Thermostat Installation - Help Please!

[Jim Ed]

When I thread the thermostat onto the downrod, do I thread it on until it is completely tight or, is it better if it is a little loose so the thermostat can rotate a little as it moves up and down and will not bind? If it binds it might harm the thermostat and eventually cause it to break?
Will it hurt anything if the thermostat is not completely tightened onto the downrod coming from the flaps? Could it wear out the threads?
Any help is appreciated! Tia!

[david58]

Read this it's a good read.
http://www.ratwell.com/technical/Thermo ... ml#repairs

[Bruce2]

Jim, just screw the t'stat on until the threads are snug. Then turn it until the bottom part lines up with the bracket's slotted hole. That's all you need to do. Don't worry about the threads of the rod, or t'stat wearing out. It never happens.

[Bruce2]

Read this it's a good read.
http://www.ratwell.com/technical/Thermo ... ml#repairs

This is a bad link. If you follow his advice testing your t'stat, you have a high probability of destroying a perfectly good t'stat.

[crvc]

It makes no sense to screw the thermostat in partially, just as there's no reason to risk damaging it by white-knuckle tightening. I hand-tightened it on my bug. There is a small adjustment in the bracket that fits around the thermostat. I pushed it up for winter and will pull it down once it's summer. I could have that backwards....

kevin

[Piledriver]

Read this it's a good read.
http://www.ratwell.com/technical/Thermo ... ml#repairs

This is a bad link. If you follow his advice testing your t'stat, you have a high probability of destroying a perfectly good t'stat.

Yes, it must be tested installed in its bracket, as that provides a hard stop for expansion.
(and that's assuming the bracket (not bolted to the engine) is stiff enough to stop it)

The only thing that test is useful for is looking for leaks, and again, it MUST be in it's bracket or it is likely to over extend and be ruined.

There really isn't much point not testing it in the vehicle, if it compresses fully when cool as it should and has some liquid in it, the probability of it NOT working when installed properly is ~zero.

Note:If you don't have the bottom tin etc you WILL almost certainly overheat your engine with a tstat installed.
End tins too if you are running J tubes.

[Bruce2]

I pushed it up for winter and will pull it down once it's summer.

There's only one adjustment, summer and winter.

[Jim Ed]

It makes no sense to screw the thermostat in partially, just as there's no reason to risk damaging it by white-knuckle tightening. I hand-tightened it on my bug.
kevin

I asked that in reference to installing the new style Mexican thermostat. It has a little protrusion on the bottom of it that fits into a hole in the new style bracket.
If I tighten the new style thermostat all the way on the downrod, the little protrusion might not line up with that hole.
The only solution is to back it off a bit.

[2000glxstick]

I've always believed the correct way to install the thermostat is to thread it all the way on and then back it off only enough to align with the bracket/protrusion in agreement with Bruce2.