The Ford Barn

MrWzrd · 10-30-2013, 06:39 PM

OH, the humanity of it all. Quality is just not what it used to be.

The entire float arm fell off, in the tank, of my new replacement gas gauge.
( I'm now rebuilding the original. )

wrndln · 10-30-2013, 06:43 PM

I bet the repro gas gauge was made by Vintique. Why, oh why are many (most) repro made so poorly. Maybe we should be grateful that there are so many repro parts made for the model A, but it would be great if they made them a little better.
Rusty Nelson

MrWzrd · 10-30-2013, 07:04 PM

Yes, it was Vintique.

And it really ruined a great afternoon as it happened as I took the A out for it's first drive.

I was just getting to the point of relaxing a little (you know...worrying about all the parts and did I put them in right and tighten them right and are all the cotter pins in, etc.) and I start hearing this tappy-clunking from in front of me. (tank only had 4 gallons in it for this test run).

I pull over because I think I've got something going wrong with the engine...and the sound stops. If I hadn't, by pure chance, notice that there were no numbers in the window of the gas gauge I wonder if I would still be digging around under the hood.

So, it's back in the garage with tape over the hole while I rebuild the old one and get a refund on this POS. (it looks like the end of the arm is threaded but the indicator doesn't seem to have matching threads.)

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-30-2013, 07:07 PM

But WHAT caused it to fall off? Was it abused/damaged/etc. Maybe it can be easily repaired, they're a simple gizmo! If is new, they should replace it!
By the way, I got a new locking door & rumble handle from Snyder's, made by VINTIQUE, & by damn, they look like quality & work beautifully-----They even got KEYS! Bill W.

spdway1 · 10-30-2013, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

But WHAT caused it to fall off? Was it abused/damaged/etc. Maybe it can be easily repaired, they're a simple gizmo! If is new, they should replace it!
By the way, I got a new locking door & rumble handle from Snyder's, made by VINTIQUE, & by damn, they look like quality & work beautifully-----They even got KEYS! Bill W.

But your keys fit a Toyota!!

Steve Plucker · 10-30-2013, 08:08 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdway1

But your keys fit a Toyota!!

And where are Totota's made?

Pluck

spdway1 · 10-30-2013, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

And where are Totota's made?

Pluck

Made and assembled are TWO differnt things!

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-30-2013, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdway1

But your keys fit a Toyota!!

WE OWE YOU ONE, BUDDY, Now we can make side money, stealin' TYOTAS!

Skrain · 10-30-2013, 08:41 PM

Whoa! Wait a second on the Toyota bashing...
I just bought a Tacoma 4X4 double cab to have enough grunt to tow my 29 CCPU!

Everyone here told me my RAV4 wouldn't cut it...

(Just kidding about the Toyota Bashing...

)
P.S. Most Camrys are built in Georgetown, Ky. and most Tundras come from Texas!

hupdoc · 10-30-2013, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrWzrd

OH, the humanity of it all. Quality is just not what it used to be.

The entire float arm fell off, in the tank, of my new replacement gas gauge.
( I'm now rebuilding the original. )

A wise man once said when you manufacture something you have three related measures of optimal unit outcome quantity, quality and cost . Unfortunately you only get two of the three Most parts suppliers opt for quantity and cost at the expense of quality. Sad fact is the number of people that are prepared to pay for quality is a lot less than the people who desire quality. -Karl

Tiny · 10-30-2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrWzrd

OH, the humanity of it all. Quality is just not what it used to be.

The entire float arm fell off, in the tank, of my new replacement gas gauge.
( I'm now rebuilding the original. )

I think you just learned another of the important lessons about Model A's. If it original rebuild it because most of the repo stuff is ill fitting junk.

MrWzrd · 10-30-2013, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

But WHAT caused it to fall off? Was it abused/damaged/etc. Maybe it can be easily repaired, they're a simple gizmo! If is new, they should replace it!
By the way, I got a new locking door & rumble handle from Snyder's, made by VINTIQUE, & by damn, they look like quality & work beautifully-----They even got KEYS! Bill W.

yes, it was horribly abused by being put in a tank of gas and forced to slosh around with the gas while I drove down the road.
the total amount of time it spent in gas until it broke was less than 30 minutes.

I am going to see if I can return it since I have repaired the original with a new floqt and hand cut gaskets. if now, I'll get a replacement and throw it on the shelf.

SeaSlugs · 10-30-2013, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrWzrd

OH, the humanity of it all. Quality is just not what it used to be.

The entire float arm fell off, in the tank, of my new replacement gas gauge.
( I'm now rebuilding the original. )

haha I just got a scene from some movie where a guy is yelling "OH THE HUMANITY" stuck in my head haha. I can see a fordbarner yelling up at the sky

...

Only thing i can suggest is drive it till the fuel gets low then fish it out the fuel gauge hole with one of those spring loaded claw thingys they sell for like $2

Are you sure the new ones are threaded and not just ribbed for a press fit into the gauge read head? I would be tempted to JB weld the rod back in the hole....

Or if your origonal is good enough to rebuild id do that too.

