this is the guts of a fuel gauge out of my 54 F100. Has anyone attempted a DYI repair? the wire that is wrapped around the bi-metal element is fried. I've no idea what the resistance of the original is. The insulation looks like some kind of fiber but must be good for fairly high temp. There are about 45 windings and it doubles back on itself so the insulation might have broken down and it shorted out.

 

You may be able to salvage that wire and reuse it. It's pretty stable unless severely heated or corroded. if not then you may wind a new one. You'll need to figure out total resistance and then length. That will allow you to calculate Ohms per inch. Then you need to find suitable resistance wire. Places like the classified forum at www.antiqueradios.com may help with that. Then wind your own, making insulation where needed and none where not wanted. It can be done but it's quite a project!
Edit! - I saw the tiny picture that my phone presents and thought sending unit. The gauge has a bi-metallic "spring" and resistance wire to heat the spring. Rugged and effective.

 

I doubt that I'll try this repair. I'm a little too heavy handed for something this delicate. I am curious if I can figure out how to fix it. Can anyone check their original and tell me what the resistance of an intact wire is? The wire in my unit is fried. this site has some excellent info. Fuel Tank Sending Unit Tech - FORDification.com

 

Dan,

It's probably the same gauge guts as your Oil Pressure gauge (it is on my 49 F1, they are interchangable). I think mine measures about 10.5 ohms.

Bruce

 

BTW that insulation is almost certainly asbestos. It shouldn't be a concern in that form but don't go sniffing it!

That's interesting that there are two adjustments; Low (Empty) and High (Full) level adjustments?

 

All I have is an idiot light for oil and battery but the temp gauge is about 10 ohms. Hmm, I wonder if it is identical to the fuel gauge?

And yes, one must presume the insulation is asbestos. Wonderful stuff if kept where it is and doing what it was intended to do.

 

das54:
I have that gauge if you need a replacement.

 

thanks Bozworth. I could buy a repop from mid-fifty too but was curious if I could fix it. Also, my sender is not working so i need to fix that before I decide what to do with the gauge.

Do you have the bat and oil pressure gauges. My truck had idiot lights.

 

FYI: 1953 had gauges, not idiot lights. 1954 (and up) F-100s and had idiot lights. The bigger trucks, not sure if it started with F250's or F350's had gauges not idiot lights.


I see NOS gauges on ebay all the time for reasonable prices...

 

Yep, as abe said, i just have the idiot lights.