The Ford Barn

IndyA · 07-15-2018, 11:23 AM

I lost the cork on my gas gauge (with all most a full tank of fuel)...how far down do I have to drop the gas level before I can remove the dash board gauge ?? Many thanks.. Indy A

WHN · 07-15-2018, 11:31 AM

My personal view would be to drive it until it is almost empty. Than drain the rest. I also would let the tank vent for a while when empty.

I don’t like to work around open gas.

kimeccles · 07-15-2018, 12:14 PM

Regular cork will deteriorate again, so you should replace with newer special float end that can handle the gas/ethanol that we often are stuck with these days.

Also, agree to empty tank as that allows you to set the bend in the float arm to 0 empty line and full estimate before sealing.

Y-Blockhead · 07-15-2018, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyA

I lost the cork on my gas gauge (with all most a full tank of fuel)...how far down do I have to drop the gas level before I can remove the dash board gauge ?? Many thanks.. Indy A

To answer the OP's question, a little lower than ¾ tank.

redmodelt · 07-15-2018, 12:36 PM

Anywhere below the opening that does not slosh out when you get in and out.

DO NOT FORGET TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY!

WHN · 07-15-2018, 01:16 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Murphy’s Law. Have you heard of it?

IF SOMETHING WHERE TO HAPPEN. How do you explain it to your insurance company.

“I was working on an open, over half full gas tank”? Who would of thought it might be a problem?

Big hammer · 07-15-2018, 01:33 PM

A empty tank is more dangerous than a full tank, gasoline as a liquid doesn’t burn, the vapor is what burns! I watched a welder weld a gas filler neck, he would not weld until the tank was completely full and with a water wetted towels around where he was welding. Another story was a man in a junkyard struck a match near an open gas tank and bloom went the tank.
At half a tank I have no gas showing nor splashing in my gauge. I will suggest you try and find and remove the missing float, as it may sink and cover the gas outlet like with my late 31 tank. I need to remove a missing float because it is causing flow issues :-(
Another don’t do this at home, me as a dumb kid poured gas onto a wet leaves that wouldn’t burn, the gas vapors lit up following the liquid stream to the can! Iwas lucky and didn’t get burned.

WHN · 07-15-2018, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big hammer

A empty tank is more dangerous than a full tank, gasoline as a liquid doesn’t burn, the vapor is what burns! I watched a welder weld a gas filler neck, he would not weld until the tank was completely full and with a water wetted towels around where he was welding. Another story was a man in a junkyard struck a match near an open gas tank and bloom went the tank.
At half a tank I have no gas showing nor splashing in my gauge. I will suggest you try and find and remove the missing float, as it may sink and cover the gas outlet like with my late 31 tank. I need to remove a missing float because it is causing flow issues :-(

Your right, a half a tank of gas won’t give off any vapor? Really?

I still say to empty it and let it breath. Yes there is still vapor, but at least there should be no gas to add more vapor.

I would plan for what could happen and hope that everything goes all right.

Also. Anyone who would think about welding a full tank of gas, would not be work for me. Sounds like a war story.

1931 flamingo · 07-15-2018, 02:08 PM

DISCONNECT the battery before you start to do anything ! ! !

Is it the cork float or the cork on the gauge sight glass??
Paul in CT

IndyA · 07-15-2018, 02:31 PM

Thanks to all of you - this Wed site is such a good thing!!!!.... No, it is not the cork gasket ... it is the float. And I know from the Snyder's catalogue that Neoprene is better than Cork... so the new one will be the proper one.

redmodelt · 07-15-2018, 02:37 PM

Every time you choke an A, filter or not there are fumes and gas dripping. Every time you fill the tank there are fumes it's not a sealed system. What difference would it make having under 1/2, 1/4 or empty, there are still fumes involved. Coming up with a very highly unlikely worse case in changing the float, hog wash.

WHN · 07-15-2018, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redmodelt

Every time you choke an A, filter or not there are fumes and gas dripping. Every time you fill the tank there are fumes it's not a sealed system. What difference would it make having under 1/2, 1/4 or empty, there are still fumes involved. Coming up with a very highly unlikely worse case in changing the float, hog wash.

