Fuel Gage

[enforb48]

I just put fuel in my 31 tudor and found that the fuel gage is not showing anything but EMPTY. I took a wire and lifted the arm thinking that it was hung up but no, the cork is still connected and it just returned to the bottom of the tank. I thought cork was supposed to float in a liquid, any thoughts? Ethanol? Thanks, Robert

[al's28/33]

Could be the end of life for the cork float, it may need to be replaced.

[jkeesey]

Not a big deal the cork is bad. Pretty easy to replace.

[P.S.]

Is the neoprene one Bratton's sells better? How about in the long run?

[1931 flamingo]

Use the neoprene one or an old carb float.
I know A&L is still doing the original cork ones.
Paul in CT

[jkeesey]

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The new composite ones are great. Have yet to have a problem with them. The corks are still available but most companies don't recommend them, they don't hold up well to ethanol.

[Mitch//pa]

My composites / neoprene have yet to fail after replacing the cork ones every other year. Also use the cork gasket on the fuel gauge mounting not the neoprene.

[William Kelchner]

I'm using neoprene. Looks good after several years..

[Mike V. Florida]

The ethanol dissolves the coating on the cork and it sinks. After being replaced in 1985 mine sunk as well.

[MrTube]

So you are suppose to use the neoprene float not the cork one, but use the cork gasket not the neoprene one? I'm confused, if it attacks cork as a float wouldn't it do the same as a gasket?

[jkeesey]

I use the neoprene seals as well. Coat them with a small amount of hylomar sealant and they work like a charm.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by MrTube

So you are suppose to use the neoprene float not the cork one, but use the cork gasket not the neoprene one? I'm confused, if it attacks cork as a float wouldn't it do the same as a gasket?

So you are suppose to use the neoprene float not the cork one,... Yes, the coating will dissolve and the cork will sink.

...use the cork gasket not the neoprene one? Yes, the neoprene (different formulation) will swell, so use the cork.

I'm confused, if it attacks cork as a float wouldn't it do the same as a gasket? The cork is not attacked the coating on the cork is attacked.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by MrTube

So you are suppose to use the neoprene float not the cork one, but use the cork gasket not the neoprene one? I'm confused, if it attacks cork as a float wouldn't it do the same as a gasket?

Yep, it's one more great Model A mystery. I will only use cork when working on the glass sight and also for the glass sediment bowl. I have cork for my float and it's been fine since I installed it 10 years ago. I've only used the neoprene floats for other people though, and they have also been fine. If my cork ever sinks then it too will get changed to neoprene.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Yep, it's one more great Model A mystery. I will only use cork when working on the glass sight and also for the glass sediment bowl. I have cork for my float and it's been fine since I installed it 10 years ago. I've only used the neoprene floats for other people though, and they have also been fine. If my cork ever sinks then it too will get changed to neoprene.

So, Tom, few things are forever, like that old addage, "FLOATS LIKE A CORK" Cork from my Muscato Wine is floating 3/4 submerged in the dish water, looks like a brown iceberg! NOT worth saving. I found a tiny blown glass Santa Claws, maybe I can lash him to the crookedy wire??? Well, you got a better idee? What else will float? Scum floats to the top when I boil beans, but that wouldn't work, so now I buy canned beans, but even the smallest BEENIE-WEENIE cans are too BIG to make a float! Do they still make DOAN'S PILLS in the round can? I think a SNUFF can is too BIG. Does somebody make an ethanol proof fishing float? Bill W.

[1931 flamingo]

Over the years BEFORE the ethanol I'm sure there were many cork float failures, for what ever reason.
Paul in CT

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Over the years BEFORE the ethanol I'm sure there were many cork float failures, for what ever reason.
Paul in CT

Yes, it was common. As a kid, I remember Chief would lay the gas guage assembly in the sun all day to dry out the cork. It was my "job" to coat it with shellac several times. I'm sure it was minimun wage! Bill W.

[FL&WVMIKE]

Alcohol is a solvent for shellac. Gasoline is not. The cork floats worked for decades, before they were exposed to ethonol.
MIKE

[ctvpa]

I never knew that Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug, on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. It is processed and sold as dry flakes, which are dissolved in ethyl alcohol to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze and wood finish. Shellac functions as a tough natural primer, sanding sealant, tannin-blocker, odour-blocker, stain, and high-gloss varnish. Shellac was once used in electrical applications as it possesses good insulation qualities and it seals out moisture.

I tried to buy it for my cork, $11 for a 1/2 pint. But notice that it is dissolved in ethyl alcohol. I'm replacing mine now.

[roccaas]

The cork dissolved, so I went with the neoprene. It slipped off the end of the crimped wire, so I went with the brass float that has a flange that fits to the wire.

http://www.snjparts.com/Model-A-Fuel...a-9313-br.html

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by roccaas

The cork dissolved, so I went with the neoprene. It slipped off the end of the crimped wire, so I went with the brass float that has a flange that fits to the wire.

http://www.snjparts.com/Model-A-Fuel...a-9313-br.html

I always have to notch the end of the neoprene floats so they will push on the wire far enough to reinstall the small brass washer. I reflatten the wire with a Vice Grip to hold the small brass washer in place.

[Bob-A]

What Tom said above.

Bob-A

[John Butts in CT]

I've been posting this for years (most recently in 2011), and I've heard from "A' owners of all ages who agree.

Take it or leave it, believe it or not... it works.

Here's a (slightly updated) repeat of a post of mine from an old "Do A's tolerate Ethanol..." thread. I still swear by it. MMO and Star Tron are two of my six steps to coping with ethanol:

"In prior threads here and on the old Barn I shared my experiences with creeping neoprene goo after E-5 appeared in New England. I'm not going to cover old ground; we've all heard about how the fuel separates, evaporates, turns to corn syrup, dissolves neoprene, etc., etc.

Cutting to the chase, the following formula has given me four (EIGHT as of 2012!) consecutive years of driving without a single fuel-related problem... E-5, E-10, 87, 89, 91 Octane, whatever:

1) HARD Neoprene gauge float, NOT CORK.
2) CORK gauge gaskets, NOT NEOPRENE.
3) MMO added to gas, per manufacturer's instructions.
4) Star Brite "Star Tron" (the blue stuff) added to gas, also per
manufacturer's instructions.
5) Run carb dry at the end of each day.
6) The on-board computer (driver) needs to adjust the spark and
GAV "to taste." (The car's taste, that is.)

There, I said it; take it or leave it, it works for me.

Whether it's a day, a week, or a month between starts, the "A" starts first time, every time. (As do my lawn mowers and snow blower, on the same fuel diet, no matter how long the fuel sits.)"