Fuel tank with bolt in sender unit

[Tim]

So if you wanted to fit the later tank to an early car you could simply track down the transitional sender unit, which would physically match the later tank, but electrically match the earlier electrical system.

That sounds easy!

Tim

[Toby]

I think you guys are forgetting that the 64 tank with the sender that locks in had the drain tap on the underside. After that the tap got discontinued as far as I know.

[ricardo]

October 1964, tank has the drain tap.

[NZmember]

I have just purchased a '63 project with Austin speedo but came with a replacement tank with the twist in sender and lucar connectors. So have the connection problem described.
Without replacing the fuel gauge is there any way to connect the later sender with a voltage stabiliser etc?

Thanks
Derek

[matic]

hi sirs,
i got question. if i use 5.5gallon duel tank with locking nut version and late sender init, what will i modify the original mk1 fuel gauge to suit this sender? do i need to put the voltage stabilizer? is the voltage affecting to the original mk1 guel gauge?

warm regards
ink

[Tim]

The early and late senders are entirely different electrically. The resistance range is different, but more importantly they operate in opposite directions (one has low resistance when full, the other high). So there is no simple way to connect one to the other.

The only way I know to connect mismatched senders and gauges is to put some clever electronics in between which can read the sender and translate its output into something the gauge understands. Something like this https://www.spiyda.com/magento/index.ph ... d-mk2.html

Tim

[dklawson]

There is nothing I can add to Tim's excellent summary. You cannot mix the pre-1964 and post-1964 gauge system parts.

That "Fuel Gauge Wizard" linked by Tim sounds like a GREAT buy at 40 GBP. That's less than the cost of just about any single gauge component purchased new.

[matic]

hi sirs,
thank you so much for a great information.

by the way, i have more question about fuel gauge wizard. according to the website, the seller ask about the gauge type and sender unit. if i like to use an original mk1 fuel guage with late locking ring, what do i select?

for example, what ohm of the original fuel gauge? however, the ohm of late sender is 30-260 as mentioned on the selection option.

thank you so much and regards
ink

[NZmember]

Well I'm impressed, that is a great item to have developed. Thanks for posting.

[dklawson]

hi sirs,
thank you so much for a great information.

by the way, i have more question about fuel gauge wizard. according to the website, the seller ask about the gauge type and sender unit. if i like to use an original mk1 fuel guage with late locking ring, what do i select?

for example, what ohm of the original fuel gauge? however, the ohm of late sender is 30-260 as mentioned on the selection option.

thank you so much and regards
ink

The early senders I have measured have a "nominal" range of about 10 Ohms = Empty to 90 Ohms = Full. The exact value of your sending unit will likely be very different. The later gauges expect a sender that has the nominal range you specified. If I bought the Gauge Wizard I would select "don't know... calibrate myself". It should not be hard to do and presumably be able to match your exact sender to the gauge.

[spiyda]

Hi,

just in case it helps,
yes, the "wizard" will sort out the mismatched gauge problem
choosing the "I will calibrate myself" option will mean you get a wizard set roughly to the middle of its range
but full instructions are included..

When setting up on a Mini, (with either sender and any gauge)
its easiest if you do this with an empty tank... (full if you have the early sender)
with the wizard all connected up add a short length of wire to the "sender in" terminal...
when you ground this, the wizard will think the sender is at the full position (empty with the early sender)

so not grounded is empty.. grounded is full... or vice versa

you can fiddle with the adjustments and get a perfect reading without the need to add or remove fuel to the tank..

Oh and if you have two tanks, and two senders... connect them in series and a single gauge will give you an indication of the total fuel on board !

Chris (the designer of the "wizard")
owner of one MK1 in bits in a garage somewhere !

[Tim]

Nice to hear from you Chris (hmm another Chris with a spidery nickname).

Tim

[Spider]

He's one clever man that Spiyda!

Great bit of kit for sure.

Chris, the other Spider

[rich@minispares.com]

that's a great bit of kit, sure as hell beats my 'fuel wizard' which is a stick I poke down the tank neck in my mini sprint!

[dklawson]

Chris, the Wizard sounds like a great product. Is it only available in Europe? Do you have a U.S. distributor for it? The gauge mis-match issue is not unique to the Mini and over her it is a frequent topic for owners of various Triumphs, and MGs as well.

[spiyda]

>> Spider .. anyone with an arachnid username could do it !!

>> Doug .. we will (and do) ship all over the world, but we only have actual distributors based in the UK.
Always looking for new ways to get the products known !

We are on the third version of the Fuel Gauge wizard.. the next version is not expected until the end of the year..

It all started when working on my Son's Mini, getting the Suzuki Fuel Gauge working with the Mini Sender...
The build diary is here
http://www.16vminiclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4427

Chris (-=Spiyda=-)

[dklawson]

Thanks for the information. I will bookmark the Wizard web page so I can refer it to others in the future.