The Ford Barn

JimG · 11-10-2018, 10:07 AM

I redid my hydrostatic fuel gauge last year. No new parts - just reused what was there. I took it all apart. The steel enclosure for the gauge was a little rusty near the top of the glass tube, so I soaked it rust 911 for a week and then thoroughly cleaned and dried it and then painted it with rustoleum. I cleaned the glass tube with a Q Tip with most of the cotton pulled off. I also painted the little piece of cardboard that was inside the gauge white, as it was pretty yellowed from age and also stained with red liquid. I used red gauge fluid from classic and exotic. Some people on the barn said to put the red liquid up to the lowest level on the gauge. I used a syringe to put the liquid in after I installed the gauge. This allowed me to remove some liquid after I overfilled it by accident - hard to put the liquid in under the dash and see the level at the same time. I ended up with the level at about the 1/4 mark. I figured this was good as I have read that the liquid does evaporate over time. I cleaned up the end of copper tube good and soaked it in CLR overnight. I them attached the copper tube to the gauge using Teflon tape on the threads. The gauge never goes all the way to full. It tops out at about 3/4 to 5/8. I have learned to just live with it that way. Others I have communicated with on the barn have the same situation. I am satisfied with it.

11-10-2018, 10:07 AM	#16
JimG Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Hamburg, NY Posts: 285	Re: Hydrostatic fuel gauge innaccurate I redid my hydrostatic fuel gauge last year. No new parts - just reused what was there. I took it all apart. The steel enclosure for the gauge was a little rusty near the top of the glass tube, so I soaked it rust 911 for a week and then thoroughly cleaned and dried it and then painted it with rustoleum. I cleaned the glass tube with a Q Tip with most of the cotton pulled off. I also painted the little piece of cardboard that was inside the gauge white, as it was pretty yellowed from age and also stained with red liquid. I used red gauge fluid from classic and exotic. Some people on the barn said to put the red liquid up to the lowest level on the gauge. I used a syringe to put the liquid in after I installed the gauge. This allowed me to remove some liquid after I overfilled it by accident - hard to put the liquid in under the dash and see the level at the same time. I ended up with the level at about the 1/4 mark. I figured this was good as I have read that the liquid does evaporate over time. I cleaned up the end of copper tube good and soaked it in CLR overnight. I them attached the copper tube to the gauge using Teflon tape on the threads. The gauge never goes all the way to full. It tops out at about 3/4 to 5/8. I have learned to just live with it that way. Others I have communicated with on the barn have the same situation. I am satisfied with it.