DougVieyra · 10-30-2013, 11:48 PM

If you can't get your gas-gauge fixed - try Bert's in Colorado. Might as well be specific - Bert's has skads of all the various styles and types from the various years - all original. I would however, replace any cork floats with the new replacement "Won't Sink" (space-age 'plastic') floats available at the better Parts Houses.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-31-2013, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrWzrd

yes, it was horribly abused by being put in a tank of gas and forced to slosh around with the gas while I drove down the road.
the total amount of time it spent in gas until it broke was less than 30 minutes.

I am going to see if I can return it since I have repaired the original with a new floqt and hand cut gaskets. if now, I'll get a replacement and throw it on the shelf.

Yo, MrWzrd, I hope you didn't think I meant YOU abused it.
I once had a perfect looking cutout, with a riveted on cover, that always stayed closed. When I opened it, the moveable arm was badly bent out of shape, as if someone dropped it or stepped on it just before the cover was riveted on!
Watch out, in the past, some repro gas guages had a PLASTIC lens, that would melt & turn brown from the gas. I had 2 of them, they were O.K. after putting in a REAL glass lens. Bill W.

Skeezixx · 10-31-2013, 02:24 AM

I can't believe nobody has blamed Ethanol for the failure yet.

Wallace · 10-31-2013, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeezixx

I can't believe nobody has blamed Ethanol for the failure yet.

That's great ,,,,A Barner with a good sense of humor !

Thx, W

Richard Wilson · 10-31-2013, 06:56 AM

I have two of these repro gas gauges in a box under the workbench. Both have broken arms, neither has been installed. The problem is that wire arm is "threaded" so it can be screwed into the gauge. When the threads are cut it reduces the size of the arm making them very fragile. I have repaired another of these broken repro gauges by drilling out the end of the broken arm where it was screwed into the back of the gauge and JB Welding the arm back to the gauge.

MrWzrd · 10-31-2013, 07:38 AM

I replaced the original gauge because the gaskets were leaking and the cork didn't float any more. Being a simple device I figured the repro would be just as good. (not!)

I went back out to the barn last night and spent a couple of hours with the original gauge.

The original is all cleaned up and now has nitrile gaskets on both the glass and the tank and a custom brass float that resembles the cork float.

Even took the extra time to calibrate F-E before final install and filled tank to top.

As of this morning...not even a hint of aroma of gas, much less a trace of a leak. (I do love simplicity.)

As for the "new" gauge. Like I said. Either a return as defective or a replacement and I'll throw it on the shelf or take it to a swap meet.

MrWzrd · 10-31-2013, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeezixx

I can't believe nobody has blamed Ethanol for the failure yet.

I always laugh at ethanol comments. Ethenol has been used in gasoline since the 1900's and upwards of 25% by volume. (Standard Oil in the 1920's) It has never been a problem until marketers of new products created a problem to scare the public into change.

It wasn't a problem then and it isn't a problem now.

1931 flamingo · 10-31-2013, 08:16 AM

I would delay the install and GET CORK GASKETS, don't forget the brass washers. FWIW
Also disconnect the battery before messing with the gas tank.

Paul in CT

ronn · 10-31-2013, 08:22 AM

ethanol isn't a problem....?

OK, I'll start blaming Dupont for poor plastic quality in their gas lines, etc.

need to blame someone....

Lembomw · 10-31-2013, 08:43 AM

Last year I had the same thing happen when I installed a repo gauge in my Tudor. The problem was as Richard Wilson described in his post, and I repaired it exactly the same way Richard did. The JB Weld seems to be holding up well.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-31-2013, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

I would delay the install and GET CORK GASKETS, don't forget the brass washers. FWIW
Also disconnect the battery before messing with the gas tank.

Paul in CT

I agree with Paul.
The cork gaskets work great for the gauge, but the black gaskets swell and gell with ethanol.

johnsor · 10-31-2013, 09:54 AM

I recently purchased an item from one of the popular "A" part suppliers that was totally inferior for it's intended use. In calling them they told me to send it back. My advice to them was if they agreed that it was inferior, to discontinue its sale. Such action is what separates good suppliers from some others and where my future business will go. Like so many things, it comes down to trust in the supplier to sell you items of expected quality.

BlueSunoco · 10-31-2013, 11:03 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

[QUOTE=MrWzrd;755274]I always laugh at ethanol comments. Ethenol has been used in gasoline since the 1900's and upwards of 25% by volume. (Standard Oil in the 1920's) It has never been a problem until marketers of new products created a problem to scare the public into change.

It wasn't a problem then and it isn't a problem

Actually, no. This statement is wrong sorry! You're confusing Ethanol with the use of lead in gasoline.

That's OK because both subjects have been beat to death anyway time to move on we'll overlook it.........

