6 volt gauges
- Thread starter train2
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Barry-ct
Well-known member
The 48-50 series has the wire thru the loop on the gauge. If I could get to my stuff ( broken hip ) I'd take a look and see if I had any good used ones. If you check Ebay, NOS ones pop up from time to time. That's where I got all 4 NOS gauges for my cluster. Some of the parts dealers around the country might have them also.
Drbrown
Well-known member
I see them frequently, NOS and used, on eBay and in the HAMM, Ford V8 and Barn classifieds. There's a number of them over at the HAMM site now. Much cheaper than rebuilding.
I don't know why your's would not work. Got a used one if you want it, or take my set of four. I believe the back ground color/pattern is the same for 1947 and 1948. Option .... take a different 1940's gauge and swap the dial back ground panel to match your set.
I don't know why your's would not work. Got a used one if you want it, or take my set of four. I believe the back ground color/pattern is the same for 1947 and 1948. Option .... take a different 1940's gauge and swap the dial back ground panel to match your set.
Barry-ct
Well-known member
Remember, the originals were white, and your originals have probably yellowed over time. Take the cluster out and remove the ammeter. Take some household cleaner like Fantastik or 409 and clean it. It will whiten up some. They are an off white originally, not bright white. All the 48-50 gauges were the same color. If those gauges on Ebay are NOS Ford, then they sure have gone up more than double since I bought mine. I paid maybe $20 each, plus shipping. I can go downstairs now, so I will look and see what I have. If I have any, you can have them, just pay me for the postage. I wil post again on what I find.
rotorwrench
Well-known member
They are an induction type meter. There has to be current flow through the main buss wire that goes through the loop on back. No current flow, no meter movement. If the buss wire goes through the wrong way, it will indicate in reverse of normal indication. make sure no one has wired around it in the past. A lot of things can happen in 60+ years.
rotorwrench
Well-known member
The loop side has to be placed around a wire that has DC current flowing through it. Those meters can show charge or discharge if the meter is turned around end for end. A simple circuit could be set up with a 6-volt battery and a 6-volt heater blower motor or some other high amp draw as a load using test clip leads if you have some. Twisted wires if you don't. Keep things well insulated. Even a 6-volt battery will burn a wire & make a bunch of sparks if it shorts out somewhere. The induction meters will respond to 12-volt circuits too but you don't want to overload the thing.
JSeery
Member Emeritus
It would be much easier to test in the car than on a bench. To work properly all of the current to and from the battery must pass through the ammeter loop. If there is a question just run a wire from the battery side of the starter solenoid through the loop on the ammeter to the battery side of the fuse panel. Need to temporally disconnect the original wire from the starter solenoid to the circuit breaker panel.
Start at the battery. The circuit you are interested in is the heavy wire labeled Yellow leaving the starter solenoid. It goes up through the ammeter and then to the center of the circuit breakers.
Start at the battery. The circuit you are interested in is the heavy wire labeled Yellow leaving the starter solenoid. It goes up through the ammeter and then to the center of the circuit breakers.
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JSeery
Member Emeritus
Wiring diagrams have very little to nothing to do with the actual arrangement of the parts and wiring on the vehicle. It just shows you the connections.
The wire that connects to the same side of the starter solenoid as the battery cable goes directly to the ammeter loop, through the loop and then to the terminal between the circuit breakers. One piece of wire with no other connections between these two points.
A second type of diagram is used to show parts/wiring locations, but they are a little hard to read because of their size.
The second two photos are of a 1947 car dash, but should give you some idea of how the Yellow wire loops through the ammeter and connects to the circuit breaker panel.
The wire that connects to the same side of the starter solenoid as the battery cable goes directly to the ammeter loop, through the loop and then to the terminal between the circuit breakers. One piece of wire with no other connections between these two points.
A second type of diagram is used to show parts/wiring locations, but they are a little hard to read because of their size.
The second two photos are of a 1947 car dash, but should give you some idea of how the Yellow wire loops through the ammeter and connects to the circuit breaker panel.
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