Bad gauges

[Biz]

I had several gauges on sap lines go bad this year. Different brands and failed in different ways. One dial pointer is on the reverse side of the zero stop. One is maxed out at 30. Wondered why I had great vacuum all season... Another does nothing when vacuum applied. Thinking they could have gotten moisture or sap inside and froze, or maybe they just break in cold temps. They were outside. Any thoughts? All were from eBay, worked at first, cost about $6-7 apiece.
Dave16406

[JoeJ]

I covered all of my outside vacuum gauges with a heavy mil plastic bag and tie the bottom off. This keeps the moisture out and the gauges will last a long time.

Joe

[Super Sapper]

I had several that had vac. leaks this year that were fine last year. It was not the fittings as I even taped them to try to stop it but I still had slow leaks.

[mspina14]

I had 3 of my 6 new vacuum gauges go bad this season.

16409

Two just read 30+ inches of Hg and wouldn't move. One I could hear the vacuum leak in the gauge.

Seems like they all failed right after a hard freeze. I didn't have them covered before they broke. But I covered the rest with plastic tied at the bottom with a zip tie.

Has anyone had any success using the oil filled vacuum gauges? I know they cost more, but if they last longer, might be worth it.

thanks

Mark

[SWEETER CREATIONS]

Mark we use only liquid filled , you can buy on ebay for $ 10.00 - 12.00 each

[Dale Sparrow]

I bring gauges in at night. When vacuum is turned off they suck sap into them and then freeze if left out.

[Biz]

Yup, thinking that is what happened. I wonder if it is worse with the 3/16" tubing going into gauges - the line to the gauge fills after a few on/off cycles of the pump or a few freeze/thaw cycles on gravity tubing, and doesn't drain so it might tend to suck sap up easier. 5/16" line would tend to drain better.

Dave

[mspina14]

Mark we use only liquid filled , you can buy on ebay for $ 10.00 - 12.00 each

Thank you.

I am going to try the liquid filled ones next season.

Mark

[wiam]

Where does the liquid go if a gauge fails? Is there some way it can get into the sap lines? What is the liquid? I do not know the answers to these questions. Just some things that pooped into my mind when I started looking at gauges on eBay this afternoon.