blasted fuel gauge

[healeyboz]

Still having fuel gauge issues. Sent the gauge off to Nisonger to have reconed. Worked great out of the tank. Hooked everything up and read empty...great. Fill about 4 gals. and it read about half a tank....great. Started to adjust carbs and when I came back around the car it read full.....???!!! Went back up in front of the car and came back around.....empty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the heck!!

 

[bugimike]

Sounds like a wiring issue! Check all grounds and connections!

 

[blkcorvair]

does sound like wiring. May have leads reversed and it can give a similar effect. Also be sure volt stabilizer working to gauge.

 

[Bugeye58]

No voltage stabilizer on a Bugeye.
Jeff

 

[healeyboz]

Why would everything work just fine, including moving the sending unit up and down to test and just all of a sudden stopr working? Nothing was changed wiring is hooked up properly.

 

[jlaird]

Bad ground, it grounds through the tank to the body, just screw and bolts.

 

[healeyboz]

How would one fix that issue? I thought about running a wire from the mounting bolts of the sending unit, but forgot and now the tank is in place. Why wouldn't the tank be grounded if it is mounted with all of those bolts?

 

[jlaird]

It is some of the time, also the screws that hold the sinder in are part of the ground. Try cleaning up a good ground between the tank and the body and see if that helps.

 

[healeyboz]

I can do that. Hopefully that works and I don't have to pull the tank again.

 

[jlaird]

Me too, hate pulling tank but a lot better than pulling engine.

 

[healeyboz]

I hear ya Jack. Did that finally last weekend liek we had been talking. Resealed the front tranny cover. The motor hasn't ran since Aug. but no leaks so far. There was a little "gunk" under the cover where it looks as if it leaked and collected some dust. The backplate on the motor was still clean. I ran it for a bit today and all looks well. I put one of Jeff's drip pans under her for the oil refill and running. I guess I won't really know if the tranny is leaking until it gets driven...right?

 

[jlaird]

I would expect that the tranny would only leak when running as the oil level does not come up to the shaft at rest.

 

[healeyboz]

Running as in driving... correct?

 

[jlaird]

Aye, as in driveing or engine running when parked. When engine is running lots of splashing going on in there.

 

[DrEntropy]

Yup. Running in place, the trans first motion shaft is spinning the layshaft. That stirs up a lot of oil.

 

[healeyboz]

Good deal. I have started the motor to let her get up to temp. I did not check yesterday, will do tonight. 1.35 + a splash quarts in the tranny.

 

[jlaird]

LOL Doc. Yep your explenation is right on but I like the


"There's a lot of splashing going on in there".


Just seems like more fun this morning.

 

[dklawson]

Back on the gauge subject....

In addition to requiring a good ground at the sending unit, the non-stabilized system requires that the gauge itself have a good ground connection. If in doubt, run a dedicated ground wire from the fuel gauge to a good earthing point behind the dash. It really does matter.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Barry,

Are you going Positive or Negative Ground. Don't know if it makes a difference but something to consider. Gauge I think works either way but again a good ground is important.

 

[jlaird]

Pos or neg ground makes no difference Jim. But you are correct great ground is needed.