I have a 1950 F1 6 cyl with the original 6 volt system. I am currently having a problem with my gages. I am trying to determine if it is the sending unit or the gage itself. The fuel gage will only read 1/8, temp starts out at 3/4 and goes up from there. What i want to do is test the sending units to eleiminate that side of the problem. How do I attach a volt meter to measure the output.

This vehicle is a total frame off restoration with new sending units and rebuilt gages. My suspicion is the gages are faulty and I want to determine where the problem is before I go back to the company the rebuilt the gage cluster. Any help would be appreciated.

 

You can't directly measure the sender outputs, these aren't simple variable resistance pieces. They are actually pretty complex. But both the senders and gauges are adjustable. Since your gauges are rebuilt, I'd suspect the gauges. (On the other hand, if the new senders are imports, ...)

Here's how the oil pressure sender looks inside, the temp sender and both the gauges are very similar. Also a Ford bulletin that explains how the temp sender works.

Both the oil sender and the temp/oil gauge units has adjuster wheels inside. You can't take the temp sender apart, but taking the can off the oil sender is possible.

The fuel sender is much simpler, cleaning with solvent may fix that, and the gauge may be adjustable, I can't say.

On the '51-'52 gauge pods there are holes covered with tape on the back of the gauge pod to access the adjustment cams.