sep Fri 07, 2012 4:57 pm

I wonder why the meter housings weren't vented?

obbm · **Posted:** Sep Mon 10, 2012 12:41 am

I decided to fix the cracked meter on the HQ-129X. Went to the industrial plumbing and got a white coupler. The guy said no black ones, they are not approved in NY except Syracuse area.

Went to the 129X, (I hadn't looked at it), and it is a 2" meter, not 2-1/2". Went back to the plumbing supply and got a nicer looking one for electrical conduit, gray in color, and smaller.

Made it, and had a heck of a time getting it on, as the meter had badly distorted "petals" of brass. I also had to fiddle with cutouts on the sides to clear the dials, which come within 1/32" of the meter case.

I intend to make the larger one for an SX-42. Will have to use white coupler, maybe I will paint it black.

Very nice of you to post this and details, too. Thanks, Curmudgeon,

Bill

Curmudgeon · **Joined:** Apr Tue 12, 2011 3:15 am **Posts:** 386

obbm wrote:

...The guy said no black ones, they are not approved in NY except Syracuse area... Will have to use white coupler, maybe I will paint it black

Looks good Bill!

Try your home center for a 2" ABS plastic plumbing coupling. Can't believe NY doesn't allow these. Believe it or not the 2" coupling measures almost 2.5" in ID (2.37"). ABS is tough stuff. You will need the means to take the ID out to 2.5"

Quote:

Very nice of you to post this and details, too. Thanks, Curmudgeon,

Its all to help the community.

HTH

Bill

obbm · **Posted:** Sep Mon 10, 2012 3:13 pm

Thanks, Curmudgeon,

This is a hardware store inside of a firm that does industrial plumbing, so they might know something. When I get to Lowe's, I will try there.

I have a metal lathe so making the sleeves is not an issue. Getting the right material so far is. Black looks better on a meter, I may try to paint one. The 129X uses a 1-1/2" coupler.

We live in a town of 800 people, and it is 20 miles to Walmart, so NY can be very rural.

Bill

Curmudgeon · **Joined:** Apr Tue 12, 2011 3:15 am **Posts:** 386

PM sent

tmea · **Joined:** May Wed 13, 2009 7:37 pm **Posts:** 46

And another very happy S meter case! Many many thanks Bill.

Tom

Tony Wells · **Posted:** Nov Tue 06, 2012 5:12 am

Is that original piece made by sweating a piece of tubing to a ring to form the face? I haven't looked closely at my SX-28 meter to see if it is cracked like that, but I'll be machining a complete new housing if it is. Anyone see a problem with using a 300 series stainless steel for that part?

Alan Douglas · **Posted:** Nov Tue 06, 2012 9:43 pm

303 is barely magnetic, so should be fine.

I presume the cases were drawn and stamped from one piece of brass.

SX-28 S-meter fatigue cracks

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