Redoing my hydrostatic fuel gauge with new red liquid

[JimG]

I soldered a new ferrule on the gauge end a couple of years ago. The ferrule on the tank end looks to be soldered well. I did not purge the air line. I assume you mean 50 pumps with a bicycle pump. I don't have the V-27 pump connection part that you are supposed to use for that. I would have to come up with some way of connecting the bicycle pump to the air line. Do you have a suggestion on how to do this? The gauge seems to work and hold pressure reasonably well when it is functioning. It only went down from full to about 1/2 after sitting for a week.

[glennpm]

You could use one of the plastic or ball air filling pieces that come with a number of pumps. Push it in the end of the line, then wrap it up tightly with electrical tape.

[JimG]

I did the purge of the air line with the 50 pumps using a bicycle pump yesterday. The inflation needed I had used two openings opposite each other a small way up from the tip, so I had to cut the end off to have it fit properly on the ferrule. I secured with electrical tape. I did the pumping at tank end. I know that air was coming out at the disconnected end near the gauge, as I had my daughter do a few pumps while I was under the dash and I felt the air coming out of the line. I didn't see anything else come out of the line. I refilled the gauge until you could just see the red fluid in the bottom of the gauge and reconnected the ferrules on both ends. I went for a 25 mile test drive today, purposely picking a route over a bunch of railroad tracks so I had bumps. I know the tank is full, and by the time I got home, the gauge was reading around full. So far, so good. I won't know for sure how it reacts when I fill up until I use up more gas.

[glennpm]

Good!

[JimG]

An update on my fuel gauge. I just picked the car up today after being in storage for 6 months. The gauge was still reading near full after sitting for 6 months, so it seems that may actually have the thing finally functioning properly. The final test will be filling the tank with gas once I manage to use up the tank full I have now and see whether it blows the red fluid or not, as it has been doing in the past. I will be cautious not to fill the tank to the brim. That won't be for a while, as it is still pretty cold out right now. We had snow furies yesterday.

Do you guys who have functioning hydrostatic gauges fill your tank right up to the bottom of filler neck or fill it somewhat lower? I'm thinking maybe I have been overfilling my tank and causing the gauge to blow. Your comments would be welcomed.

[glennpm]

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Originally Posted by JimG

Do you guys who have functioning hydrostatic gauges fill your tank right up to the bottom of filler neck or fill it somewhat lower? I'm thinking maybe I have been overfilling my tank and causing the gauge to blow. Your comments would be welcomed.

Jim, I fill mine just short of the neck otherwise I get spillage.
I'd fill yours about half full and ride a bit and then see what the gauge reads. If too high, remove a little red fluid with a toothpick or cut off Q-tip. Dip it in the top and wipe it off until the level reads correctly. You probably have a bit too much fluid in there now.

Glenn

[Terry,OH]

I fill as per Glenn above. The instructions say to fill the red fluid to the empty line. The 33-34 & 35 Fords did not use a vented gas cap. A vented cap will cause a full gas tank to have fuel to leak out. The hydrostatic sender is the tank vent.

[JimG]

Well, I finally used enough gas to need to fill up. The gauge was telling me that I was between 1/4 and empty and seemed to be reading accurately. I put the pump nozzle in as far as it would go and stopped pumping when the level hit the automatic shutoff on the nozzle. It took 7.8 gallons. Gauge was showing full. When I drove a short way away from the pump, and air bubble came up and blew red fluid out of the gauge. I purposely did not fill it too full. You guys that have managed to get these hydrostatic gauges working - any idea what is going on or how to resolve this? My gauge seems to work properly and holds pressure for 6 months, but the way it is now I have to refill it every time I get gas.

[glennpm]

Huh, I was thinking about you yesterday.

The '32 tank holds 11 gallon but that would be an overfill IMHO. With 7.8 gallons your gauge should not have registered as full indicating that you had too much red fluid in it. It should have shown ~3/4 full or less. After it burped, what does the gauge show after driving it a bit more?

[JimG]

Glenn, The tank was not completely empty. Gauge showed was between 1/4 and E. I purposely filled it to a lower level than I used to do knowing the blown gauge problem in the past. Once the gauge is blown, there is no longer any red liquid in the gauge to register any level. I would have to add fluid to get it reading again.

