1985 300TD - oil leaking under guage area - not from threaded connection. Anybody ever repair this?

Thanks Steve

It usually takes a replacement instrument cluster (temp, oil, fuel) to fix this. The leak is a stress fracture in the bourdon tube that actuates the meter movement of the oil pressure gauge.

If you decide to fix this please don't trash the dead cluster. I'm trying to accumulate a few dead clusters to experiment on to develop a workable repair for this problem.

I'll pay shipping if you send me your dead/leaking cluster.

Links:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=96407&highlight=bourdon

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=78311&highlight=bourdon

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=64063&highlight=bourdon

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

I would suggest that you just replace the offending section of the guage assembly....ie: the oil,water,fuel section.
2 weeks ago, I went through this process. Lo and behold, the guage itself was leaking.......Off to the junkjard....ie:recycling center...........$20 later, I was walking away with a cluster from a 1983 280E (gas grey market vehicle)....The only differences were that the needle covers were silver, the markings for the temp and the pressure and fuel were a little bit different. HOWEVER, the electrical connector (the big round black one) was aprox. 1.5 inches away from the original on the Black Bomber. I felt that there was enough slack in my electrical harness to connect corretly. Away I went....
To another local yard......I just HAD to try another location.....Lo and behold, sitting in a foot of MUDDY WATER with NO wheels was a blue 1985...............FANTASTIC! ....
$10 later, I had the CORRECT unit.
An hour later, after cleaning all of the circut boards etc, into the Black Bomber it went!
A week later, the family and I and our 3 sea kyaks on the roof successfully completed a 2,500 mile round trip to South Carolina and back with the old beast running just like an old Singer .
Burned around a quart of castrol heavy duty 15/40 dino oil at constant non stop speeds of 70/80 mph down and back .
Good luck with the fix.....actually NOT TOO BAD.
spo out

Yep, replace it. I did it about 3 weeks ago, used the cluster from an 80 model 240D, the connector was a couple inches away from the original and the oil reads in psi, water in F, and there is a little silver button in the middle of the gauges. Also a good time to fix your clock if it doesn't work. See this for info...... http://business.baylor.edu/Richard_Easley/autofaqs/clock.htm

__________________
1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

I guess replacing with a used one is "hit or miss" - if there's no oil leaking - grab it.

Thanks Steve