Source needed for good quality ammeter

oldbike99

oldbike99

Senior Member
After replacing two ammeters, sourced from a quality vender, I am looking for a better quality item. The needles fell off of both of them. Are everybody's the same? I would be fine with paying a higher price to obtain this necessary item.
 
Unfortunately the original wasn't much to write home about, either! Yes the needle stayed on but the entire design was based on differential magnetic induction. That made it real cheap to manufacture but has many drawbacks such as: accuracy +or-5% if your lucky when new, +or-10~20% a year later; directionally affected by the earths mag field and nearby ferrous objects; no damping, much needle bouncing while driving. Yes, that is the original.

The Model T guys are lucky, there is an excellent replacement meter with a quality D'arsonval shunt current movement that addresses all the problems: LINK If they made one for the A that would be great. I suppose you could adapt the innards to an A bezel if you have the skill.
 
MikeK said:
...The Model T guys are lucky, there is an excellent replacement meter with a quality D'arsonval shunt current movement that addresses all the problems: LINK If they made one for the A that would be great. I suppose you could adapt the innards to an A bezel if you have the skill.
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I contacted them once about the possibility of making/adapting the Model T meter to the Model A. They allowed as how that was a good idea, but had no plans to do so.

Maybe I should order one up and see just how difficult that would be to convert it to the Model A bezel.
 
You can get a good repop one from A & L Parts. They seem to have the best quality. Been buying from them for years and never had a problem with anything. They are good people and will help you out. Call early morning Eastern time and they will ship it right out. Fast shipping and no surprises on shipping charges. 860-693-0112.
 
Mike's right about the needle bounce, and that's why I use a toothpick to put a dab of Mystik JT-6 High Temp grease at each pivot. It lubricates and also dampens the needle movement. My original meter is accurate when compared to an expensive meter. Within 5% is accurate enough.
 
The problem with adapting the Model T ammeter sold by Fun Projects is that it is the larger variety for pre-1926 Model Ts. The 26-27 Model Ts used an ammeter that is essentially the same size as a Model A ammeter, whereas the earlier T ammeter is much, much larger. So it won't fit in your instrument panel in your A.
 
If you ever come across the old 6 volt wind chargers, they have a small control panel with an ammeter and cutout. The ammeter is the same as the Model A.

I never found a reason to charge the wind, so I never bought one.:D:p
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
If you ever come across the old 6 volt wind chargers, they have a small control panel with an ammeter and cutout. The ammeter is the same as the Model A.

I never found a reason to charge the wind, so I never bought one.:D:p
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"CHARGE THE WIND"!! NOW, that's FUNNY, Tom! !
I smelled Ol' Rufus "CHARGE THE WIND" once, when he FARTED 3 times, in a row:eek::eek::eek:
Bill W.
 
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