Type 4 Thermostat Alternative.

That's pretty much what I have but I'm now going to replace the ram with a stepper motor and controller.

 

Cool. I wouldnt know what controller to use. I think a stepper motor needs a supply and a trigger or pulse to rotate

 

From what I can see it needs a controller to tell it how many steps to take to an agreed point, then the same back again.
Robot servos have also been suggested so I'm looking into that too.

 

Interesting stuff and seems a sensible mod if you dont have the stat. Can you do one for the heater controls next!

 

Funny you should say that as the system would be exactly the same just with a switch on the dash.

 

You lot are missing the obvious here! Employ a small Victorian Child with teeny fingers to sit on the engine holding a thermometer and a cable.
Mark the relevant temperature range on the thermometer and tell him to pull the cable a certain amount depending on the reading.
This way you are providing an apprentiship for the yoof and keeping your engine in tip top running order! Simple.

Oh sorry forgot I wasn't Prime Minister for a day!

 

I thought the under tins were part of the cooling flow for the under side of the engine ....the ones that Paul Weeding make really good and ready available

 

I think it's a brill idea and set up . i think the extra money you would have to pay for a smoother transition as you say , i don't think would be an issue , certainly not me , it's easy accessed all in the one place , keep it up . I was talking to a fella round my way who has a aircooled t25 , he said to me ...have a look under here ...what's this cable and wheel , i told him it was part of the thermostat cooling system , he said he thought it was the advance and retard ....they are a strange set up i said .

 

Not absolutely necessary unless idling for a looong time and before the 'experts' start I've done 1000's of miles all over Europe without either tins or a thermostat so your "wouldn't have them if they weren't needed" argument holds no water here.
@Paul Weeding's ones are excellent but 'readily available' would stand on dodgy ground under the Trade Description's Act. I've been waiting close on a year now.

 

radio controlled car servos could be usefull here & probably relatively cheap mr Banana (dont know your name sorry) but again id have to look into the control and trigger for the movement action. this is stimulating my little brain...

Jordan

 

My thoughts precisely, I'm looking at them now. The trigger bit is taken care of, I have 12V -0V switch. Most RC's run at 7.2V but 12v is available.

 

i like the idea ....i know very little about solenoids ,would you not have to have a 100% rated one for the 20 minutes that its energised as it would get rather hot ? you can also get rotary solenoids !

 

Indeed, that is the case, hence my movement towards RC servos or linear actuators.
I'm now leaning towards linear actuators that will 'operate' in both directions and then 'lock' in position, thus removing the need for the spring, a tell tale on the dash with a manual overide shouldn't be too difficult either, just for peace of mind.

 

there are screw thread transducer gadgetry available too. servo or steppers can remain in one postion unergised.

20 mins having solenoid energised is peanuts lads, they are rated for constant load. we have contactors and relays constantly energised in work 24/7, yeas they get warm but are designed to handle it. i dont find it takes 20 mins for my engine to warm up anyhow more like 10

 

Interesting. The other issue I've found with 100% load solenoids is travel length and the fact that the power reduces exponentially as the plunger leaves the coil. Do you have supplier details for 12v push solenoids?

 

not off top my head, id look in rs online or farnell for the moment. i personally think your original idea tweaked slightly and more discreetly placed is pretty solid. servo off rc car or similar be good idea. im off out now so il have a gander later and get back to you

 

RS don't have any suitable, I shall look at Farnell.

 

Ordered another alternative, testing tomorrow night.

 

Game on ....

 

@Top Banana Racing I have one set of undertins that I made the other day (Sunday I think... one of those weeks)

Just got to cut them out and I can get them ready for posting... you do want another set tho... so they might take a little longer