There are a lot of “Hog Wash” things that end up happening.

Giving someone advice to be as safe as possible, I do not think is Hog Wash.

Giving bad advice, or don’t worry about it advice, I would consider Hog Wash.

You know there is always the chance of something happening. We are only talking about a gallon of gas at most. With tank empty you can properly adjust float at empty, you can drain out any small dirt particles, and no matter what you think, if something were to go wrong, you have done everything to avoid it.

Advice is free. Take it or leave it. That’s what this forum is for. Enjoy.

Synchro909 · 07-15-2018, 04:20 PM

I'd empty the tank but not for the reasons given above. I set the gauge to read empty when the float is sitting on he bottom of the tank. It needs to be empty to do that.
One of my As has been running around for years with a float made from the cork from a champagne bottle. Once I skewered it on the wire, I dipped the whole thing in tank sealer figuring if that stuff keeps fuel in, it should keep it out. Simple and effective! I did similar for a friend whose float had sprung a leak and sank in his 1926 Fiat. That's still going too.

Tom Wesenberg · 07-15-2018, 05:35 PM

#4 is right, but I'd empty the tank to make it easier to fish out the cork.
I had to do the same thing on my 28 when I first bought it.

Slowplane · 07-15-2018, 09:32 PM

When I emptied my tank for gauge work, I measured the gas going back in and made a "calibrated" dipstick for a back up.

Lona · 07-16-2018, 09:16 AM

Or, if you are lazy, use a calibrated dip stick and measure your fuel level through the gas tank opening. I remember reading a thread some time age on the forum about how to make these sticks and how to calibrate them. I have one but its made for a Model T tank.

Glen

BILL WILLIAMSON · 07-16-2018, 09:51 AM

A screwtop Gallon can, 1/2 full of GAS, has the potential power of probably 27 sticks of DYNAMITE!!!!
Bill Confetti

Growley bear · 07-21-2018, 06:12 AM

The first item of business is to disconnect the battery.

larry harding · 07-21-2018, 06:35 AM

an older guy who ran a harley dealership many years ago told me the secret to welding a gass tank. don't freak out!!! find some way to have a flow of air into the tank and back out. this can be done different ways, on smaller tanks such as motorcycle tanks i hook an air hose to the outlet and leave the filler open. i have even heard of hooking the exhaust of a running auto or other eingine to the tank. the idea is this.... with a still tank a spark or flame of any kind can go into the tank and boom! as long as air is traveling out the flame can't go in. i have repaired several tanks over the years using this method with no problems. i saw a video on youtube nce where a guy ligted up the rear of a car and brazed a penny over the hole with gass in the tank with gass in the tank. i'm not that nuts

07-15-2018, 11:23 AM	#1
IndyA Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 61	Level in Gas Tank???? I lost the cork on my gas gauge (with all most a full tank of fuel)...how far down do I have to drop the gas level before I can remove the dash board gauge ?? Many thanks.. Indy A

07-15-2018, 11:31 AM	#2
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,819	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? My personal view would be to drive it until it is almost empty. Than drain the rest. I also would let the tank vent for a while when empty. I don’t like to work around open gas.

07-15-2018, 12:14 PM	#3
kimeccles Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Spokane, Washington state Posts: 250	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? Regular cork will deteriorate again, so you should replace with newer special float end that can handle the gas/ethanol that we often are stuck with these days. Also, agree to empty tank as that allows you to set the bend in the float arm to 0 empty line and full estimate before sealing. __________________ 68B frame# late May1930, fixed seat, Briggs build plate# & most parts, indicate July, or early Aug. 1930.

07-15-2018, 12:36 PM	#5
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,340	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? Anywhere below the opening that does not slosh out when you get in and out. DO NOT FORGET TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY! __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!

07-15-2018, 01:16 PM	#6
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,819	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Murphy’s Law. Have you heard of it? IF SOMETHING WHERE TO HAPPEN. How do you explain it to your insurance company. “I was working on an open, over half full gas tank”? Who would of thought it might be a problem? Last edited by WHN; 07-15-2018 at 01:22 PM.

