1932 ford fuel gauge dissaembly

jim1932

jim1932

Well-known member
I obtained a repair kit for my gauge but need to take the nut off where the pipe comes in from the gas tank. Gentle turning did not work and I am afraid I will snap it off. The gauge is out of the car as the pipe corroded through just above the nut... Can this be heated with out breaking something? The nut and the part it screws onto do not show any corrosion.
 
Use two wrenches, one on the nut and the other on the hex tube that the nut is attached to. That way you won't break anything. I would worry about using heat as it might compromise the connection between the glass tube and the fine tubing it is attached to.
 
DavidG said:
Use two wrenches, one on the nut and the other on the hex tube that the nut is attached to. That way you won't break anything. I would worry about using heat as it might compromise the connection between the glass tube and the fine tubing it is attached to.
Click to expand...

I'm using two wrenches. How brittle is this stuff?
 
Suggest you carefully file the side of the nut if difficult to turn.
This way you can split the nut and keep the thread at top of gauge intact.
As repair kit comes with 2 nuts ,tube etc.
Have just done similar on 34 Fuel gauge with success.
Phil
NZ
 
Jim,

I've never had one shear (12-15 tries), but there's always a first time. Phil's advice would work if you have the replacement nut.
 
my kit did not come with a nut. I will try getting some pblaster in the top where the corroded off tube is an try a little harder...
 
If you have a repair kit for the gauge and the line is broken, what do you care just turn the nut until it brakes off or the top of the hex tube brakes or the nut unscrews. You should have another hex tube in the repair kit and the replacement line should have the nut.
 
Guess maybe I got the smaller kit. Has the class tube with small copper tube, but not the hex tube or nut. I will try to get ti apart today. Sounds like pieces are available if it gets messed up.
 
OK... I am a wimp... it came off OK. I just had visions of it snapping off like a stuck brass part in a Zenith Carb.
 
I do not remember what came with a kit but my experience has been to salvage the original ferrels which are cone shaped instead of round. They were saved by working a drill bit thru them. Those original ferrels are the only ones that seem to seal properly.
 
OK so at this point I need to get the tube out and save the ferrel (the part the arrow is pointing to? Would carb cleaner or goof off dissolve the old corrosion?
 

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The answer to your question is yes. Just grab the broken off part of the old line above the ferrule with pliers and work it back and forth; it will come loose as a result.
 
Damn that was hard. Got it out. Trick was to run a wire down it. Frankly I pulled and wiggled eight ways to Sunday to no effect. Ran a wire down it thinking I could collapse the tube. Damn thing just about fell out once the wire passed the ferrule.

Ideas for best solvent to get the crud out of the rest? Will vinegar work?
 
I have used acetone to clean the glass tube and line.I've heard that brake cleaner will work but never tried it.It (line) must be totally cleaned so that the acetone -poured in from the fitting in back appears in the glass tube.Then the gauge will work.In cleaning the glass I wrap thin cloth around a thin wire and scrub the inside.I have probably repaired 25-30 of these fuel gauges.
 
Jim, There will be a film on the inside of the glass tube.I tried soaking but its not enough to get the glass clean.The wire with the cloth is only for cleaning of the glass tube.Q tips might work but I think to thick.
 
Jim,

I use metal prep (phosphoric acid) to clean both the brass tube and the glass (in the latter case with a pipe cleaner). You may find that you have to let the acid sit in the hexagon shaped brass tube for a couple of days for it free up that tube and the thin tubing between it and the glass tube. You will likely find one or more copper calibrating rods in the hex tube. Your cleaning job will go quicker if you remove them early on.
 
Is this the measuring thing you are talking about? How the heck do you get it out.

This is definitely one of those patience right of passage deals.
 

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