[glennpm]

Jim, If you still have about 7-8 gallons, I'd add red fluid to about 1/4 full and take it for a ride. It should rise during the ride. Note the top level it gets too. At home add a little less than would be required to indicate ~3/4 full and go for another ride. I think you've been adding too much fluid regardless of what you are seeing with the empty stting.

Hope you have a cloth, paper towel or something else to capture the blowoff. The red fluid is very corrosive.

[deuce lover]

I have never experienced these issues you are having In all the years that I have worked on and used these gauges in my 33,34 Fords. If the gauge is clean it should function. If the air line is clear and seals at the tank and the gauge there should not be a problem.I feel that there is a problem with the sender. I would pull it and thoroughly clean it. I use a ultrasound machine with the proper solution.The NAPA carb cleaner with basket used to work but the solution now is not as strong.There could be a slight blockage from old dried fuel internally.Its not normal that there is a pressure build up in the air line.Here is a pic after I have cleaned them.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by deuce lover

I have never experienced these issues you are having In all the years that I have worked on and used these gauges in my 33,34 Fords. If the gauge is clean it should function. If the air line is clear and seals at the tank and the gauge there should not be a problem.I feel that there is a problem with the sender. I would pull it and thoroughly clean it. I use a ultrasound machine with the proper solution.The NAPA carb cleaner with basket used to work but the solution now is not as strong.There could be a slight blockage from old dried fuel internally.Its not normal that there is a pressure build up in the air line.Here is a pic after I have cleaned them.

[JimG]

I did try to clean the tank unit to the best of my ability using lacquer thinner, a wire brush some bottle brushes and wires for the thin pipes. Posts 25 and 33 show my results - not nearly as clean as yours, Sheldon but I believe all the passages were open and should have been functional. I tested with compressed air. I don't have an ultrasonic parts cleaner. Looks like they are $100-$150 or so depending on the size needed. Do you know what Liter size is needed to fit the tank Unit into it? What size do you have? What cleaning solution do you use? I really thought the tank units was as clean as it should have needed to be.

[deuce lover]

That is pricey.Here is the Napa one
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...yKO5b0c1Q49G4c

Reviews not good.


Here is the unit I used ,3Liter which I bought mainly to clean carburetors.. Got it on Amazon. Currently 66 Euros. Basket is 9" at the top and 2.5" deep which is barely large enough for the sender. Auto parts solution is 40 Euros for 5 L.
Gets pricey.Do you know someone or shop that can clean it for you?


Maybe a call to Renner's Corner for some feedback before spending more money.

[al's28/33]

JimG....thanks for all your insights and explanations to these gauges. Could your problem for the air bubble release causing red fluid to explode out of yours be the actual type of fluid you're using??

Sorry if I did not find any details of the red liquid you got back in 2017 ... but I have also read in older posts the original liquid used was very dense and therefore maybe able to withstand bubble releases from the line and not explode out of the gauge tube....?????.....

It's too bad Ford didn't switch to a dial gauge sooner, I have been using a later 1940's era gauge that does the job, not original to 1933 but at least tells me when I have 1/4 tank left.

Thanks again for your posts and sharing thoughts and ideas....

[flathead34]

JimG Thanks for posting your hydro static gas gauge rebuild. It is very helpful. we are in the process of doing our '35 gauge. Appreciate you sharing your rebuild with us guys on the barn.

[glennpm]

You mentioned earlier that you cleaned the tank unit. Did you clean the small hole in the bottom bell which releases excess air pressure? I know that you verified that the crimped tube with drilled hole is clear.

The KS unit works via the pressure head of the gas entered by the cups and not pressure in the tank. It may be worth a try to use a vented gas cap. If that works, pull the tank unit and clean out the bottom bell hole.

Glenn

[JimG]

Glenn,

I did clear that small hole in the bottom bell (cup). If you look at the 6th picture on post 25 where my hand is holding the tank Unit, you can see the bottom of the lowest cup and the hole. Poked wires in it and shot compressed air through it. The gauge seemed to work correctly since I redid it in the fall until now when I needed to fill up on gas. I don't have a vented cap. The only time you can really try this out is when I have to fill up on gas. I think I may follow Sheldon's suggestion and talk to Renner's Corner and see what they say. Thanks all for your input.

[glennpm]

I'm thinking more about this unusual problem. I think you may have something inside the bell that is obstructing the excess air discharge out the tube.