07-15-2018, 01:33 PM	#7
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,127	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? A empty tank is more dangerous than a full tank, gasoline as a liquid doesn’t burn, the vapor is what burns! I watched a welder weld a gas filler neck, he would not weld until the tank was completely full and with a water wetted towels around where he was welding. Another story was a man in a junkyard struck a match near an open gas tank and bloom went the tank. At half a tank I have no gas showing nor splashing in my gauge. I will suggest you try and find and remove the missing float, as it may sink and cover the gas outlet like with my late 31 tank. I need to remove a missing float because it is causing flow issues :-( Another don’t do this at home, me as a dumb kid poured gas onto a wet leaves that wouldn’t burn, the gas vapors lit up following the liquid stream to the can! Iwas lucky and didn’t get burned. __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done Last edited by Big hammer; 07-15-2018 at 01:41 PM. Reason: Addition

07-15-2018, 02:08 PM	#9
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,389	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? DISCONNECT the battery before you start to do anything ! ! ! Is it the cork float or the cork on the gauge sight glass?? Paul in CT

07-15-2018, 02:31 PM	#10
IndyA Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 61	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? Thanks to all of you - this Wed site is such a good thing!!!!.... No, it is not the cork gasket ... it is the float. And I know from the Snyder's catalogue that Neoprene is better than Cork... so the new one will be the proper one.

07-15-2018, 02:37 PM	#11
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,340	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? Every time you choke an A, filter or not there are fumes and gas dripping. Every time you fill the tank there are fumes it's not a sealed system. What difference would it make having under 1/2, 1/4 or empty, there are still fumes involved. Coming up with a very highly unlikely worse case in changing the float, hog wash. __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! Last edited by redmodelt; 07-15-2018 at 02:46 PM.

07-15-2018, 04:20 PM	#13
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? I'd empty the tank but not for the reasons given above. I set the gauge to read empty when the float is sitting on he bottom of the tank. It needs to be empty to do that. One of my As has been running around for years with a float made from the cork from a champagne bottle. Once I skewered it on the wire, I dipped the whole thing in tank sealer figuring if that stuff keeps fuel in, it should keep it out. Simple and effective! I did similar for a friend whose float had sprung a leak and sank in his 1926 Fiat. That's still going too. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

07-15-2018, 05:35 PM	#14
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? #4 is right, but I'd empty the tank to make it easier to fish out the cork. I had to do the same thing on my 28 when I first bought it.

07-15-2018, 09:32 PM	#15
Slowplane Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Sonora desert, Arizona Posts: 290	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? When I emptied my tank for gauge work, I measured the gas going back in and made a "calibrated" dipstick for a back up. __________________ ______________ Nothing Short of Right is Right

07-16-2018, 09:16 AM	#16
Lona Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Gloucester, Va Posts: 464	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? Or, if you are lazy, use a calibrated dip stick and measure your fuel level through the gas tank opening. I remember reading a thread some time age on the forum about how to make these sticks and how to calibrate them. I have one but its made for a Model T tank. Glen __________________ '31 Model A Deluxe Roadster '31 Chrysler Model 70 Sedan '88 Pontiac Fiero GT '36 Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

07-16-2018, 09:51 AM	#17
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? A screwtop Gallon can, 1/2 full of GAS, has the potential power of probably 27 sticks of DYNAMITE!!!! Bill Confetti __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

07-21-2018, 06:12 AM	#18
Growley bear Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 777	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? The first item of business is to disconnect the battery.

07-21-2018, 06:35 AM	#19
larry harding Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: western n.c. Posts: 393	Re: Level in Gas Tank???? an older guy who ran a harley dealership many years ago told me the secret to welding a gass tank. don't freak out!!! find some way to have a flow of air into the tank and back out. this can be done different ways, on smaller tanks such as motorcycle tanks i hook an air hose to the outlet and leave the filler open. i have even heard of hooking the exhaust of a running auto or other eingine to the tank. the idea is this.... with a still tank a spark or flame of any kind can go into the tank and boom! as long as air is traveling out the flame can't go in. i have repaired several tanks over the years using this method with no problems. i saw a video on youtube nce where a guy ligted up the rear of a car and brazed a penny over the hole with gass in the tank with gass in the tank. i'm not that nuts