little wonder 200 water maker - help troubleshooting

[a64pilot]

I'll bet you had a stuck valve is all, but a preventive re-build may not be a bad idea, when your able
I think you could actually use maple syrup and duct tape, but if you can put up with a wiggling needle, you may not need anything. I don't know where you are but if there are drugstores there, I bet a four ounce bottle of glycerine is cheap. The plug is just a little rubber plug with a lip on it isn't it?
Note, I am NOT a watermaker service guy or expert

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by RickyEM

I wonder what I can fill the gauge with until I find glycerin. Water? Oil? Rum? Maple syrup? I don't have many choices at the moment.

The technical reason for the fluid filled gauge is to dampen the pressure pulsations of the needle indicator. This isn’t as important in the modern water maker designs where pulsation is attempted to me minimized for the sake of the RO Membranes. You can operate the gauge without liquid and if you want to fill it make sure to not use a water based liquid. Stick to an oil based or you will get a cloudy white milky solution from mixing water and oil.

[RickyEM]

Thanks, this is just what I needed to know.

[a64pilot]

I believe glycerine is water soluble http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol So if it had glycerine in it maybe you don't want to use a non water soluble oil?
Not real important whatever you use, you can rinse it out later.