fuel gauge

[k mielke]

The float and arm fell off of my nose tank gauge, when i attempted to remove it i noticed that the threaded piece that goes into the neck is made of a wood or fiber type material, over the years and coats of paint it is stuck. My question is if i break that piece were can i find a new one or what else will work

[Paul Agaliotis]

You can adapt an A Model Ford gas gauge to fit. Its a bolt in swap. You may need to shorten the float arm to get it to read correct. It also is direct reading, some of the Aeronca gauges were gear driven.
Paul

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Mr. Mielke:

You can obtain replacement parts from the following site classicautoparts.com. This may be obvious, but the parts are not certified for aircraft use. You and your A&P will have to address that issue.

dd

[joea]

Mr. Mielke:

You can obtain replacement parts from the following site classicautoparts.com. This may be obvious, but the parts are not certified for aircraft use. You and your A&P will have to address that issue.

dd

Dennis,

Agreed but one thing that many people do not realize is that quite a few of the parts on our old planes were taken directly from a car and used. There was no approval in those days. The fuel gauges, door handles, knobs in the cockpit and so on are directly from a car.

It is up to the approval of an A&P/IA but these are direct replacement parts for what the Aeronca factory installed on our planes. Not sure that the FAA would approve but on the other hand how could they tell the difference?

Joe A

[k mielke]

Thanks guy's what I am looking for is the fiber nut that holds the gauge in. I have rebuilt the gear driven gauges in my wing tanks and assume that this will be the same, i would machine the thing out of aluminium but figure there was a reason they used the fiber stuff

[Paul Agaliotis]

Dont know of anyone making the fiber nuts. Good luck
Paul

[dakotakid]

wag aero sells a rebuild kit along with new gauges, not sure if it comes with the fiber nut though.

[Jody Wittmeyer]

They are available at http://www.snydersantiqueautoparts . The Ford type gauge assembly and all rebuild kits, also available. If ordering gaskets, the neoprene are better than the cork. Catalogue is a year old. Prices may have changed.
Gauge Assembly (Complete) #A9312 $33.
Rebuild Kit #A-9320-s $4.95
Cork Float # A-9312-c $1.95
Modern Float (Neoprene) #A-9313-c $3.95
Tool Set #A-9300 $5.65
Gasket Set #A-9321/23 (cork) .75
#A-9321/23n (neoprene) $1.25
Glass Lens #A-9323 $.95
Face Plate #A-9325 $1.50
Inner Nut #A-9326 $5.95
Outer Nut # A-9330 $6.75

[joea]

Hey guys,

Anyone know of what can be safely used to coat a cork float so that its not effected by the fuel these days?

TIA,

Joe A

[Ron Babos]

joea: I used PRC which is what Murphy aircraft use for sealing and making fuel tanks. This stuff is awesome. Guaranteed to work forever while most of those others won't. The only other product may be sloshing compound used on fuel tanks.
The gauge I have now is from Aircraft Spruce and is great. The needle sits more solidly than that stupid original Ford thing that was always bobbing up and down. The wire is much longer for smoother operation and sealing technology is much more modern. Very acurrate once initial calibration is done.
Ron

[Nathan K. Hammond]

Shellac

We've used it for years, and love it. Act's much like varnish (and you brush it on like a varnish), but doesn't breakdown over the years from being submerged. You can find it at most any hardware store; Ace, Fleet Farm, Lowes/HomeDepot maybe.

http://www.shellac.net/information.html

nkh

[joea]

Thanks guys!

Joe

[Ron Babos]

Nathan: Shellac is for wood. Never had long term use with it in gas, but maybe Canadian bug squeezings are not as fuel proof as US bug guts.
Ron

[Nathan K. Hammond]

Canadians.



nkh

[Nathan K. Hammond]

Isn't a cork made of wood?

nkh