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Mechanical fuel gauge not working properly
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mango_kid
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 4:00 pm    Post subject: Mechanical fuel gauge not working properly Reply with quote

my fuel gauge is stuck, no matter how much fuel there is in the tank the clock in the dash does not budge.

I've taken the float out of the tank just now, and I could not see anything that looked broken.
Maybe someone has a pic of a correct and working one so I can compare it to mine?

When I pull on the wire for the gauge, the gauge will show a different reading.

Since both seem to work, my gut tells me that maybe there is too much drag inside sleeve for the wire, and that makes the needle stay put.

Anyone experience anything similar?

Is it possible to change the wire on the gauge?

thanks
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drscope
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where is the needle getting stuck? Just one place or where ever it wants?

First check the cable and the tube it runs in. Make sure it isn't kinked.

Make sure the cable can be pulled and moves easily.

Then pull your float and see if it moves ok without getting stuck. Make sure the float doesn't have fuel inside of it. If iot does, it won't float.
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KTPhil Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 4:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the wire is crimped on and captive. You could remove the end form the tank and try squirting in some WD-40. Too much might gunk up tha gauge face, though.
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mango_kid
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 4:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

drscope wrote:
Where is the needle getting stuck? Just one place or where ever it wants?

First check the cable and the tube it runs in. Make sure it isn't kinked.

Make sure the cable can be pulled and moves easily.

Then pull your float and see if it moves ok without getting stuck. Make sure the float doesn't have fuel inside of it. If iot does, it won't float.


The needle is now at 1/2 full, but with the adjuster on the back of the gauge I can get it wherever on the scale.

The cable isn't kinked, the needle moves when i pull on the wire.

I took the float out, and it was in one good piece with no holes (didn't actually look for holes, but there was no fuel inside it sloshing around).

Maybe I'll give that wd40 trick a go, to see if that helps.
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drscope
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 5:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Like KTPhil said, don't over do it or you will have a nasty looking gauge. If the cable is moving easily, you may not want to try to lube things.

With the float assembly in place, if you take the cable off for the gauge, can you move the little arm that the cable hooks onto? And if so, how much force do you need to move it?

You may just need to play with your needle adjustment.
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mango_kid
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the wd40 trick worked.

The needle dropped a bit from where it was this morning.

Now I just need to fill her up so I can see if it's working and recalibrate it.
Just sucks about the timing, the season is just about over for me and she'll be locked up inside for several months soon. No need for a full tank of gas then.
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drscope
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hopefully you'll have a few good days of running around to burn it up.

Don't forget to run some fuel stabilizer through before putting it into hibernation.
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visibleink
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mr. Piggy Back here.

There's an adjustment for the cable? It should spring back on its own right?
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KTPhil Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 12:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
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DUBSLIFE5150
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 2:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

bringing back an old thread so i dont make a new one for a simple question. I have a 72 bug with older parts. i have a early tank in it with mechanical fuel gauge. i bought a brand new sending unit, and a brand new fuel gauge. i put gas in the tank and i the fuel gauge is still on reserve. i dont think it moved much. my question is how much gas does it need for it to go up? maybe i should completely fill the tank, adjust the fuel gauge so its on full. and go from there.
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KTPhil Premium Member
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 4:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No, don't adjust it to be accurate when full. Accuracy there does you no real good-- you have plenty of gas so you don't really care if you have 9 or 10 gallons.

Adjust it so it is accurate when nearly empty-- a fracoitn of a gallon can mean the difference between making it or getting stuck by the side of the road. Zero or one gallon makes a lot of difference!

Adjust as in the manual page above.
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DUBSLIFE5150
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 4:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

where at on this gauge is completely empty?
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on my sending unit if i push it all the way to the "full" position, it hits the inside of the tank before it gets all the way there. i also compared my new sending unit and my old VDO one that the cable holder broke. and they are at different angles at all positions.
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KTPhil Premium Member
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 5:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Empty is when the needle does not move when you go over big bumps or curves! THis is actually how I really knew I was very low!

But seriously, the left most part of the wedge-shape to the left of R is empty. R should mean you have about 1.2 gallons left. The adjustment above will ensure this.

Search around for "sending unit" or "gas gauge" and you will find a thread on the various manufacturers and type of gauges and senders. Not all are interchangeable.

Also, the float can hit something inside the tank and give erroneous readings.
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DUBSLIFE5150
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 10:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ill fill it up to full and see what my gauge says.
then ill let it get pretty low and drain the rest so i can see if i am accurate.
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KTPhil Premium Member
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 7:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can lead a horse to water...
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glutamodo Premium Member
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 4:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

KTPhil wrote:

Search around for "sending unit" or "gas gauge" and you will find a thread on the various manufacturers and type of gauges and senders. Not all are interchangeable.


Phil might be thinking of my thread detailing all the BS I've gone through over the years on my 62:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=231562&
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djshutup
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 5:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

my original fuel gauge broke not to long ago. The spring action on it ceased to function giving me always full. I was wondering how I was getting 100+mpg
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