New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

OH, the humanity of it all. Quality is just not what it used to be.

The entire float arm fell off, in the tank, of my new replacement gas gauge.
( I'm now rebuilding the original. )

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

I bet the repro gas gauge was made by Vintique. Why, oh why are many (most) repro made so poorly. Maybe we should be grateful that there are so many repro parts made for the model A, but it would be great if they made them a little better.
Rusty Nelson

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

Yes, it was Vintique.

And it really ruined a great afternoon as it happened as I took the A out for it's first drive.

I was just getting to the point of relaxing a little (you know...worrying about all the parts and did I put them in right and tighten them right and are all the cotter pins in, etc.) and I start hearing this tappy-clunking from in front of me. (tank only had 4 gallons in it for this test run).

I pull over because I think I've got something going wrong with the engine...and the sound stops. If I hadn't, by pure chance, notice that there were no numbers in the window of the gas gauge I wonder if I would still be digging around under the hood.

So, it's back in the garage with tape over the hole while I rebuild the old one and get a refund on this POS. (it looks like the end of the arm is threaded but the indicator doesn't seem to have matching threads.)

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

But WHAT caused it to fall off? Was it abused/damaged/etc. Maybe it can be easily repaired, they're a simple gizmo! If is new, they should replace it!
By the way, I got a new locking door & rumble handle from Snyder's, made by VINTIQUE, & by damn, they look like quality & work beautifully-----They even got KEYS! Bill W.

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

But your keys fit a Toyota!!:eek:

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

And where are Totota's made?

Pluck

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

Made and assembled are TWO differnt things!;)

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

Whoa! Wait a second on the Toyota bashing...
I just bought a Tacoma 4X4 double cab to have enough grunt to tow my 29 CCPU!:eek:
Everyone here told me my RAV4 wouldn't cut it...:(
(Just kidding about the Toyota Bashing...:D)
P.S. Most Camrys are built in Georgetown, Ky. and most Tundras come from Texas!

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

A wise man once said when you manufacture something you have three related measures of optimal unit outcome quantity, quality and cost . Unfortunately you only get two of the three Most parts suppliers opt for quantity and cost at the expense of quality. Sad fact is the number of people that are prepared to pay for quality is a lot less than the people who desire quality. -Karl

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

I think you just learned another of the important lessons about Model A's. If it original rebuild it because most of the repo stuff is ill fitting junk.

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

yes, it was horribly abused by being put in a tank of gas and forced to slosh around with the gas while I drove down the road.
the total amount of time it spent in gas until it broke was less than 30 minutes.

I am going to see if I can return it since I have repaired the original with a new floqt and hand cut gaskets. if now, I'll get a replacement and throw it on the shelf.

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

haha I just got a scene from some movie where a guy is yelling "OH THE HUMANITY" stuck in my head haha. I can see a fordbarner yelling up at the sky:D...

Only thing i can suggest is drive it till the fuel gets low then fish it out the fuel gauge hole with one of those spring loaded claw thingys they sell for like $2

Are you sure the new ones are threaded and not just ribbed for a press fit into the gauge read head? I would be tempted to JB weld the rod back in the hole....

Or if your origonal is good enough to rebuild id do that too.

Go for a good original
 

If you can't get your gas-gauge fixed - try Bert's in Colorado. Might as well be specific - Bert's has skads of all the various styles and types from the various years - all original. I would however, replace any cork floats with the new replacement "Won't Sink" (space-age 'plastic') floats available at the better Parts Houses.

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

Yo, MrWzrd, I hope you didn't think I meant YOU abused it.
I once had a perfect looking cutout, with a riveted on cover, that always stayed closed. When I opened it, the moveable arm was badly bent out of shape, as if someone dropped it or stepped on it just before the cover was riveted on!
Watch out, in the past, some repro gas guages had a PLASTIC lens, that would melt & turn brown from the gas. I had 2 of them, they were O.K. after putting in a REAL glass lens. Bill W.

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

I can't believe nobody has blamed Ethanol for the failure yet.

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

That's great ,,,,A Barner with a good sense of humor !

Thx, W

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

I have two of these repro gas gauges in a box under the workbench. Both have broken arms, neither has been installed. The problem is that wire arm is "threaded" so it can be screwed into the gauge. When the threads are cut it reduces the size of the arm making them very fragile. I have repaired another of these broken repro gauges by drilling out the end of the broken arm where it was screwed into the back of the gauge and JB Welding the arm back to the gauge.

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

I replaced the original gauge because the gaskets were leaking and the cork didn't float any more. Being a simple device I figured the repro would be just as good. (not!)

I went back out to the barn last night and spent a couple of hours with the original gauge.

The original is all cleaned up and now has nitrile gaskets on both the glass and the tank and a custom brass float that resembles the cork float.

Even took the extra time to calibrate F-E before final install and filled tank to top.

As of this morning...not even a hint of aroma of gas, much less a trace of a leak. (I do love simplicity.)

As for the "new" gauge. Like I said. Either a return as defective or a replacement and I'll throw it on the shelf or take it to a swap meet.

Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank
 

I always laugh at ethanol comments. Ethenol has been used in gasoline since the 1900's and upwards of 25% by volume. (Standard Oil in the 1920's) It has never been a problem until marketers of new products created a problem to scare the public into change.

It wasn't a problem then and it isn't a problem now.