The Restoration of PRRROWL
TIGER # B382000221
An Article by John Crawley
March, 2001
Page 25
INSTRUMENTS (cont.)
Oil Gauge Service
The Tiger oil gauge benefits from a drop of oil on the gear that drives the needle. If you have a gauge that does not come back to zero dryness is most likely the cause.
Tip: Clock oil can be applied, though the light socket hole in the back of the oil gauge, with a drop of lube on a broom straw. Do not over do.
Paint For Instruments
If you have trouble finding the correct paint for the instrument needles try going to a ladies cosmetics department and looking for the correct color of nail polish. Do not apply any paint or polish too thickly on instrument needles as even that small addition of weight may effect the accuracy of the instrument.
Try a hobby shop for the correct colour of model paint as well.
A Clock Solution
I was trying to get the Smiths clock wired up and running. The first part was no problem but the running part was something else. I think that Smiths and Lucas must have had the same founding father — the "Prince of Darkness"!! The Smiths clock has PLASTIC gears, (12 months or 12,000 miles again).
I found a replacement clock that I used.
The clock from an early European Capri will fit with some modifications. The Capri clock resides in a "Pod" on the transmission hump. This is not to be confused with the later square faced clock.
To remove the clock you just insert a sharp blade between the black clock bezel and the plastic body of the "pod." Once the clock is free just pull on the wires. Now back to your shop.
Once there you will have to replace the black bezel by bending its lip until it comes off the clock body.
Remove the chrome bezel from any Alpine or MG instrument by bending the four tabs back. The Capri clock body requires some trimming for the bezel to fit but once you have it apart it is obvious what to do. Trim it until the chrome bezel will fit over it. Install the bezel and bend the tabs into place.
Push the body of the clock through the hole in the dash. It is the same diameter as the old clock. From the back of the dash, put a large hose clamp around the clock body to hold it in place. Hook up the wires and the installation is complete.
Sit back and admire a German made clock that works. It comes with brass gears and jeweled movement. The face and hands are almost exactly the same as the Smiths in color, shape and size. The only difference is that the time-set-knob is in the center of the Capri clock rather than off to one side and there is no faster/slower access from the front face. The Capri clock does not require starting by setting the hands as the Smiths clock does. One last added bonus -- you now have a sweep second hand to time your zero to sixty runs.
This is not a perfect fix but it is better than a hole in the dash. Smith’s clocks can be repaired see posts on the TIGER list.
Editor's Note: VDO makes a very accurate quartz clock that fits the original dash hole perfectly. A good instrument shop has access to face decals for most instruments, and can put the appropriate Smith's face on the VDO. It's not a perfect replica, as the setting knob is in the center, but it will look right, and fit right, and keep very good time. If you already have a Smith's clock you can actually have the face plate transferred (without the side adjusment screw). I understand that Tiger Tom rebuilds these units with quartz movements and side adjustment, as another alternative. These run over $100.
**
