Fuel Gauge and Sender

[Ozzy]

Hello and thank you for allowing me on the forum,

We have recently got a very nice May 1961 van and I have a couple of questions.

I have been through all the gauge questions on there, but not sure if I found the answer.

The fuel gauge is not working, sometimes it would read full sometimes, other than that its empty..

Now, we checker all the wiring, all seems fine.

Got a new sender and put in AAU8340 (though I now know this one is for the voltage regulator) and that the 21A303 is the early type but I can not find one!

The readings with the wrong sender are hit and miss on the gauge won't read less than a quarter empty and either full but not a lot in-between.

We are getting ohm readings off the sender to the gauge.

Tried the old original unit I think TF2001/501A the that don't give any better results though it is a little stiff.

Is is there an answer that I am missing? are we doing something wrong testing wise, or are the gauges that vague.

Can I buy a new sender to fit somewhere??

Thanks for reading and comments welcome.

[Spider]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Congratulations on your purchase.

As you have worked out, your fuel gauge is an 'Unregulated' type. The 'Regulated' and 'Unregulated work completely different to each other and parts from one, including the sender, are not remotely compatible with parts from the other.

The sender for the Unreg type when full has it's highest resistance and when empty, it's lowest. With the Reg type, it has it's highest when empty and lowest when full, so, they work opposite to each other. They also have very different resistance ranges too.

You'll need to find the correct sender unit. They do come up for sale from time to time.

[winabbey]

The current superceded part number for 21A303 is AAU8340 and the original manufacturers (Smiths) part number is TB1114-031W. If you Google that you should find a few sources to purchase.

Here's one on eBay UK.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202970474235

[timmy201]

You can also get an electronic box that will modify nearly any sender to match your gauge.

https://spiyda.com/fuel-gauge-wizard-mk3.html

[Ozzy]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Congratulations on your purchase.

As you have worked out, your fuel gauge is an 'Unregulated' type. The 'Regulated' and 'Unregulated work completely different to each other and parts from one, including the sender, are not remotely compatible with parts from the other.

The sender for the Unreg type when full has it's highest resistance and when empty, it's lowest. With the Reg type, it has it's highest when empty and lowest when full, so, they work opposite to each other. They also have very different resistance ranges too.

You'll need to find the correct sender unit. They do come up for sale from time to time.

Thanks, Yes it is all a bit of a mine field.

[Ozzy]

The current superceded part number for 21A303 is AAU8340 and the original manufacturers (Smiths) part number is TB1114-031W. If you Google that you should find a few sources to purchase.

Here's one on eBay UK.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202970474235

Thats the one we got, AAU8340!

[Ozzy]

You can also get an electronic box that will modify nearly any sender to match your gauge.

https://spiyda.com/fuel-gauge-wizard-mk3.html

We saw this the other day in googling the problems, it seems to be the answer if it will work for a Positive Earth car

[winabbey]

If you have the new sender and its the correct specification and came from a reliable source (most adverts say made in UK) then it must be something else.

Here's what Smiths Instrument say in the specification of TB1114-031W (aka AAU8340).

G78/8 Bimetal resistance . 6 hole fixing. 70 deg. swing. Side mounted .Earth return blade. 10v Clip on plastic float

https://www.smiths-instruments.co.uk/tank-senders

Here's another supplier. Does your new sender look like this?

https://www.autoelectricalspares.co.uk/ ... 1468-p.asp

[Spider]

If you have the new sender and its the correct specification and came from a reliable source (most adverts say made in UK) then it must be something else.

Here's what Smiths Instrument say in the specification of TB1114-031W (aka AAU8340).

G78/8 Bimetal resistance . 6 hole fixing. 70 deg. swing. Side mounted .Earth return blade. 10v Clip on plastic float

https://www.smiths-instruments.co.uk/tank-senders

Here's another supplier. Does your new sender look like this?

https://www.autoelectricalspares.co.uk/ ... 1468-p.asp

They are both the wrong type - they are for the later stabalised bi-metal type gauges.

[winabbey]

They are both the wrong type - they are for the later stabalised bi-metal type gauges.

OK. How about 2A2163 then?

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... 0catalogue

[1071 S]

Is he not seeking a van sender???..which the 2A2163 is not.

I couldn't find a suitable early sender for my Traveller so swapped to a later model tank (readily available in Oz) - the original was pretty battered...

The gauge was easily replaced with a matching unit and wired through a stabiliser....

Cheers, Ian

[Peter Laidler]

That's the way to do it, just as 1071S says, above. A subtle upgrade to the most recent configuration to suit. Reliability, maintainability and durability should always come first

[winabbey]

ALA7334 ?

https://www.mparts.co.uk/17-english-fue ... -unit.html

[Spider]

ALA7334 ?

https://www.mparts.co.uk/17-english-fue ... -unit.html

Not sure what type they are Doug, but given that Mokes came off the line very late in 63, I'd say this too is for the Stabalised Thermal Gauge. It would also need a bit of work to use in a van tank, though, not out of the question.

If Ozzy is interested, I can definitely look at make one, I had to make those in my own Moke as it has custom tanks.

[Ozzy]

Thanks for all the comments and advice guys.
It seems the early type are not around anymore, non regulated, for the van tank

We have ordered the electronic device to see if that will do the trick