Fuel gauge sending unit
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,484
Likes: 7
From: New Egypt, New Jersey
Fuel gauge sending unit
Hello,
I just replaced the sending unit in my '79 F-150 rear tank with one from a salvage yard. I removed the replacement unit carefully myself from the donor tank. My question is:
Are these units factory set to the correct level, or do I have to make some adjustments by turning the unit or bending the arm?
I checked the unit before I installed it and it worked o.k. I also did a search here on this, but couldn't find the answer. I'd really hate to find out that my gauge is "off" by running out of gas. Thanks in advance for any help.
I just replaced the sending unit in my '79 F-150 rear tank with one from a salvage yard. I removed the replacement unit carefully myself from the donor tank. My question is:
Are these units factory set to the correct level, or do I have to make some adjustments by turning the unit or bending the arm?
I checked the unit before I installed it and it worked o.k. I also did a search here on this, but couldn't find the answer. I'd really hate to find out that my gauge is "off" by running out of gas. Thanks in advance for any help.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Fuel gauge sending unit
Did you not test it out of the tank?
Hook it up to the wiring ,with a ground strap to the truck and slide the arm one way to end of travel, check the reading on the gauge,then the other way to the end of travel and check the reading on the gauge.
Dennis https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=1733&.jpg
[i][font color=red]Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font][i]
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=3140&.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/user/mil1ion
[font color=green] Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]
[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon [/font]
Hook it up to the wiring ,with a ground strap to the truck and slide the arm one way to end of travel, check the reading on the gauge,then the other way to the end of travel and check the reading on the gauge.
Dennis https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=1733&.jpg
[i][font color=red]Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font][i]
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=3140&.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/user/mil1ion
[font color=green] Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]
[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon [/font]
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,484
Likes: 7
From: New Egypt, New Jersey
Fuel gauge sending unit
Hi Dennis,
Thank you for the quick reply! I did do a test on the unit outside of the tank first. It worked fine. The gauge read at past full when the float was raised, and below empty when bottomed out.
I just wasn't sure if the float would be automatically in the correct position. Wouldn't that change your gauge reading?
I guess my line of thinking was that even if the unit is in good working order, I could get a false reading if the float was not in the correct position. I'm not even sure if what I'm saying makes any sense. Thanks again.
Thank you for the quick reply! I did do a test on the unit outside of the tank first. It worked fine. The gauge read at past full when the float was raised, and below empty when bottomed out.
I just wasn't sure if the float would be automatically in the correct position. Wouldn't that change your gauge reading?
I guess my line of thinking was that even if the unit is in good working order, I could get a false reading if the float was not in the correct position. I'm not even sure if what I'm saying makes any sense. Thanks again.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Fuel gauge sending unit
I would say that they are all calibrated the same.
If the float got a hole in it and filled up with fuel,that would cause a problem.
Did you try a reading for halfway in the travel of the float arm?
Dennis https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=1733&.jpg
[i][font color=red]Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font][i]
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=3140&.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/user/mil1ion
[font color=green] Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]
[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon [/font]
If the float got a hole in it and filled up with fuel,that would cause a problem.
Did you try a reading for halfway in the travel of the float arm?
Dennis https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=1733&.jpg
[i][font color=red]Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font][i]
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=3140&.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/user/mil1ion
[font color=green] Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]
[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon [/font]
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, WI USA
Fuel gauge sending unit
This may be a crude method, but I've done it on my 78 f150. I had the bed off and the filler hose removed and used a bent hanger to push the float to the bottom. I had someone else watch the gage to make sure it was proportional. Not very scientific, but it worked.
K.
K.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,484
Likes: 7
From: New Egypt, New Jersey
Fuel gauge sending unit
Thanks,
The float itself is in very good shape (no holes). I guess if these units are all calibrated the same, I should be alright. That's pretty much the answer I was looking for. It's really good to know that bent hanger trick if I do run into a problem. Thanks again for all your help.
The float itself is in very good shape (no holes). I guess if these units are all calibrated the same, I should be alright. That's pretty much the answer I was looking for. It's really good to know that bent hanger trick if I do run into a problem. Thanks again for all your help.
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