Fuel Tank Sender float!!!!!!!

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 5:32 pm

Filled my '51 m38 fuel tank up for the first time. Fuel gauge was moving and working and reading about 1/4. I grounded and tested the sender and it works perfect . Installed and back to 1/4 again. Re-test the grounds, always worked perfect from empty to full. Took a hack saw blade and checked for obstructions. None. The sender can fully swing. So. I took a flashlight and looked. Sure enough, the float is not bringing the arm up when submerged and it's not leaking fuel into the float. HUH????????? Then I remembered: new repro sender had the plastic white float, and I swapped to the original brass float off the old one. It does not have enough flotation to work with the new sender. Too heavy. What a pain!!!!!!!! Any one else have this? John

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 8:15 pm

No Sir,
I don't have that problem but am in dire need of that brass float
if you don't need it!

Brian

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 4:11 am

I'm swapping today to see if things straighten out. It just might be yours !

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 11:29 am

Dug in my stash and found another brass float. This one worked immediately, and the bad one is 2 5/16 long while the working one is 2 inches. Both the same diameter, but the longer one is quite a bit heavier. Don't know where it came from. Sure is nice having it work correctly. John

Bretto · Post by **Bretto** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 2:06 pm

Working fuel gauge? Whats that? I've had my sender in/out too many times to care. Works just fine once I take it out and for a bit after I put it back in.
I've resorted to just looking in the filler neck.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 3:29 pm

That sounds like an intermittent ground Brett.

Have you run a separate ground from one of
the sender screws and the tub? You can run
the line with the sender wire.

Brian

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 4:13 pm

I ran mine from the sender to the right rear seat mount screw. John

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Tue Sep 01, 2015 9:31 pm

Brian, sorry about not answering you, the float I was using most likely is wrong and won't work in yours. You can source the white plastic ones until you find a brass one. Walcks had some. Or give Midwest Military a try. I do not have any more and I was lucky to find the one I had. John

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Wed Sep 02, 2015 7:46 am

Thanks John,
I am sure you are right. Probably from a big boy.

Take care,
Brian