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Fuel gauge
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Tue Apr 14, 2020 10:00 pm    Post subject: Fuel gauge Reply with quote

Can someone advise me on fuel gauges please.
I recently bought a 1954 Austin A40 Devon pickup truck.
https://www.barons-auctions.com/image/3451/17415/Austin-A40-Devon-Pick-Up@2x.jpg
The fuel gauge is built into the speedo and doesn't work.
I found, on ebay a new old stock fuel gauge from a Rover 3 litre P5 which looked similar.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fuel-Gauge-for-Rover-P5-3-Litre-BF6105-02/223603216926?hash=item340fca521e:g:HUAAAOSw-LldPcID
It was only £10 so I took a chance and amazingly it fits the aperture perfectly and the screw holes line up. Both gauges have 2 terminals on the back.
I connected the wires and the needle moved slowly to just past the full mark (the tank is about 3/4 full so i quickly turned off the ignition in case I broke it).
Ive googled fuel gauges and from this I deduce that it is a "bi-metalic" type gauge.
I suspect that this car would have originally have had the "magnetic iron" type gauge where the needle wangs straight up to indicated level then drops straight back when the ignition is turned off.
So, my questions are;

1. Do the 2 different types of gauge require different sender units. I would like to use this new gauge and am happy to buy a suitable sender. The sender unit must be a side entry type.
Will this one do?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MINI-FUEL-TANK-SENDER-UNIT-FOR-VAN-CLUBMAN-ESTATE-PICK-UP-AAU8340-5F6/283619133243?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
2. I think that with a bi-metallic type gauge I will also need a "voltage stabiliser". Is this what I require?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Voltage-Stabilizer-Mini-Land-Rover-Classic-Vintage-Kit-Car-85-H-24/271623399332?hash=item3f3e0427a4:g:kL8AAOSwEK9UK~69
3. Can someone describe how it all goes together with a wiring diagram. Keep it simple please, im a bit dim with electrics.
Thank you, Mike
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norustplease



Joined: 11 Apr 2011
Posts: 779
Location: Lancashire

PostPosted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 9:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Firstly, had you established that the original gauge was at fault rather than the sender unit. Senders tend to suffer long term, floats flood or the float arms jam in the empty position if the tank is left empty for prolonged periods. The windings can fail also. Shorting out a sender by earthing the power lead should make the gauge go to full, indicating that the sender is faulty. If the gauge still doesn't move, then it is indeed, dead.
In terms of matching a new sender with the new gauge, will a Rover P5 sender fit your tank? If so, then the obvious course is simply to install, connect to the original wire and you should be in business. Have a look at Rover specialist Wadhams website, they probably have an image of one there which you can compare with your original. It may not of course be accurate, but you can get a feel for that by progressively filling the tank and noting the reading.
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1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 10:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the reply. I have tested the old gauge as you suggest and it's definitely not working. I've had a look, the rover sender unit looks completely different to the float on a lever type commonly found in minis, minors MG,s etc .
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6286
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Miken wrote:
Thanks for the reply. I have tested the old gauge as you suggest and it's definitely not working. I've had a look, the rover sender unit looks completely different to the float on a lever type commonly found in minis, minors MG,s etc .


Have you seen this?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROVER-P5B-Saloon-and-Coupe-Smiths-fuel-tank-sender-unit-NOS/184031931100?hash=item2ad9286adc:g:mtoAAOSw9tFdyUwe

Not cheap. Could it match your gauge though?
Rover club might know. The earlier Rover sender units are different (better made) but I think it should work with your gauge.
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hadn't seen that. However a bit of research has revealed that a sender needs to be matched to its gauge and also, a bi-metalic petrol gauge needs different type of sender to a moving iron type.
With this in mind, plus the fact that I don't know what I'm doing, I have sent all my components off to Speedy Cables to sort out. I'm sure it will work out cheaper than me buying various random parts and hoping that they work when put together.
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hadn't seen that. However a bit of research has revealed that a sender needs to be matched to its gauge and also, a bi-metalic petrol gauge needs different type of sender to a moving iron type.
With this in mind, plus the fact that I don't know what I'm doing, I have sent all my components off to Speedy Cables to sort out. I'm sure it will work out cheaper than me buying various random parts and hoping that they work when put together.
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Bitumen Boy



Joined: 26 Jan 2012
Posts: 1733
Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire

PostPosted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 12:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Miken wrote:
I hadn't seen that. However a bit of research has revealed that a sender needs to be matched to its gauge and also, a bi-metalic petrol gauge needs different type of sender to a moving iron type.
With this in mind, plus the fact that I don't know what I'm doing, I have sent all my components off to Speedy Cables to sort out. I'm sure it will work out cheaper than me buying various random parts and hoping that they work when put together.


Let us know how you get on. I have a longstanding issue with a non functioning fuel gauge, I know it's down to mismatched components but fitting the right components leads to further issues...
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Fri May 15, 2020 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bitumen Boy wrote:
Miken wrote:
I hadn't seen that. However a bit of research has revealed that a sender needs to be matched to its gauge and also, a bi-metalic petrol gauge needs different type of sender to a moving iron type.
With this in mind, plus the fact that I don't know what I'm doing, I have sent all my components off to Speedy Cables to sort out. I'm sure it will work out cheaper than me buying various random parts and hoping that they work when put together.


Let us know how you get on. I have a longstanding issue with a non functioning fuel gauge, I know it's down to mismatched components but fitting the right components leads to further issues...

OK, so this is how I got on.
I sent the sender and gauge off to Speedy cables. Left it a couple of weeks and rang up on Monday morning to check they had received it. They had and said someone would be in touch with a quote.
They rang back in the afternoon with the price and informed me that they were busy and it could take up to 6 weeks.
I asked them to proceed.
Thursday afternoon they rang and said it was done and asked for payment so they could dispatch.
Arrived Friday morning!!
fitted and working Friday afternoon.
I am very pleased with the work.
The scabby old sender unit looks like new and the gauge has been similarly cleaned, repaired and calibrated.
It was quite pricey some may think (£180 delivered back to my door) but so what, Like a lot of people, I havent been spending much on petrol these last few weeks so who cares.
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