- Joined
- Dec 6, 2009
- Messages
- 1,796
- Reaction score
- 58
- Location
- On a mountain in the Ozarks
- My Bike Models
- 1982 Standard
My gas gauge never worked since I've had the bike. While I have it tore down some, I decided to take a look. I checked the ground wire at the sender by means of a voltage drop test and it showed 0v. Then I unplugged the other wire and touched it to a known good ground and the gauge started to move. As I held it there it slowly moved all the way up to the full mark. Removed it from the ground, and the gauge moved back to the empty mark. Just for kicks, I jumped the two wires together and the gauge moved slowly back up to the full mark. So I plugged the wires back onto the sender and got nothing. Dead as a door nail. Then I removed the sender from the tank and it was corroded - oxidized pretty bad. With the sender plugged in, I tried moving the float arm up and down, but it was no good. The gauge didn't move any at all. The wife wasn't home, and I know where she keeps the vinegar. I don't know what she uses it for, but I know there is usually some around. I found a whole gallon of vinegar in the washer room. I only needed a coffee cup full. I use vinegar sometimes as a cleaner for electrical parts. So I dipped the sender upside down in the coffee cup of vinegar to soak for a few minutes, occasionally swirling it around. When I took it out I gave it a quick shot of brake cleaner to help it dry faster. Then I plugged it back in and moved the float arm again and the gauge started working. But it only seems to want to go up to the 3/4 tank mark. Just can't seem to get it to move that last 1/4 to the full mark. So now I have questions. Should I leave well enough alone and learn to use it like that? Are these still available? Or has anyone found something universal that can be easily converted? Play my money and take my chances on ebay? Other suggestions? :?: :idea: :beg: