Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Crash one · Joined: 07 Mar 2014 Posts: 5

Greetings guys. First post on here so if I seem dumb, give me a break.
I am looking for a fuel gauge, however the use I wish to put it to is to build an angle of attack indicator for an aircraft. This requires the sender unit to be fitted with a wind vane instead of the float. The sender swinging arm thing only needs to move through ~ 20 degrees from "full to empty". As the aircraft nose is pulled up the vane should remain horizontal reading something other than straight & level until the thing stalls.
The problem is which type of gauge should I look for? They seem to be of two types, the slow moving thing in my Subaru takes about 10mins to reach full if I fill the tank, and then stay wherever it is when the ign is switched off. The other type moves instantly relative to the sender, which is what I need. Someone once mentioned what each type was called but I've forgot.
Just for the record, the aircraft is a classic, built France 1959 so should qualify?
Second question: what fluid can I use in Landrover master cylinders other than hygroscopic Dot 3/4 paint destroying brake fluid, because I can't taxi to the left cos it's all seized up! I was hoping TQF stuff might work but I don't want to wreck the seals finding out.
Help please.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

Hi CO,

The modern ones are all slow acting. You need one that is probably older than about mid 1950s.

Peter
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roverdriver · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:48 am Post subject:

You will find that the slow acting effect is sometimes created by behind-the-dash electronics endeavouring to iron out the fluctuations sent by a quicker acting sender. You might consider this in your hunt.

I rather agree with Peter, though, that older is more likely to give you what you are looking for.
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Crash one · Joined: 07 Mar 2014 Posts: 5

Thanks guys , there are a few vintage shows in the Spring up here, I'll have a look.

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2744 Location: South Cheshire

Crash one · Joined: 07 Mar 2014 Posts: 5

That's the bit I had forgotten, bimetallic strip. So connecting 12 volts across the gauge should instantly, or not, read full?

mid · Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 136 Location: Northampton

how about just getting a universal one like this...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-CAR-12v-universal-2-fuel-tank-sender-unit-and-gauge-/231175191199?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item35d31d7a9f

then you know it will work whereas there is always the unknown with a second hand classic gauge and you have a range of adjustment to suit your application?

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4880 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
I thought that, as well as the types described by Mike E, there are some where the swinging arm moves a contact along a variable resistance coil.
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MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2744 Location: South Cheshire

Crash one · Joined: 07 Mar 2014 Posts: 5

I should have said that. The bimetallic one I don't need. So connecting a battery across the gauge it should move instantly to full? In which case is is not a bimetal type.
Then if I move the soldered connection on the coil to shorten it it should go from empty to full with less movement of the lever arm?

goneps · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 3:22 am Post subject:

Here's a novel idea. Why not contact a supplier to the home-built aviation market and get a genuine a-of-a indicator. Might save you an awful lot of grief and messing about with parts never designed for the job.

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2744 Location: South Cheshire

There is that of course - I'm not sure whether adapting stuff is safe. I do it with the car (not so much now I'm obsessed with originality) but if that goes wrong, I just coast to the side of the road and have to fix it.

I can't tell you about moving the connections internally Crash One, I've never had them in pieces. Visually I prefer the fast-acting ones as there's something nice about the dash gauges jumping into action when I turn on the ignition.

Won't you need a gauge that reads in the centre when horizontal and can move in either direction, or is that not what 'angle of attack' is? I'm imagining it's the 'level' of the aircraft, and it might be pointing up or down.

Crash one · Joined: 07 Mar 2014 Posts: 5

An angle of attack indicator designed for light aircraft is first non existant and if it was it would cost thousands£. It has often been mentioned that it would be useful but far too expensive. It is also not life critical either.
Up/Down , no not required it is the angle wing is at relative to the wing "up".
Sorry to bother you people. It is just an idea. Pre 60s, non bimetal will do.
Thank you gents.

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2744 Location: South Cheshire

No problem, always interesting to hear what people are doing. Feel free to stick some more information in the 'aviation' section further down the forum (if you haven't already, I wrote this before I looked).