10-30-2013, 06:39 PM	#1
MrWzrd BANNED Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 158	New gas gauge arm fell off in tank OH, the humanity of it all. Quality is just not what it used to be. The entire float arm fell off, in the tank, of my new replacement gas gauge. ( I'm now rebuilding the original. )

10-30-2013, 06:43 PM	#2
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,162	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank I bet the repro gas gauge was made by Vintique. Why, oh why are many (most) repro made so poorly. Maybe we should be grateful that there are so many repro parts made for the model A, but it would be great if they made them a little better. Rusty Nelson

10-30-2013, 07:04 PM	#3
MrWzrd BANNED Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 158	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank Yes, it was Vintique. And it really ruined a great afternoon as it happened as I took the A out for it's first drive. I was just getting to the point of relaxing a little (you know...worrying about all the parts and did I put them in right and tighten them right and are all the cotter pins in, etc.) and I start hearing this tappy-clunking from in front of me. (tank only had 4 gallons in it for this test run). I pull over because I think I've got something going wrong with the engine...and the sound stops. If I hadn't, by pure chance, notice that there were no numbers in the window of the gas gauge I wonder if I would still be digging around under the hood. So, it's back in the garage with tape over the hole while I rebuild the old one and get a refund on this POS. (it looks like the end of the arm is threaded but the indicator doesn't seem to have matching threads.)

10-30-2013, 07:07 PM	#4
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank But WHAT caused it to fall off? Was it abused/damaged/etc. Maybe it can be easily repaired, they're a simple gizmo! If is new, they should replace it! By the way, I got a new locking door & rumble handle from Snyder's, made by VINTIQUE, & by damn, they look like quality & work beautifully-----They even got KEYS! Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

10-30-2013, 08:41 PM	#9
Skrain Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Monticello, Kentucky Posts: 284	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank Whoa! Wait a second on the Toyota bashing... I just bought a Tacoma 4X4 double cab to have enough grunt to tow my 29 CCPU! Everyone here told me my RAV4 wouldn't cut it... (Just kidding about the Toyota Bashing...) P.S. Most Camrys are built in Georgetown, Ky. and most Tundras come from Texas! __________________ "They can make me grow older, but they CAN'T make me grow up!"

10-30-2013, 11:48 PM	#14
DougVieyra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Eureka, California Posts: 1,716	Go for a good original If you can't get your gas-gauge fixed - try Bert's in Colorado. Might as well be specific - Bert's has skads of all the various styles and types from the various years - all original. I would however, replace any cork floats with the new replacement "Won't Sink" (space-age 'plastic') floats available at the better Parts Houses.

10-31-2013, 02:24 AM	#16
Skeezixx Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 426	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank I can't believe nobody has blamed Ethanol for the failure yet.

10-31-2013, 06:56 AM	#18
Richard Wilson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 908	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank I have two of these repro gas gauges in a box under the workbench. Both have broken arms, neither has been installed. The problem is that wire arm is "threaded" so it can be screwed into the gauge. When the threads are cut it reduces the size of the arm making them very fragile. I have repaired another of these broken repro gauges by drilling out the end of the broken arm where it was screwed into the back of the gauge and JB Welding the arm back to the gauge.

10-31-2013, 07:38 AM	#19
MrWzrd BANNED Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 158	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank I replaced the original gauge because the gaskets were leaking and the cork didn't float any more. Being a simple device I figured the repro would be just as good. (not!) I went back out to the barn last night and spent a couple of hours with the original gauge. The original is all cleaned up and now has nitrile gaskets on both the glass and the tank and a custom brass float that resembles the cork float. Even took the extra time to calibrate F-E before final install and filled tank to top. As of this morning...not even a hint of aroma of gas, much less a trace of a leak. (I do love simplicity.) As for the "new" gauge. Like I said. Either a return as defective or a replacement and I'll throw it on the shelf or take it to a swap meet.

10-31-2013, 08:16 AM	#21
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank I would delay the install and GET CORK GASKETS, don't forget the brass washers. FWIW Also disconnect the battery before messing with the gas tank. Paul in CT

10-31-2013, 08:22 AM	#22
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,787	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank ethanol isn't a problem....? OK, I'll start blaming Dupont for poor plastic quality in their gas lines, etc. need to blame someone....

10-31-2013, 08:43 AM	#23
Lembomw Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange County, NY Posts: 162	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank Last year I had the same thing happen when I installed a repo gauge in my Tudor. The problem was as Richard Wilson described in his post, and I repaired it exactly the same way Richard did. The JB Weld seems to be holding up well.

10-31-2013, 09:54 AM	#25
johnsor Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spooner, Wisconsin Posts: 242	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank I recently purchased an item from one of the popular "A" part suppliers that was totally inferior for it's intended use. In calling them they told me to send it back. My advice to them was if they agreed that it was inferior, to discontinue its sale. Such action is what separates good suppliers from some others and where my future business will go. Like so many things, it comes down to trust in the supplier to sell you items of expected quality.

10-31-2013, 11:03 AM	#26
BlueSunoco Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Windy City Posts: 937	Re: New gas gauge arm fell off in tank Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) [QUOTE=MrWzrd;755274]I always laugh at ethanol comments. Ethenol has been used in gasoline since the 1900's and upwards of 25% by volume. (Standard Oil in the 1920's) It has never been a problem until marketers of new products created a problem to scare the public into change. It wasn't a problem then and it isn't a problem Actually, no. This statement is wrong sorry! You're confusing Ethanol with the use of lead in gasoline. That's OK because both subjects have been beat to death anyway time to move on we'll overlook it.........