fuel gauge without a voltage stabiliser

Post by **callyspoy** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 4:30 pm

hi folks, does anyone know how to tell which fuel gauges don't need a voltage stabiliser to work?
i am toying with the idea of changing the clocks behind the dash in my car as i cant stand the weak spring on the speedo. also, i am thinking i may have scope to go faster than the 80mph(on a track) that it has marked on it. The only speedos i can find are black and from midgets/mgb or even a motorcycle, so that would mean changing the oil pressure gauge and fuel gauge to suit...
unless of course anyone knows of a nice magnolia/cream speedo that goes up to around 100 and that has a stronger spring. but i won't hold my breath!
help is kindly appreciated.

Post by **aupickup** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 4:42 pm

what about the ones that jlh sells

Post by **callyspoy** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 4:49 pm

i can't see a speedo on the site...

Post by **aupickup** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:09 pm

ah its in the last minor matters mag

Post by **callyspoy** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:54 pm

just had a look at the gauges in the mag, yes, that is a lovely speedo, but it would be too big as mine has the small speedo in it...

Post by **Matt** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:00 pm

Ahh

Some late mini coopers have magnolia speedos - but they have a seperate fuel guage.

I cant really think of anything else with "small" magnolia guages except maybe a frogeye sprite

Post by **Matt** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:04 pm

Mini ones http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rover-Mini-Cooper ... dZViewItem

you should be able to find some cheaper ones, but they are desirable.

It seems frogeye clocks are black

Post by **mike.perry** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 12:12 am

The Series MM, early Series II, MO Oxford and most of the Morris cars of that period had the same basic design speedo so they would all have problems with wandering needles. A new cable with as wide bends as possible should help reduce the wander. The Minor 1000 cable will fit.

Post by **callyspoy** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:58 am

cheers mike. thats why i was thinking of going black with the gauges, but not sure what fuel gauges don't need a stabiliser. i want a stand alone 2" gauge...choices choices...

Post by **Matt** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:25 am

you can always put a voltage stabiliser in

Post by **mike.perry** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:04 pm

The Series MM etc fuel gauges don't need a stabaliser but they are white. I think there is a Smiths 2in gauge as fitted to the XJ6 /12 Jags.

Post by **IslipMinor** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 2:21 pm

I think you will find that most of the currently available Smiths 2" gauges run from a stabiliser - you can run two gauges from one stabiliser.

In broad terms, if you can see the whole of the pointer length they do not need a stabiliser, if you can't because there is a 'cover' with the gauge type symbol on it they do! These tend to be the later, standard fit, 2" gauges.

If the gauge you get takes a while to get to its reading, it's a 'hot wire' type, and needs a stabiliser, the 'instant' type do not (ever?).

A stabilser gauge will show 'high' readings if used without one, and a non-stabiliser gauge will show 'low' if used with one.

A 10v solid state regulator for negative earth ONLY is very cheap, <£1. Please check these following part numbers, as they came from a posting some while ago:

Maplin (http://www.maplin.co.uk) product number: n38ca (1A positive)

Farnell (http://uk.farnell.com) product number: 7174020 (1A positive), 9593829 (1.5A positive) 1087139 (2A positive)

RS (http://rswww.com) product number: 471-5784 (1A positive), 535-9010 (1A positive), 239-3067 (1A positive)

I believe you can run about 4 gauges from the solid state regulator.