Volvo RWD 1800 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 7/2020 1800 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

Rusted out float on P1800 Smiths Fuel Sender 1800 1964

posted by  jgcoutts on  Wed Jan 20 20:46 CST 2021
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

I wanted to keep the body of my fuel sender original and replace the float and arm after testing it's electrical function was allright. It checked out running from 2-3ohm at empty up to 83-84ohm full, but finding a replacement arm and float was difficult. Lots of plastic floats but no arms so looking around I found a brass float for a Mustang sender and with a short length of spring steel fashioned a mount which was then silver soldered to the existing arm. Total cost $26.45 including postage and besides who looks in the fuel tank anyway?









  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Rusted out float on P1800 Smiths Fuel Sender 1800 1964

    posted by  Ron Kwas on  Thu Jan 21 08:26 CST 2021
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Fri Oct 24 04:03 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    JG;

    Repair looks good!

    What was material of the original float that it was "rusted" and couldn't be repaired? Before installation, I suggest lubing Slider on Resistance wire with some Mobil 28 synthgrease (lubes contact area to minimize wear of R-wire, but is easily displaced by Slider so does not interfere with contact).

    Remember when installing in Tank: Sender to Tank, and Tank to Chassis must have good elec connections...they are the return current path for Fuel Gauge...poor connection(s) in this path results in a generous/nonlinear gauge!

    See also: https://www.sw-em.com/Fuel%20Gauge%201800%20Notes.htm

    Cheers








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      Rusted out float on P1800 Smiths Fuel Sender 1800 1964

      posted by  jgcoutts on  Thu Jan 21 10:06 CST 2021
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

      The original float is steel tinned inside and out with the wire arm running lengthwise through the centre and soldered at each end. The rusted carcass and arm weighed 24gr the brass replacement and arm 21gr.









      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

        Rusted out float on P1800 Smiths Fuel Sender 1800 1964

        posted by  Ron Kwas on  Thu Jan 21 10:19 CST 2021
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Fri Oct 24 04:03 CST 2014
        [RELATED]

        JG;

        Thanks for posting pic of the "dead soldier Float" ...no doubt about that one being able to float... you could have simply made one of sheet brass, and soldered it up...OK on weight, but it's just not critical...buoyancy of the float is what is necessary, and any small variation in weight would easily be overcome by its buoyancy...if you notice any difference in gauge characteristics...minor adjustment of float (by bending its support arm) is always possible. Do you have pix of internal R-Wire?

        Cheers







        •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

          Rusted out float on P1800 Smiths Fuel Sender 1800 1964

          posted by  jgcoutts on  Thu Jan 21 11:41 CST 2021
          Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

          I tested the unit in a tray of fuel, float range was from stop to stop, and as I mentioned the resistance matches(I know don’t use matches around fuel) the range in specification.









          •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

            Rusted out float on P1800 Smiths Fuel Sender 1800 1964

            posted by  Ron Kwas on  Thu Jan 21 13:30 CST 2021
            Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
            last visit: Fri Oct 24 04:03 CST 2014
            [RELATED]

            JG;

            Again, thanks for pic...can I impose one last time for a couple of close-up, well lit pix of the slider and R-Wire contact area.

            Also, in which manual did you see those R specs...I thought they were 10-180Ohms similar to Amazon.

            TIA








            •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

              Rusted out float on P1800 Smiths Fuel Sender 1800 1964

              posted by  jgcoutts on  Mon Jan 25 00:07 CST 2021
              Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

              Ron, just to follow up, I contacted Caerbont Automotive Instruments Ltd, who are Smiths and asked if the information on their website for the FT5300 units, with a resistance range of 3-80ohm, applied to the 1800's FT5301/13 unit and was assured that "the FT range were moving iron instruments and the Ohmic values are as you describe"







              •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

                Rusted out float on P1800 Smiths Fuel Sender 1800 1964

                posted by  Ron Kwas on  Mon Jan 25 11:24 CST 2021
                Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
                last visit: Fri Oct 24 04:03 CST 2014
                [RELATED]

                JG;

                Thanks for follow up to confirm Sender R range! Until now, I was always under the impression that it was similar to the 10-180Ohm range of the Amazon model...which of course has instruments supplied not by Smith's but VDO... I attribute the difference in Sender range requirement to this.

                Cheers








            •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

              Rusted out float on P1800 Smiths Fuel Sender 1800 1964

              posted by  jgcoutts on  Thu Jan 21 18:04 CST 2021
              Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

              Here are the closeups you requested.

              Is there a way of attaching more then one image file to a message, for these I've had to assemble multiple images into a single image, it's a little tedious?









            •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

              Rusted out float on P1800 Smiths Fuel Sender 1800 1964

              posted by  jgcoutts on  Thu Jan 21 15:07 CST 2021
              Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

              The specs on the smith sender came from an article I happened to come across in the Magazine of the Midget & Sprite Club, Mascot No 397, Apr 2017 page 8-9.

              I'll post some closeups when I get a chance later today.

              NOTE: There are a couple of individual images of these pages in the image library if you have trouble reading the text

              Here is the link to the Smiths Industries Ltd book The Care of Instruments, referenced in the article.

              http://mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk/pdf/smiths_care.pdf









  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Rusted out float on P1800 Smiths Fuel Sender 1800 1964

    posted by  derek uk on  Thu Jan 21 08:16 CST 2021
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Fri Oct 24 12:33 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    Looks good. It's all about flotation levels, so I hope the gauge still shows correctly. A tiny correction bend may be needed if it doesn't. The double length of rod and the solder will make it heavier.







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.