1928 Buick Master Six Fuel Gauge Tube 28-51

[dracenroc]

I need to reconstruct my gasoline gauge assembly. The whole tube is gone, sending unit and gauge are still here and work fine, except that the floating device is missing. I organized all the components I need, but I don't know where the tube was routed from the tank to the gauge.

 

Can anyone tell me how the tube was installed originally or post some fotos? Thanks! Werner

 

Furthermore I would like to know the length of the load arm. This one is missing too.  

Edited July 12, 2017 by dracenroc (see edit history)

[michaelod]

From your description it would seem you are missing the line that goes from the sending unit in the gas tank to the gauge on the dash.  Is that correct?  Note that there is no "floating device" in this system.  There is a line available from Bob's Automobilia that includes the special red liquid that the glass tube in the gauge is filled with.   The line is routed from the gas tank, under the chassis on the passenger side (assuming your car is left hand drive), up the engine side of the firewall and then through a small hole back into the cabin and behind the dash to connect to the gauge.  You will need to remove that gauge from the dash to clean and refill the tube.  These are usually plugged up with old dried liquid.  Be extremely careful with this process as these tubes are very easy to break.  There may also be 1 or more small copper wires (not electric) inside used by the factory to tune the gauge that you will need to remove and probably replace when you clean the gauge.   In addition the gauge is pot metal and will break easily. The whole process can be done with a great deal of patience, but is not for the faint of heart.

 

Thanks,

Michael

[Guest]

Search "King Seeley Telegauge".

[dracenroc]

Yes, the complete line is missing. But on the '28 it is a wire and floating device indicating the fuel level at  the gauge drum, not a liquid filled tube. It actually dosen't matter how the exact routing is installed, but if I have the chance to do it like it was originally I'll try to do so.

Below you find a sketch of the assembly. Its a "Model F gasoline Gauge" system. Unfortunately no figures about the dimension of the float arm is given. It would be easier to calibrate the gauge knowing the length of the arm instead of try and error method.

 

I checked out "King Seeley Telegauge" but couldn't find matching parts.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Edited July 17, 2017 by dracenroc (see edit history)

[Guest]

Did you do a search for "Model F gasoline Gauge".  There are three other posts about this system.

[dracenroc]

I tried a search right now but I couldn't find a post "Model F gasoline Gauge". I remember a post a few weeks ago about repairs of the system, but I cannot find it again. As far as I remember the routing or any dimension where not mentioned there.

 

[Guest]

Go back one page to    home>BUICK CLUBS>buick- Pre War and do your search.  The search function only searches from the particular page you have open.  You will find there are 6 results.  One if them is the one both you and I remember.

[dracenroc]

Thanks Tinindian! Searched "piano wire" and found the post it was. :-)

[John A]

Hi dracenroc, Hopefully you have solved your '28 buick gas gauge system issues. It has been 2 1/2 years since your post. I not I can answer some of the questions.  I did a ground up restoration on my '28 54 master rdsr in the late 1970's. At that time I was able to locate a conduit with wire  to connect the sender to the the dash gauge. Length is about 13 feet. However after 40 years the wire does not move freely and so the unit does not register from 0 to full properly.  The routing of the conduit is along the inside of the chassis rail and up through the cowl channel on the right hand side.to the connection on the gauge. What i am questioning is what conduit/wire works for this application. I can measure the float rod if you still need to know the length.

My interest is in Buicks and BMW's.  Recently sold my '84 633 CSI. Am driving a 2002 525i . previously had  a '72, '73, '74 2002 an '84 Bavaria and '86 3.0. I have been downsizing to make life easier. Finally I have '55 model 46 C Buick Special Convertible that I restored in the 1980's that received an AACA Grand National First in 1991. My '28 Model 54 has been in my family since 1928. 90 years and still going strong.

I hope to hear from you, John

[dracenroc]

Hi John, great to hear from you! What famous cars you drove, the CSI's and 2002 are getting rare even here in Europe and prices are rising accordingly.

The fuel gauge system issue isn't solved so far but this is mainly because I haven't had the time to work on it in the last 6 to 8 month.  Further I pulled the engine and the transmission to clean and repaint it all first. This was quite some work to do, first of all I had to build an engine stand. I never pulled a heavier engine before then this whale-shaped monster of a straight six! There was a crack in the block too which I had to fix first. Meanwhile engine and tranny are in place again, rear axle attached. I haven't had the time to connect all the accessory's and run the engine so far, hope it will run once done. 😆

On the matter of the fuel gauge I had the chance to buy a complete 28' gauge set on eBay. With it is a fuel gauge with all the trimmings on it. The spiral type tube running from the gauge to sender in the fuel tank was completely rotten. I replaced it with a Bowden tube and piano wire, this works perfect but isn't adjusted right now because I need to restore the fuel tank first. The sending unit was completely gone. Fred Rawling emailed me a detailed drawing of the sender unit so I was able to bent an exact "repro" which is working too (Thanks again Fred!). 

Thank you for your offer helping me in this issue, John. Right now I'm fine with all I need to know.

 

I wish you and your family Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas! Take care of you and of your Buick treasures, too.

Werner