New cork sinks

[ctvpa]

I am doing a ground up, and just put in a new cork for the gas guage, and now the cork sinks. It is less than 6 months old.
I don't want to take the whole thing apart, so I am going to try to replace it in the tank.
Question is, would you get one of these new brass floats, or another cork (maybe sealed somehow) or the new synthetic corks.
The old one worked for 80 years.
Any ideas or suggestions?

[midgetracer]

I can't imagine replacing it in the tank. I don't think it is possible. I have had real good luck with the synthetic black corks. I think the new corks soak up with gasahol, which is about all you can get these days. I have a friend who dips the corks in the alcohol resistant tank sealer and lets it dry. He claims real good success.

[al's28/33]

Search old posts on this, there has been alot of comments from everyone who have had good and bad effects of using cork, brass and plastic! Imagine that! I personally just redid mine and used the brass float from Mikes, sorry you have to take the gauge out of the tank to do it.

[2manycars]

The cork is no good today. The alcohol in the gas dissolves the shellack on the cork, and it sinks. The black plastic looking float works good. Changing the float without taking the guage out would be like taking out your appendix through your mouth.

[Tom in SW VA]

Originally Posted by 2manycars

The cork is no good today. The alcohol in the gas dissolves the shellack on the cork, and it sinks. The black plastic looking float works good. Changing the float without taking the guage out would be like taking out your appendix through your mouth.

Loved the analogy!!

[RichardW]

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"They" can build a ship in a bottle but they really don't. It would be a lot easier to take he gauge out to replace it.

[roccaas]

Originally Posted by 2manycars

The cork is no good today. The alcohol in the gas dissolves the shellack on the cork, and it sinks. The black plastic looking float works good. Changing the float without taking the guage out would be like taking out your appendix through your mouth.

Actually they are doing appendectomies through the mouth. Snake the device down the esophagus, out through a small cut in the stomache, remove the appendix. Patient wakes up with a sore throat, stomache heals within hours, no scars! I think Hopkins is pioneering Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery.

Now that I've ruined everyone's breakfast, I just went to the brass float.

The cork dissolved, the neoprene slipped off the end of the rod, the brass one has a small flange that you bend around the rod, shouldn't come off when the gas pours in from above. I did remove the gauge, and re-replaced the neoprene gaskets and brass "washer" that prevents the gasket from bunching up as you tighten down the gauge.

[spdway1]

Originally Posted by 2manycars

The cork is no good today. The alcohol in the gas dissolves the shellack on the cork, and it sinks. The black plastic looking float works good. Changing the float without taking the guage out would be like taking out your appendix through your mouth.

CTVPA, I told you this the other night when you were so MAD after it sank!!!

A lot of medical procedures mentioned here, please don't practice them

[spdway1]

<--------She is reasonable, but not free if you need a hand!

[redmodelt]

Even in the old days, if the coating came off the cork it would soak up the gas and sink. Don't forget there is the little washer on the end of the shaft that should have been soldered on when you put on the other cork.

[columbiA]

When I restored my coupe 6 or 7 years ago,I coated the old cork with shellac and its been fine since with our 10% ethanol gas.Maybe I was just lucky.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by columbiA

When I restored my coupe 6 or 7 years ago,I coated the old cork with shellac and its been fine since with our 10% ethanol gas.Maybe I was just lucky.

I did the same and my cork is still fine. I use good gas most of the time, but on trips I've had to use crap gas also. I'm not sure if I coated the cork 10 years ago with shellac or clear laquer, but it works fine.

[Jerry Parr WI]

The coating on the cork does not prevent it from absorbing liquid, it prevents it from drying out. Keeping the cork wet also prevents it from drying out. As in the past I offer the comparison to the wine bottle. The uncoated cork in a wine bottle does not dissolve in the alcohol after decades of exposure. The bottles are stored cork down to keep the cork wet. When cork dries out it shrinks and fails, for wine bottles and gas gauges.

[todd3131]

I had the same problem and soldered a brass one on 20 years ago and it solved my problem.
Todd

[Tom Endy]

You can also use a float salvaged out of a Tillotson carburetor. Its shape allows it to fit through the boss on the dash.

There is also a fellow in San Diego that is marketing a very nice brass float that installs just like the cork. The Tillotson float has to be soldered onto the end of the wand.

Tom Endy

[TDO]

Put a float in mine I got from Synder's in Ohio. Part #A-9313-C Made of modern material that is resistant to today's ethanol in fuels. You will have to take it out to replace the float.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by TDO

Put a float in mine I got from Synder's in Ohio. Part #A-9313-C Made of modern material that is resistant to today's ethanol in fuels. You will have to take it out to replace the float.

I've also installed a few of those for customers, and I always have to notch the end a bit so the wire sets into the notch. Otherwise I can't push it on far enough to install the small brass washer, and flatten the end of the rod.

[redmodelt]

Yes to what Tom says.

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I've also installed a few of those for customers, and I always have to notch the end a bit so the wire sets into the notch. Otherwise I can't push it on far enough to install the small brass washer, and flatten the end of the rod.

Another repro part that almost fits. Why can they not get it right.
I had the same problem.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by George Miller

Another repro part that almost fits. Why can they not get it right.
I had the same problem.

At least it's a closed cell material, so there is no problem with cutting it shorter, or notching it for the wire to fit into.