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06-16-2022, 04:53 PM | #1 |
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Gas gauge float and what is it?
I cut off the shriveled cork float, but am stymied about installing the replacement. The plastic float is the correct length and the hole is the correct diameter for the wire, but how do I deal with the little brass washer and the swedged end of the wire ? I could cut off the swedge, slide on the float then the washer and re-swedge the wire, but the wire isn't long enough to accommodate that solution. Recommendations?
What is the part in photo #3? It has been floating around the bottom of my parts box for a year, and I assumed it was the starter pedal, but it's not. |
06-16-2022, 04:57 PM | #2 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
Photo #3 is a foot rest, which mounts next to the gas pedal.
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06-16-2022, 05:10 PM | #3 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
You could trim the float a bit to provide more room to reswedge the wire or flatten the existing swedge to allow the washer to go on and then flatten it again.
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06-16-2022, 05:16 PM | #4 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
I cut a groove from the center to the outside just wide enough for the wire to fit in and deep enough allow swedging.
The part is screwed into a base mounted on the floorboard as indicated by post #2.
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06-16-2022, 05:36 PM | #5 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
A lot of people either braze or weld the washer on rather than swedge it.
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06-16-2022, 05:44 PM | #6 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
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06-16-2022, 06:16 PM | #7 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
Grind the wire smooth, use a push nut to Secure the float
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06-16-2022, 08:10 PM | #8 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
Wired mine on with stainless steel aircraft safety wire.
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06-16-2022, 09:02 PM | #9 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
I drilled a shallow hole large enough to have room to squeeze the wire.
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06-16-2022, 09:59 PM | #10 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
Just did one last week, 4-40 die and run threads about 3/8 of an inch on the wire, add nut and upset or flatten threads
I was worried about the weight of the nut but it doesn't seem to be enough to affect the float |
06-17-2022, 07:11 AM | #11 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
I crimped the flats of mine it the vise just enough to get the washer off. when I put the new float on I crimped it flat in the vise again. My train of thought is that I'm not actually removing any material. Once the material is gone, its gone. I was done in minutes and the float is still holding strong for the last year.
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06-17-2022, 07:55 AM | #12 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
I used vise grips a couple of years ago and a few months later while driving I heard a thump and the gauge bottomed out. I never was able to retrieve the float so I put on a new one and used the vise this time. So far so good even though I think some of the wire has been lost over the years with repairs...
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06-17-2022, 08:13 AM | #13 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
so many good ways...
i used some sandpaper to clean the wire, put it in some flux and put a bit of solder on the washer+wire. i don't expect this to come off anytime... Another question surrounding this: i used a bit of Hylomar blue on the cork gaskets, was that a good idea? |
06-17-2022, 08:49 AM | #14 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
You could also silver solder a washer on. Less heat than weld or braise.
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06-17-2022, 09:53 AM | #15 | |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
Quote:
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06-17-2022, 05:12 PM | #16 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
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06-17-2022, 07:03 PM | #17 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
As long as we are all telling how we replaced the cork float with a neoprene float, I will tell on myself and I'm not proud. A few years ago when I did mine and I ran into all the same problems as mentioned, I straightened the wire just enough to get the float on and straightened it back out. I bent the end up enough to keep the float from coming off. It's been working fine since. The gas guage shows slightly less than what is actually there but that's okay. Better to have more than less. Maybe next time I will try a brass float or just replace everything from the guage to the float.
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06-17-2022, 08:18 PM | #18 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
Last edited by BillLee/Chandler, TX; 06-19-2022 at 07:26 AM. |
06-18-2022, 08:56 AM | #19 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
Solder it with a gun, no flame
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06-18-2022, 09:34 AM | #20 |
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Re: Gas gauge float and what is it?
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