Source for Smiths instrument lights?

767Jockey · #1 (**permalink**) 03-15-2009, 09:18 PM

I need some new light sockets that go into the back of Smiths gauges. Nisonger doesn't have them. The speedo light socket is 5/8" diameter and clips into the hole in the sheetmetal back. I only need one of these. I also need 5 of the 1/2" diameter size that slip into the tube that extends back from the smaller gauges (voltmeter, fuel level, oil temp, oil press and water temp. Does anyone know of a source for this stuff? I just bought a new MSD compatible tach and the light for that is built into the gauge so I don't need that one. Thanks!
Doug

289ACE · #2 (**permalink**) 03-15-2009, 10:29 PM

Doug,
Have you tried "British Wiring"? Here is a link to their light sockets, but if nothing here works, give them a call as they might know where to get it
http://www.britishwiring.com/CAT16_17.PDF

Moss may also have something, but they probably get their electricals from British wiring.
Jay

767Jockey · #3 (**permalink**) 03-15-2009, 10:43 PM

Hey, Jay - That's them - thanks so much!
Doug

pcoghlan · #4 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 09:02 AM

I just bought 8 from Nisonger last week so they must have JUST run out.

If you don't manage to get them let me know as I have a couple of spares now.

Paul

767Jockey · #5 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 09:22 AM

I just ordered a bunch today from British Wiring. Thanks, Paul.

Atlantacobra · #6 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 03:09 PM

This brings up an interesting question....well interesting for me but maybe not for you

I purchased an already built Everett Morrison and none of the Smith guage lights are working. Is this because they don't come with the lights in them? Sorry for such a stupid question, but I just figured they were unplugged at some point while trying to troubleshoot an electrical issue.
Rarely drive the car at night, so I haven't made it much of an issue.

pcoghlan · #7 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 03:17 PM

If by 'none of them are working' you mean none of them light at night I would first of all suspect a fuse, battery feed, ground, voltage stabilizer or some other common denominator (actually I cant think of another!). You should be able to at least feel whether the bulb(s) are in place. Should be fairly simple to find the fault.

Mine were all missing as the yahoo that finished the car for me misplaced them ALL!

Paul

767Jockey · #8 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantacobra

This brings up an interesting question....well interesting for me but maybe not for you

I purchased an already built Everett Morrison and none of the Smith guage lights are working. Is this because they don't come with the lights in them? Sorry for such a stupid question, but I just figured they were unplugged at some point while trying to troubleshoot an electrical issue.
Rarely drive the car at night, so I haven't made it much of an issue.

I'm rebuilding my car, and I have no way of knowing how old my Smiths gauges are since I bought the car used. The Smiths gauges that were in there all had bulbs that inserted into the back of the gauge from the rear through a hole or sleeve in the back. One quick look, if this is the type you have, will tell you if the sockets are in place. I guess it's possible that the bulbs can be missing or all burned out. The fly in the ointment is that I just purchased a new Smiths tach, and on this newer gauge the light is built into the gauge. Connect the lead to the rest of them and you're ready to go. If you have these newer gauges, now you need to figure out if they're hooked up correctly and if your bulbs may be burned out. Could be the switch, too. Good luck.

pcoghlan · #9 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 06:10 PM

FWIW the tach and speedo had them inbuilt going back several years. I don't think this is age related.

ALL of my gauges were bought new in the UK in 2002 and all but those two had them in a sleeve at the back. The tach and speedo each had them built in even then.

Paul

Quote:

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

I'm rebuilding my car, and I have no way of knowing how old my Smiths gauges are since I bought the car used. The Smiths gauges that were in there all had bulbs that inserted into the back of the gauge from the rear through a hole or sleeve in the back. One quick look, if this is the type you have, will tell you if the sockets are in place. I guess it's possible that the bulbs can be missing or all burned out. The fly in the ointment is that I just purchased a new Smiths tach, and on this newer gauge the light is built into the gauge. Connect the lead to the rest of them and you're ready to go. If you have these newer gauges, now you need to figure out if they're hooked up correctly and if your bulbs may be burned out. Could be the switch, too. Good luck.

767Jockey · #10 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 08:48 PM

I don't know how old my gauges are. The original speedo and tach had 5/8" clip in light sockets in the back. I suppose someplace like Nisonger would know when the switch over to internal came into being. I think I like the old way, if the light dies you don't have to send the whole gauge in for service.

289ACE · #11 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 10:25 PM

Atlantacobra,
There a couple of reasons you may not have light, 1 is no lights and the second is no ground. I have seen a couple of different versions of Smiths gauges and 1 has the light as part of the gauge (some slip in and some embedded), and the other has a bracket that holds the light off to the side and the gauge body has slots in the side that allow light in. In either case it should be an easy check to see if the lights are present or not. However, if you have the gauges that use the external light, the brackets can be tough to find.
The other potential problem is the ground and there should be a daisy chain between the gauge bodies that ultimately attaches to a ground wire.
Good Luck,
Jay

mrmustang · #12 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

I need some new light sockets that go into the back of Smiths gauges. Nisonger doesn't have them. The speedo light socket is 5/8" diameter and clips into the hole in the sheetmetal back. I only need one of these. I also need 5 of the 1/2" diameter size that slip into the tube that extends back from the smaller gauges (voltmeter, fuel level, oil temp, oil press and water temp. Does anyone know of a source for this stuff? I just bought a new MSD compatible tach and the light for that is built into the gauge so I don't need that one. Thanks!
Doug

http://www.nisonger.com/

Bill S.

PS: Owner of Nisonger used to own Contemporary

Atlantacobra · #13 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 289ACE

Atlantacobra,
There a couple of reasons you may not have light, 1 is no lights and the second is no ground. I have seen a couple of different versions of Smiths gauges and 1 has the light as part of the gauge (some slip in and some embedded), and the other has a bracket that holds the light off to the side and the gauge body has slots in the side that allow light in. In either case it should be an easy check to see if the lights are present or not. However, if you have the gauges that use the external light, the brackets can be tough to find.
The other potential problem is the ground and there should be a daisy chain between the gauge bodies that ultimately attaches to a ground wire.
Good Luck,
Jay

Great advice 289ACE. I'm going to climb underneath this week and check things out. Hopefully a loose wire and no big deal.

Goober · #14 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 10:29 AM

I normally get my Smiths parts from this bunch.

http://www.holden.co.uk/default.asp

Mark