The Ford Barn

jimmyz80 · 05-22-2020, 02:09 AM

The neoprene gasket in my gas gauge has started to leak, and looks pretty deteriorated, so I'm planning to do a gauge rebuild with cork gaskets. Our of curiosity, does anyone have any tips for finding the right tightness for installing the gauge? Somewhere between "it leaks" and "oh crap I stripped something".

johnbuckley · 05-22-2020, 04:26 AM

It doesn't have to be very tight ( whatever that means to you

) , no more than good finger tightenting using the correct wrench- (that way if it does leak you can always tweak it a bit tighter). Clean the galss thoroughly, use new gaskets and I always use a smear of gasket sealant ( over here I find blue Hylomar is is best).

1931 flamingo · 05-22-2020, 08:08 AM

Cork gaskets only along with the thin washers.
Paul in CT

larrys40 · 05-22-2020, 08:50 AM

Jimmy,
As Paul said usecthe cork only . 1 gasket behind the glass lens in the inner nut with the metal plate and then the nut. They include 2 small cork gaskets but you only use 1 of them. Do the inner one in the bench and get it good and snug tight. Do not do “hand tight” as was suggested above, you will be sorry. I’ve done hundreds of these.
Then making sure all the ridges are clean on the tank and back of gauge use the cork setting it in the hole and then the gauge followed by brass thrust washer and outer nut.
Snug well and check Aligmment . If gauge moves adjust and retighten.
The best tool for the outer nut is the original steel 5z wrench. Most don’t have access to them but if you find one snatch it up. They are the best. I don’t use any sealant and haven’t had leaks.... that’s up to you .
FYI make sure gauge is calibrated by checking before tightening in.
Larry shepard

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 05-22-2020, 10:03 AM

We see this a lot in gas tanks that we are restoring. Often times the surface the gaskets seal against is pitted or corroded which causes the gasket to leak. The cork gasket can be squeezed into the pitting more effectively, but the correct way is to resurface the gauge gasket surface. This can be done with a valve seat cutter turned by hand.

30 Closed Cab PU · 05-22-2020, 10:20 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

You may be already aware, am posting in case you are not.

As long as you have gauge out, the neoprene float is recommended over the cork float. The neoprene holds up better over time. Gas can attack the cork, especially ethanol gas.

https://www.brattons.com/neoprene-gas-gauge-float.html.

05-22-2020, 02:09 AM	#1
jimmyz80 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 21	Gas gauge tightness? The neoprene gasket in my gas gauge has started to leak, and looks pretty deteriorated, so I'm planning to do a gauge rebuild with cork gaskets. Our of curiosity, does anyone have any tips for finding the right tightness for installing the gauge? Somewhere between "it leaks" and "oh crap I stripped something".

05-22-2020, 04:26 AM	#2
johnbuckley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,441	Re: Gas gauge tightness? It doesn't have to be very tight ( whatever that means to you ) , no more than good finger tightenting using the correct wrench- (that way if it does leak you can always tweak it a bit tighter). Clean the galss thoroughly, use new gaskets and I always use a smear of gasket sealant ( over here I find blue Hylomar is is best). Last edited by johnbuckley; 05-22-2020 at 10:37 AM.

05-22-2020, 08:08 AM	#3
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,389	Re: Gas gauge tightness? Cork gaskets only along with the thin washers. Paul in CT

05-22-2020, 08:50 AM	#4
larrys40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St Charles , Missouri Posts: 1,998	Re: Gas gauge tightness? Jimmy, As Paul said usecthe cork only . 1 gasket behind the glass lens in the inner nut with the metal plate and then the nut. They include 2 small cork gaskets but you only use 1 of them. Do the inner one in the bench and get it good and snug tight. Do not do “hand tight” as was suggested above, you will be sorry. I’ve done hundreds of these. Then making sure all the ridges are clean on the tank and back of gauge use the cork setting it in the hole and then the gauge followed by brass thrust washer and outer nut. Snug well and check Aligmment . If gauge moves adjust and retighten. The best tool for the outer nut is the original steel 5z wrench. Most don’t have access to them but if you find one snatch it up. They are the best. I don’t use any sealant and haven’t had leaks.... that’s up to you . FYI make sure gauge is calibrated by checking before tightening in. Larry shepard

05-22-2020, 10:03 AM	#5
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 11,508	Re: Gas gauge tightness? We see this a lot in gas tanks that we are restoring. Often times the surface the gaskets seal against is pitted or corroded which causes the gasket to leak. The cork gasket can be squeezed into the pitting more effectively, but the correct way is to resurface the gauge gasket surface. This can be done with a valve seat cutter turned by hand. __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .

05-22-2020, 10:20 AM	#6
30 Closed Cab PU Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 2,332	Re: Gas gauge tightness? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) You may be already aware, am posting in case you are not. As long as you have gauge out, the neoprene float is recommended over the cork float. The neoprene holds up better over time. Gas can attack the cork, especially ethanol gas. https://www.brattons.com/neoprene-gas-gauge-float.html.