Fred Hanks
Member
Jus installed new gas tank & gauge and 3+ - gallons gas and have no movement on gauge , how does one test the gauge ? this is a '49 F-1 6volt sys.
gas gauge
- Thread starter Fred Hanks
- Start date
Old Henry
Well-known member
Like G.M. said, My gauge reads empty when I've still got 3 gallons in it . . . until the other day when I ran out of gas before the gauge even got to E.
The way to test and adjust the sender is with it out of the tank. You measure the depth of the tank to get the maximum distance the float can travel. Then, with the gauge out of the tank but hooked up to the gauge wire and ground, you move the float through its maximum range while watching the gauge. Be sure that the bottom limit that you move the float to is no further from the sender than the maximum distance it can move. Otherwise, you'll get a false reading, i.e. the float may have the ability to move further down than the bottom of the tank. If the gauge only reads empty way down there you'll run out of gas. The main accuracy to be concerned about, of course, is that the gauge reads empty well before the float gets to the bottom of the range just so you have a little "reserve." To adjust the sender some have the provision to slide the float bar one way or another to adjust it or you can just bend the float rod until you get the gauge to read the way you want.
Roger/Sacramento
Senior Member
I have a '41 pickup with an original tank and gauge. The tank was treated with a por 15 kit and a Drake sending unit was installed per the directions. it registers accurate. I only put a couple of gallons in the first time and the gauge did not register because the float was stuck on the bottom. I filled the tank and the float broke loose and has been fine ever since.
Fred Hanks
Member
How do I check to see if the gas gauge is ok???
Old Henry
Well-known member
You can ground the sender side of the gauge just momentarily and see if it goes to full. If so it's good but don't leave grounded too long or it could burn it out.