VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Fuel Gauge

Is there a way to calibrate the 36 fuel gauge reading to my new tank sender? I hooked it up outside the tank, and the upper limit position of the float shows Full + 1/8 tank, while the lower limit shows between Empty and 1/4 tank. Thanks for any suggestions.

Gently bend the rod to get it to agree with the gauge.
Richard

Richard, the rod is not even installed on the sender yet. I'm moving the arm of the variable resistor to its limits, so I think the gauge needle is the thing which needs adjustment. Is there a calibration screw on the gauge, or do you just take it apart and tweak the needle?

Wally

There is not an adjustment screw on the gauge and I don't think you want to try and tweak the needle. The float rod should contact stops , if I remember correctly, so when you bend the rod it will hit the stop and record correctly. Is this fuel sender NOS or a generic model?

It's a generic. I took a look at the back of the gauge, and there is obviously no adjustment. I think I'll just learn to live with the error!

WinoWally
If you have not yet installed the fuel sender, try checking the resistance of the fuel sender with an ohm meter to see if you have close to 0 ohms with the sender arm down in the empty position. If not, you may have a defective sender. Also, maybe clean the sender terminal connection at the gauge and the connector in the wire at the fuel sender wire to make sure that there is no resistance in the fuel gauge circuit.

I just replaced my fuel sender with an generic version and I did get the gauge to regester 'E' with the float just off of the bottom of the tank. I intend to drain the tank over winter and did not want the float to touch the bottom with the chance of sticking. The gauge reads over 'F' with the tank upside down but may be closer to 'F' with the tank almost full of gas.